Yesterday, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to delist the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, encompassing portions of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. This population of grizzly bear is currently listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Delisting the species will allow the states to manage the population outside Yellowstone and Grand… Read more »

Yesterday, the Supreme Court stayed the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan in a 5-4 decision. Chairman Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “Much of the President’s unilateral agenda, including efforts to stomp out coal without going through Congress, will ultimately be gutted by the courts.   “This ruling is one small win for impoverished coal communities and all… Read more »

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service announced the finalization of a new policy for defining and designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act. Chairman Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement: “Just like we saw with WOTUS, this is another power grab. The new definition injects even more ambiguity and confusion into an… Read more »

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service this month proposed a new rule to crack down on predator control in Alaska, claiming it wants to better protect wildlife on national refuges. If only the Obama Administration cared as much about the protected critters that are getting in the way of its climate-change agenda. President Obama’s Clean Power Plan imposes new rules to force the closure of… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held an oversight hearing with four Western governors on “Respecting State Authority in Regards to Resource Management and Energy Development.” Governors Matt Mead (R-WY), Steve Bullock (D-MT), Dennis Daugaard (R-SD), and Gary Herbert (R-UT) all expressed major concerns about a swath of federal policies that disenfranchise the states from… Read more »

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) today issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s decision on the greater sage grouse. “Do not be fooled. The announcement not to list the sage grouse is a cynical ploy.  With the stroke of a pen, the Obama Administration’s oppressive land management plan is the same as a listing. Now,… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a joint hearing with the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Animas River spill, which resulted in 3 million gallons of toxic water spilling into the Animas and San Juan Rivers from Colorado and into New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona. Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) questioned EPA… Read more »

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas issued an order which vacates the Lesser Prairie Chicken listing under the Endangered Species Act, on the basis that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) did not apply the proper criteria for evaluating conservation efforts at the state level. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the… Read more »

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Reclamation’s latest announcement to flush Trinity River water towards non-listed fish species.  “As California and the West are drying up, the Obama Administration has announced another unjustified water grab that prioritizes fish over people. People out West… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Small Business Committee held a joint field hearing in Homestead, Florida, on the National Park Service’s (NPS) General Management Plan (GMP) for Biscayne National Park released in June 2015.  The GMP, which includes a Marine Reserve Zone (MRZ) that would be closed to all commercial and recreational fishing, conflicts with… Read more »