Omnibus Spending Bill Halts Federal Action on Sage Grouse, Benefiting Oil & Gas, Mining Companies

DENVER, COLORADO--December 16, 2014--Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The frenzied congressional action over the weekend on the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill included a provision preventing the U.S. Department of the Interior from issuing draft or final rules on the Greater Sage Grouse, or the Gunnison Sage Grouse. That prohibition, tucked away on page 725 of the 1,603-page bill, has long been sought by energy interests, including Oil & Gas Producers and Metals & Minerals firms. Those companies assert that listing either bird under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) would significantly restrict their ability to conduct business.

Within this article: The potential impact of blocking the Greater Sage Grouse from being listed under the Endangered Species Act.