Success: Increased Protections for Greater Sage Grouse Habitat Achieved

Target: Western Watersheds Project, Environmental Organization

Goal: Applaud Western Watersheds Project for their hard work protecting sage grouse habitat.

An Idaho judge recently blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to lease nearly one million acres of public lands to the oil and gas industry without public comment. This ruling applies to vital greater sage grouse habitat across 67 million acres in 11 western states. Conservation groups, activists and concerned citizens have been tirelessly fighting to protect the sage grouse species and their habitat from oil and gas development for some time, as detailed in this petition and this petition.

The judge specifically vacated five oil and gas leases in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, stating that the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to allow public comment on the decision, which is required by law.

It is illegal to silence the public in order to expand fossil fuel industry, and Western Watersheds Project, along with many other environmental organizations, have worked hard to hold the Trump administration and the BLM accountable. Taylor McKinnon, senior campaigner at Center for Biological Diversity, said “This is a huge victory for greater sage grouse and hundreds of other animals and plants that depend on this dwindling habitat.” Sign below to thank Western Watersheds Project for protecting the greater sage grouse habitat by holding the Trump administration accountable for their blatant attempts to silence the public.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Western Watersheds Project,

You have put up a tireless fight to reveal the corruption in the Trump administration’s constant attempts to silence the public and accelerate extractive industry. You have protected the civil right to participate in public lands decision-making and safeguarded the vital habitat of the greater sage grouse.

As usual, the fight is not over. 90 percent of federal public lands in the west are still available for oil and gas leasing. I know that you will continue to bring voice to the public, as well as to the thousands of species that are threatened by industry. Thank you for bringing justice and protecting the greater sage grouse habitat.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington