BLM Opens Sage Grouse Area to Mining despite studies

Missoulian: Feds remove protections for 10M acres of sage grouse habitat

BLM cancels 10 million acre Sagebrush Focal Area Withdrawal Proposal
“Based on a recent analysis and review of data available that showed that future mining is not a significant threat to sage grouse habitat, the Bureau of Land Management has canceled its Sagebrush Focal Area withdrawal application and the Department’s proposed withdrawal of 10 million acres of federal lands from location and entry under the mining law in Greater Sage-grouse habitat in six Western States.  The BLM also terminated the associated environmental analysis process.

The recommendation to withdraw nearly 10 million acres from location and entry under the mining law was one of many land use restrictions proposed for a new management area designated as the Sagebrush Focal Area (SFA). However, that recommendation was unreasonable in light of the data available. In particular, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2005 “Not Warranted” decision, the 2010 “Warranted But Precluded” Decision and the 2015 “Not Warranted” decision all showed that mining—including locatable mining—was not a significant threat to sage-grouse.”

FACT SHEET: Proposed Withdrawal from Mineral Entry in Sagebrush Focal Areas

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) identified habitat disturbance and fragmentation caused by certain hardrock mining operations as a threat to sage-grouse habitat. As a result, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land use plans recommend that the Secretary of the Interior exercise her authority under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to safeguard the most important landscapes identified by the FWS within Priority Habitat Management Areas – identified as Sagebrush Focal Areas – by withdrawing them from the operation of the hardrock mining law.”

Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation

“The greater sage-grouse, an iconic species of the sagebrush steppe ecosystem, currently occupies an estimated 56% of its historic range. Greater sage-grouse populations have been declining for more than 40 years. In 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that, due to loss of habitat and lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms, listing the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act was warranted but precluded by other priorities.”

“MINING

Threat: Surface mining and adjacent facilities within greater sage-grouse habitat results in the direct loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation, and indirect impacts from disturbance (noise, dust, etc.).

Report Guidance: Avoid new mining activities and any associated facilities within occupied habitats, including seasonal habitats; avoid leasing in greater sage-grouse habitat until other suitable habitats can be restored; reclamation plans should focus on restoring habitats to healthy sagebrush ecosystems, including evidence of greater sage-grouse use; and abandoned mine land reclamation should focus on restoring areas to healthy sagebrush ecosystems where possible.

Land Management Plan Amendment Direction: Do not authorize new mineral material development or disposal or apply certain restrictions. Permit free-use permits and the expansion of existing active pits. New underground coal leases will include a lease stipulation prohibiting the location of surface facilities in priority habitat management areas. The Forest Service will recommend to the Secretary of the Interior that sagebrush focal areas not already withdrawn as designated Wilderness from mineral entry be withdrawn.”