Coalition files new petition for Mono Basin sage grouse
By Sandra Chereb, Associated Press
RENO, Nev. (AP) - A coalition of environmental groups has renewed efforts to impose federal protection for a small population of sage grouse found along the eastern Sierra in Nevada and California.
The petition, prepared and submitted by the Stanford Law School Environmental Law Clinic for the groups, argues that Mono Basin sage grouse are "genetically distinct" from other sage grouse populations and in danger of extinction.
Similar arguments were rejected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service two years ago when the federal agency said more study was needed to determine if the Mono Basin birds were unique and in peril.
But the environmental groups involved in the latest petition say science has since proved otherwise.
"There was a previous petition that wasn't that well done that was filed about four years ago," said Daniel Patterson with the Center for Biological Diversity. "There's been quite a bit of new science, new information, that has come out since then. ... that shows it is a distinct population."
Fish and Wildlife Service officials were unavailable to comment Friday because of the Veteran's Day holiday.
The latest petition is a joint effort by the Sagebrush Sea Campaign, Western Watershed Project, Center for Biological Diversity and Christians Caring for Creation.
"As poor land management continues to fragment an already tattered landscape, time is running out for the Mono Basin area sage grouse," said the petition released by the groups late Thursday. "Immediate action is needed to ensure that this isolated and genetically unique population of this majestic species is preserved forever."
Loss of habitat is the biggest threat to the large game bird that once thrived in the West. In January, the federal agency rejected a listing under the Endangered Species Act for the overall sage grouse population, saying conservation efforts among local, state, federal and private entities would best serve its fate.
The Mono Basin grouse inhabit an area that stretches roughly from Carson City south to Tonopah, west through the Owens and Long valleys in California and along the eastern Sierra front.