08.07.17

Hoeven Statement on Interior Department's Sage Grouse Report

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today issued the following statement after U.S. Department of Interior and Secretary Ryan Zinke released a report with recommendations, including greater collaboration with the states, to manage sage grouse populations. 

“The Interior Department report underscores the importance of working with states to manage sage grouse populations. State and local governments know and value their natural resources and have tailored management plans. North Dakota’s state management plan effectively balances conservation, ranching, energy and other development needs. Working with the state, Interior can successfully conserve historic habitat and wildlife, while also encouraging economic growth and job creation in western states.”

Hoeven has worked to further a states-first approach to managing sage grouse populations, including efforts delaying an endangered species listing of the sage grouse to give North Dakota and 10 other western states time to come up with workable management plans. In 2015, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the senator worked to include a provision in the Interior EPA Appropriations bill that prohibited listing the sage grouse as an endangered species, giving states time to develop their plans. In addition, Hoeven brought Forest Service Chief to Dickinson and urged him to support the sage grouse management plans developed by North Dakota and other western states.

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