OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT AND GREATER SAGE GROUSE ("CENTROCERCUS UROPHASIANUS"): A REVIEW OF THREATS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

Concern exists over the demonstrated and potential deleterious effects of oil and natural gas development on greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations in the intermountain region of the western United States. Numerous studies have been undertaken to assess the impacts of this development, and agencies have implemented policies and regulations that have the potential to minimize deleterious effects on sage grouse. super(1) In 2010 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) found that sage grouse are warranted as a "threatened" species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) but are currently precluded by other priorities. super(2) This "warranted but precluded" ESA decision has resulted in additional regulations, mitigation measures, and conservation efforts.