Governor Matt Mead joined Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and representatives from The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to announce the release of 14 final environmental reviews for land use plans that address greater sage-grouse habitat across Wyoming and nine other states.
The plans include elements intended to benefit wildlife, outdoor recreation and ranching.
“This is not just about sage-grouse, it’s about the west. It’s about ag, tourism and the economy. It’s about finding a balance,” Governor Mead said. “It is appropriate to celebrate today. We celebrate our partnerships with the federal government and western states – we have come a long way since 2007 but there is still work to be done. This continues to be a cooperative effort and Secretary Jewell gets this. She understands this is about finding that balance. I thank her and all those involved in the Sage-Grouse Task Force.”
In 2011, Governor Mead, along with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and then-Secretary Ken Salazar, formed the Sage-Grouse Task Force – with the goal of developing a cooperative approach to conserving the species across the West.
