Reporter’s Notes

Bald Eagles

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the final decision on whether to remove the bald eagle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species will be postponed. FWS has reached a court-approved agreement allowing the agency to make a final determination on the eagle’s status no later than June 29.

The additional four months will give FWS time to complete additionalanalyses related to the final rule and put in place management guidelines and procedures that will make it easier for the public to understand ongoing Bald and Golden Eagle Act protections, ensuring that eagles continue to thrive once delisted.

During the extension, FWS expects to develop a proposed rule that would authorize incidental take of bald eagles under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. FWS also intends to finalize voluntary Bald Eagle Management Guidelines and a regulatory definition of “disturb” under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

More information on the bald eagle can be found on the web at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/baldeagle.html

PAWG

The Pinedale BLM will extend its Feb. 22 Pinedale Anticline Working Group meeting to allow more time for PAWG to make recommendations to Bureau of Land Management. The meeting will be held in the BLM conference room, located at 432 E. Mill St., in Pinedale.

“The Feb. 22 PAWG meeting will now begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. Comments on the PAWG recommendations will be accepted in the afternoon until 5 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the entire meeting,” said Matt Anderson, PAWG coordinator.

For more information, contact Matt Anderson in the Pinedale BLM Office at (307) 367-5328.

Oil and gas

The Forest Service recently announced a new rule that permits it to respond quickly to applications for oil-and-gas exploration on Forest Service land already under federal leases.

The rule is a categorical exclusion for land under lease that has already undergone environmental analysis consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act guidelines.

The additional analysis previously required by a new oil-and-gas exploration and development application took a minimum of six months.

With the new rule, an application can be processed much faster unless there are extraordinary circumstances such as the presence of threatened or endangered species or their designated habitat, wilderness areas, inventoried roadless areas, wetlands and archeological or historic sites. The categorical exclusion will not apply in these areas.

This change in policy is a response to Executive Order 13212 to expedite the increased supply and availability of energy to the nation.

It allows for streamlining the application process for permits to drill and other energy-related permits in an environmentally sound manner.