Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Santa Fe, NM – Jan. 26. Oil and gas leasing decisions by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would further threaten the endangered aplomado falcon and other struggling wildlife, and two conservation groups are therefore seeking protection of wildlife habitat on 87,000 acres in eastern New Mexico, western Oklahoma, and southwestern Kansas. In two separate actions last week, conservation organizations WildEarth Guardians and Western Resource Advocates challenged BLM decisions to open up these critical public lands for oil and gas development.

The lands include vital habitat for numerous grassland species including the endangered aplomado falcon, black-footed ferret, lesser prairie chicken, black-tailed prairie dog, and several endangered fish species, including the Pecos bluntnose shiner and Pecos gambusia. In addition, several disputed parcels are adjacent to the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.

Dr. Nicole Rosmarino, Endangered Species Director for WildEarth Guardians, stated, “The BLM failed to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the impacts of allowing oil and gas development on the public’s lands, despite the importance of this habitat for numerous imperiled species. For the northern aplomado falcon and the lesser prairie chicken, there will be no second chances. These are species on the brink,” said Rosmarino.

“The BLM blindly decided to lease tens of thousands of acres of public land for oil and gas development, without doing any on-the-ground research,” said Brad Bartlett, Attorney for Western Resource Advocates. “The agency hasn’t looked at the impacts of developing vast swaths of public land for oil and gas or analyzed what protections are needed to safeguard imperiled grassland species and their habitat.”

The protest and appeal request the immediate withdrawal of approximately 87,000 acres from leasing for oil and gas until such time as the BLM complies with the federal Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and other laws. Two snails and a freshwater shrimp, which are proposed for Endangered Species Act listing, are found only on the Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has stated that oil and gas development near the Refuge is a significant threat to the survival of these species.

In addition, the groups are trying to protect the key “hotspots” of northern aplomado falcon, lesser prairie chicken, and black-tailed prairie dog acreage in the state. The black-tailed prairie dog is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act and their colonies provide crucial habitat to imperiled species such as the black-footed ferret, swift fox, and mountain plover.

Go here for a copy of the oil & gas leasing protest.