Sage Grouse Cattle Wars in the West and OHV

[cuttenkid]

Will OHV become collateral damage in the new range wars?

HQ blog
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blog...cceptable.html

Story
A recent court decision in Idaho that found various cattle grazing allotments on BLM lands to be illegal because they may harm the Greater Sage-grouse reminded HQ again of similar claims made against the timber industry regarding potential harm to the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) during the Timber Wars (circa 1992-2000) in the Pacific Northwest.


Idaho Statesman Article on Recent Court Decision
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/0...llotments.html

Wildlife News Blog on Court Decision
http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/...western-idaho/

Western Watersheds Project – They are plaintiffs in the aforementioned lawsuit
http://www.westernwatersheds.org/

HQ is concerned that OHV recreation (particularly permitted events such enduros, cross-country, club runs, even large family gatherings) will become collateral damage in the new “Cattle Wars” related to the Greater Sage-grouse.

In the Timber Wars, OHV was not the stated target of the green anti-timber organizations. However, OHV trail use and events on federal lands have either been banned or severely restricted based on NSO/ESA-related lawsuits or threats of lawsuits.

In Cattle Wars, HQ believes that OHV recreation will be viewed by federal officials and courts as “acceptable” collateral damage as the green conflict industry seeks to put cattle ranchers out of business.

HQ believes history is proving that non-timber factors such as the natural migration of the barred owl (a cousin of the spotted owl that both eats or cross-breads with the spotted owl, etc.) is to blame for the decrease in NSO populations vs. the need to put the timber industry “out-of-business” on federal lands.

Article on Shooting Barred Owls (because timber industry shutdown did not work)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environmen..._wild_sho.html


With ranchers in 10 Western states now targeted for extinction by agenda driven extreme environmental groups, HQ believes that OHV recreation should be ready to construct an administrative and legal blast shield to protect us from political bombs dropped on the cattle industry.

[LYIN' KING]

Since we are burning their feed in our cars, can’t graze ‘em on the plains, in Forests or Central Park . . . I guess it’s so long beef, hello Sage Grouse. I’m sure we’ll acquire a taste for them just before the birds and cattle ranchers become extinct.

It' obvious that the greenies have spent quite a bit of creative thinking time constructing this, once again aided by Federal public land managers.

Thanks for the depressing wakeup call and informative articles cuttenkid.

BTW . . . the OHV crap has already started in the discussion/comment area of the following link you provided.
Example . . . “I was thinking, as I read your comment, that during the period of 1950 – 1980 there wasn’t the high volume of OHV/ATVs racing around the countryside”

Source: http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2012/...western-idaho/

[cuttenkid]

Lyin' King,

You are right.. they are gunning for OHV... with a focus on motorized events.

Don

[LYIN' KING]

Release Date: 02/13/12
Contacts: Tom Gorey , 202-912-7420



President Proposes $1.1 Billion for BLM in Fiscal Year 2013 to Protect Resources and Manage Uses of Public Lands


With a focus on outdoor recreation, renewable energy, environmentally-sound oil and gas development, sage-grouse conservation, and other key priorities, President Obama today requested $1.1 billion in appropriations for the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management in Fiscal Year 2013. This request is essentially level with the FY 2012 enacted level for the BLM, which employs 10,365 full-time equivalent staff.

“Today’s budget proposal reflects the need to make tough choices at a time when Federal spending must be restrained,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “Our public lands and resources are some of America’s greatest assets, and under this budget proposal we target investments to advance the BLM’s mission of protecting these lands for multiple uses, including recreation, conservation, and safe and responsible energy development.”

The BLM is one of a handful of Federal agencies that generates more revenue than it spends. In FY 2011, nearly $4.2 billion in revenues was generated from onshore energy development on Federal lands, with about half of those revenues going to the states where the leasing occurred. The economic output associated with the public lands is enormous. Based on a Department study, in 2010, extractive and non-extractive uses of BLM-managed lands and minerals generated an estimated total economic output of slightly more than $122 billion nationwide and supported approximately 550,000 American jobs.

Under the President’s proposed budget, the BLM will focus on the following priorities:


Sage-Grouse Conservation – The President’s budget proposal requests a $15 million increase for the BLM to implement important sage-grouse conservation measures to help prevent the future listing of this species for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

In its March 2010 ruling that listing the species was “warranted but precluded,” the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) stated that the BLM was not fully implementing the necessary measures to ensure species conservation.

The BLM has been working closely with 10 Western states, as well as Federal, state, and local partners, to amend multiple land-use plans to ensure short-term and long-term conservation and restoration measures for the Greater sage-grouse and its habitat.

The BLM seeks to amend these plans in a way that protects the health of the land and facilitates safe and responsible energy development and recreational opportunities that power the U.S. economy.

This planning process was formally initiated in late 2011, and the additional funds requested in 2013 will enable the BLM to ramp up this process and take other actions to address the concerns of the FWS before the Service makes a final decision on whether to list the sage grouse in 2015.

--BLM--

The Other Plans Here: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/new...2_13_2012.html

[Mad Machinist]

They ain't gonna like what I am up to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!