Tipton pushes Jewell for sage grouse goals

RBC I On Friday, Congressman Scott Tipton (R-CO3) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to urge Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to provide measurable goals for the preservation of the Greater Sage Grouse and the Gunnison Sage Grouse.
Rep. Tipton also renewed his invitation for Jewell to come to Colorado to see firsthand the effective local preservation efforts that are under way in the state.
He emphasized that the proposed Endangered Species Act designations for the sage grouse, “would kill jobs, devastate communities, and disrupt effective species preservation efforts currently under way.”
“The proposed Endangered Species Act designations for the Gunnison Sage Grouse and Greater Sage Grouse would impact millions of acres in Colorado and hinder existing conservation efforts,” he said. “It would put private lands off limits to most use and development, including agriculture production, without providing any compensation.
“In my district, plans at the local level are under way to effectively preserve the species,” Tipton said. “Because they take into account the unique geography and environment of the region, these efforts are seeing success.”
Interior Department officials have yet to provide measurable species preservation goals so that state and local officials can meet them, he added.