Sage grouse declared 'threatened'; Colorado, others to sue over oil and gas impact

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Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Gunnison sage grouse.

Cathy Proctor

Reporter- Denver Business Journal

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Federal wildlife officials on Wednesday said the Gunnison sage grouse is "threatened" and that the bird and its habitat in Colorado and Utah need greater protection — drawing a pledge from Gov. John Hickenlooper to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The bird's habitat includes extensive areas of oil and gas development, so the listing is likely to mean restrictions on the energy industry in those areas.

Hickenlooper said the state would sue the federal agency over its decision, available here, regarding the bird during remarks at the Colorado Oil & Gas Association's annual luncheon, held at the Grand Hyatt Denver downtown.

"We made a commitment, if ranchers, farmers and the oil and gas industry put in the work, and we see the success and benefits of that work, if the federal government is going to come in and overstep that work — we will oppose it," Hickenlooper said.

About 5,000 breeding birds live in about 7 percent of their former range in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah, according to the agency.

And where farmers and ranchers have worked to preserve the birds' habitat, their numbers are growing, Hickenlooper told the Denver Business Journal.

"If that's not satisfying, then tell us what will satisfy. Tell us what needs to be done," Hickenlooper said, referring to the agency's decision.

"We believe their science is bad, and that the science doesn't support the decision that was made," Mike King, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources told the Denver Business Journal.

State officials had asked for a delay in the agency's decision, arguing that more time was needed to show the results of the work that's been done on a voluntary basis. But the agency said in its announcement that it wasn't successful in negotiating for more time with WildEarth Guardians, which had brought a suit that led to a court-ordered deadline for the agency to make a decision on the Gunnison sage grouse.

Cathy Proctor covers energy, the environment and transportation for the Denver Business Journal and edits the weekly "Energy Inc." newsletter. Phone: 303-803-9233. Subscribe to the Energy Inc. newsletter

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