Appearing to seek middle ground between energy development and protection of the imperiled sage grouse, the Obama administration said Friday it will not place the ground-dwelling bird on the Endangered Species list, despite biological factors indicating it should be there.
"Listing the species at this time is warranted but precluded by the need to address higher priority species first," said Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar.
Friday's announcement was notable for its repeated mentions of the need for energy development on public and private lands in the West, where the sage grouse makes its home.
"The Department of Interior will expand efforts with state, local and tribal partners to map lands that are vital to the survival of the sage grouse, while guiding and managing new conventional and renewable energy projects to reduce impacts on the species," Salazar said.
During the past century, sage grouse populations have dwindled by 90 percent as half of its habitat has been fragmented or lost to development of housing and energy. If trends since the mid-1960s continue, many local populations of sage grouse could disappear in the next 30 to 100 years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
The Western icon will be placed on the "candidate" list for future action. But for now, the sage grouse will not receive federal protection. States will continue to be responsible for its management.
The decision follows a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a subsequent 2007 court order that the agency submit a new finding, after it deemed in 2005 that the bird did not warrant listing as endangered.
Some conservationists see Friday's move as disappointing.
"Unfortunately, the administration has proposed a cut in funding for listing endangered species," said Bob Irvin ,of Defenders of Wildlife, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization.
The sage grouse program outlined by Salazar appears on the surface to be rational, Irvin said. But it would be better for the sage grouse to be listed as endangered.
"A listing would pose significant hurdles for energy development,'' he said. "Clearly, this is better for energy developers than it is for sage grouse."
The Obama administration has made no secret of its push for renewable energy, Irvin said. "But the decision should be made on biological factors."
On the other hand, Bob Johns, of the American Bird Conservancy said the announcement has a hopeful side.
"This decision provides clarity: the bird is imperiled. If good things don't start happening, it will be listed," he said. "If this is a carrot to bring the players to the table, it will be a great thing."
Federal agencies will seek "common sense ways of protecting, restoring and reconnecting lands most important to the species survival," Salazar said.
He pointed to voluntary conservation agreements and federal financial and technical assistance for state and private entities as key to the long-term survival of the species. The federal Bureau of Land Management will develop additional measures to conserve habitat, according to agency director Bob Abbey.
"Using sound science and effective on-the-ground coordination with our many partners," he said, "we will build on current accomplishments in managing for sustainable sage grouse populations."
