Feds review sage-grouse status

DENVER — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday its status review of the Gunnison sage-grouse.

The review, which comes after a lawsuit brought by San Miguel County and several environmental groups, will be used to determine whether the sage-grouse qualifies for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

The FWS said in a press release that it intends to complete the review by the lawsuit settlement date of June 30, 2010.

The agency previously denied the listing, triggering the suit. The parties entered a settlement last year; as part of that, Fish and Wildlife agreed to conduct a status review.

The agency issued a finding in 2006, stating ESA listing for the Gunnison sage-grouse was unwarranted because its rangewide population was stable and there were no significant threats to the species.

But a Department of the Interior investigative report on the Bush Administration’s application of the ESA found that officials interfered with federal biologists’ decision-making process for several species, including the Gunnison sage-grouse.

In March, Fish and Wildlife filed notice of intent to reconsider its earlier denial of the ESA listing for the grouse.

San Miguel County Commissioner Art Goodtimes said the feds would be welcomed back at the table. He said though regional conservation groups have done a good job trying to protect the sage-grouse, federal resources would be a boon.

“San Miguel County would be happy to see them review this,” he said. “We want them to re-examine, based on the science, not the politics, which we know happened in this case. We hope the Fish and Wildlife Service will be good partners at the table.”

Goodtimes said that when San Miguel County and the other groups brought suit, they alleged the feds had quashed scientific information showing the species needed protection.

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