Feds to give states more flexibility in protecting wild bird

Nevada Division of Wildlife / AP

A female sage grouse, left, views a strutting male sage grouse during mating season, in this April, 2001 file photo taken in northwestern Nevada.

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 | 8:41 a.m.

WASHINGTON — The Interior Department has unveiled a plan to protect the threatened sage grouse that gives Western states greater flexibility to allow mining, logging and other economic development where it now is prohibited.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the strategy Monday for the ground-dwelling bird that has suffered a dramatic population decline across its 11-state range. Zinke insists that the federal government and the states can work together to protect the sage grouse and its habitat while not slowing economic growth and job creation.

States affected by the plan are California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.