The Forest Service announced this month that the comment period is now open on amendments to greater sage-grouse land management plans. According to the announcement, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement includes the proposed amendments that would affect Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah and the changes are aimed at improving “clarity, efficiency, and implementation of the current greater sage-grouse plans, including promoting landscape-scale alignment with state efforts.” A combined effort kept the greater sage-grouse from being listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2015 but the Forest Service says in the years since, there is new science and lessons learned that need to be incorporated in the conservation plans. “All of our stakeholders have been instrumental in our efforts to conserve greater sage-grouse habitat,” shares Forest Service sage-grouse coordinator John Shivik. “Our partners, including the general public and specialists from state and local agencies, continue to help us by sharing their observations about the current plans.” The comment period opened on October 5th and will last 90 days. To read and comment, visit
www.fs.usda.gov
.
