Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) released the following statement applauding Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's secretarial order initiating a review of the agency’s land use plans to conserve sage grouse:

“I am pleased to see Secretary Zinke order this review. This will give sage grouse management a new direction whereby we can gain more collaboration from those affected. Ultimately, this will be better for the landscape because the local stewards of sage grouse habitat will have more input into this process.” 

The previous administration modified land use plans in eleven western states. This effort, initiated by then Secretary Salazar was intended to put the states in the driver’s seat, however, those state efforts were summarily ignored in favor of the current land use restrictions. 

Senator Risch is the lead sponsor of S.273, the Greater Sage-Grouse Protection and Recovery Act of 2017. This bill would allow states to implement their own sage grouse management plans.