|
States will better protect sage grouse |
|
October 31, 2017 |
By U.S. Congressman Raul Labrador
I watched with growing frustration during the
Obama Administration as environmentalists used
sage grouse as a tool to shut down livestock
grazing, energy development and other multiple
uses of our federal lands. But I have some good
news from the Trump Administration, which is
using its administrative authority to help Idaho
by restoring common-sense management to protect
the bird, the landscape and support local
economies.
Last week, I participated in a House Natural
Resources Committee hearing exploring how
Western states are better suited to lead the way
on sage grouse recovery. Among those testifying
was Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke, who
explained the devastating effects of
overreaching federal management.
It’s important to remember that environmental
extremists have seen sage grouse as a means to
achieve their goal of ending 150 years of
grazing and energy development on public lands.
They’ve been trying to get sage grouse listed as
an endangered species for 20 years.
In 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said
there was no scientific evidence that the bird
was endangered. That decision was grounded on
effective state-based management plans, which
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asked states to
develop in 2011. In Idaho, a broad base of
stakeholders wrote a scientifically sound plan
fitting the facts on the ground. Other states
did the same.
Unfortunately, Salazar’s successor, Sally
Jewell, changed the rules at the end of the
game. Though an endangered species listing was
unwarranted, the government issued 98 amendments
in 2015 undermining the states’ plans.
New restrictions included 5-mile buffer zones
around every breeding site that required
ranchers to let grass grow high enough to hide
sage grouse from crows and ravens. Nevermind
that the government hasn’t bothered to manage
and remove those predators for decades. I’ve
supported legislation to fight this land grab,
including H.R. 527, the Greater Sage Grouse
Protection and Recovery Act this Congress.
Thankfully, the American people chose Donald
Trump as President, and his Department of
Interior ordered a review of the amendments. A
public hearing process is underway, and I hope
the result will be restoring the state-based
plans.
At last week’s hearing, Speaker Bedke joined
witnesses from other Western states to discuss
their balanced recovery plans reflecting local
conditions. Bedke cited an example from his own
experience that was of particular interest to
the committee.
Last year, a 500-acre fire on Bedke’s ranch near
the Idaho-Nevada border had been contained. But
the next day, it flared up again. Firefighters
arrived with heavy equipment, including a
Caterpillar tractor. But because there was no
“Cat-tender” on hand – a person trained to walk
in front of the tractor to spot possible
archeological artifacts – the equipment was
idled. The result? The fire grew to 20,000
acres.
The terrible irony of all this is that wildfire
is the No. 1 threat to sage grouse. This
appalling absence of common sense is emblematic
of a pattern of failed federal land management
that has left our forests to burn, unnecessarily
hampered agriculture and stifled economic
innovation.
I’m optimistic state authority will be restored
as another step to reduce needless red tape. I
will continue to work with President Trump to
champion the principle that the best decisions
are made by those closest to the ground. The
result will be a healthier landscape, stronger
communities and a growing economy. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
