Rep. Calvert Lauds Fish and Wildlife Service Decision on Greater Sage-Grouse

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42), Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today lauded the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that listing the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted.

"Today's decision is a reflection of the hard work led by the States and private landowners to make an ESA listing unnecessary," Calvert said. "The Fish and Wildlife Service is commended for reaching an informed decision based upon the best available science, despite the rush to meet an arbitrary court-imposed decision deadline. I'm proud to have been able to override the September 30, 2015, deadline, if necessary, in my capacity as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, in the event that the agency needed more time to make an informed decision. The decision by the Service also reaffirms my long-held belief that protecting our environment and our economy are not mutually exclusive goals."

Chairman Calvert inserted a provision in the Fiscal Year 2015 appropriation (Public Law 113-235) prohibiting the agency from writing or issuing a proposed rule to list greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. He also included a similar provision in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriation which has not yet been enacted into law.

"Now that the Service has concluded that greater sage-grouse are not in danger of extinction or likely to become so within the foreseeable future, we can turn our attention to the question of how best to balance the multiple uses of our Federal lands and its resources upon which we all depend on for our nation's survival. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to address that question as we move forward in the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations process."

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