The Bureau of Land Management has pulled 332,247 acres of greater sage grouse habitat in eastern Nevada from a November 12th oil and gas lease auction.
The move comes in response to an October court order, in which a federal judge blocked Trump administration plans that expanded drilling, mining, livestock grazing, and other destructive activities in sage-grouse habitat across 51 million acres in seven western states after Guardians and allies sued.
Oil and gas development—roads, pipelines, and well sites, in addition to noise and heavy truck traffic—push the fragile bird out of its habitat. Recent population estimates from multiple state wildlife agencies show that grouse populations are plummeting.
Read the press release.
