Western Governors Seek Jewell's Help on Sage Grouse

Governors of western states have asked for clarification from U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on the federal agency's efforts to save the greater sage grouse in the face of congressional action to delay a federal listing decision on the bird. A letter from the Western Governors' Association (WGA) was sent Friday seeking Jewell's thoughts on when a final decision will be made on whether to list the greater sage grouse for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The $1.1 trillion budget bill (HR 83) passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in December prohibits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from writing or issuing a rule to list the greater sage grouse as threatened or endangered under ESA, and the governors said the Interior Department has interpreted the law to allow all work leading up to a listing decision. They asked Jewell about the current schedule for completing the greater sage grouse listing determination, and what funding was provided in the latest congressional spending authorization for greater sage grouse conservation. "In particular, how will the Bureau of Land Management [BLM] use $15 million appropriated to the agency?" Hickenlooper and Mead asked Jewell. The governors said the western states are currently in "the largest effort ever" to conserve a species and its habitat, and they support a "constructive process" that will result in "a reasonable course of action" by BLM and FWS, along with state and private landowners...more

Haven't seen the letter, but does the WGA consider a deadline set by a judge to be a "constructive process" and a "a reasonable course of action"?  Almost sounds like they're more interested in BLM spending the money than they are in the one year breathing spell.