'CRomnibus' may include sage grouse rider but no money for forested counties

A $1 trillion bill to fund most of the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year is believed to contain language to restrict an Endangered Species Act listing decision for the greater sage grouse and does not include payments for forested Western counties, according to sources on and off Capitol Hill. Inclusion of those riders as well as possible other language aimed at U.S. EPA rulemaking on Clean Water Act authority could be a tough pill to swallow for environmental groups. National Journal yesterday reported that lobbyists believe the package may also include language exempting lead bullets and tackle from being regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Multiple lobbyists who track public lands issues yesterday said it appears the final deal includes language to push back the Fish and Wildlife Service's deadline next September to decide whether to propose federal protections for the sage grouse. A listing would be bitterly opposed by Western Republicans and oil and gas, ranching and mining interests. The deadline was set under the Obama administration's 2011 legal settlements with wildlife advocates. A final listing decision for the sage grouse would likely not occur until the very end of the Obama administration, or possibly beyond. One public lands lobbyist said the sage grouse language in the CRomnibus would be "less controversial than people might think," though the lobbyist had not seen the final spending deal. Another source close to Capitol Hill said he had heard the sage grouse language would be more "surgical," though still not palatable to greens. One conservation lobbyist said it appeared "very likely" a sage grouse listing delay would emerge in the package, and that greens at this point are doing all they can to clean up the language rather than remove it. Some concessions to Republicans may be inevitable in the spending bill, given that the GOP will be controlling the Senate next month and will then have much more leverage to pass environmental riders. Republicans can tell Democrats they can back out of CRomnibus discussions if they want and pass a CR until the GOP solidifies power, the conservation lobbyist said. "Republicans are saying we can come back and do this in three months," the lobbyist said, "but if you want a full-year budget, we're going to get some cats and dogs." Sources on and off Capitol Hill yesterday said there are strong signs that the spending deal will not include a reauthorization of the expired Secure Rural Schools, a program that for more than a decade has compensated forested counties that historically depended on federal timber revenues...more