Environews: Sage grouse rules rule!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued rules for sage grouse conservation in Western states including Utah. The new rules instruct BLM to review livestock grazing in sensitive areas and to give priority to oil and gas permits outside of sage grouse habitat. Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Ut-1) predictably griped, accusing the Obama Administration of oppressing western states by “tying up energy development and seizing state-level conservation efforts.”