1. The Sage-Grouse Plan Tripp Parks Policy Analyst

2. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE The Greater Sage-Grouse (GrSG) is a large ground-dwelling bird that inhabits 186 million acres in eleven western states. The Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies’ 2015 update shows a 63% increase in the population over the last two years, with a total breeding population of 424,645.

3. GREATER SAGE-GROUSE & OIL AND NATURAL GAS

4. CONSERVATION STUDY Oil and natural gas companies that operate within Greater Sage-Grouse (GrSG) range make great efforts to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and reduce impact on the species. Companies routinely employ advanced reclamation measures and design projects to reduce surface disturbance, traffic, and human activity. SWCA study: Of the 103 oil and natural gas NEPA documents reviewed, companies committed to 773 total conservation measures, an average of 6.5 per project.

5. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES Over the last decade, oil and natural gas development has shifted from vertical wells with dense well-pad spacing to directional and horizontal wells with significantly less disturbance and fragmentation per section of land developed. A single horizontal well now takes the place of 8 to 16 vertical wells. In 2012 within Wyoming alone, the disturbance reduction resulting from this dramatic shift in drilling technology may have approached approximately 70 percent.

6. STATE CONSERVATION EFFORTS Over the past few decades, states, counties, and local governments have engaged in over 180 efforts across the West to protect the GrSG. Western states have spent $200 million since over the last decade protecting the species.

7. WYOMING EXECUTIVE ORDER 2015-4 CORE POLICY Core Areas/Connectivity Areas –0.6 mile No Surface Occupancy (NSO) around leks –Timing restrictions from March 15 to June 30 –1 location per 640 acres (on average) –5% disturbance cap Non-core Areas –0.25 mile NSO around leks –2 mile seasonal buffer from March 15 to June 30

9. OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS

10. SAGE GROUSE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENTS Resource Management Plans (RMPs) provide general guidance for most BLM Field Offices. Decisions Made: Lands available for oil and gas leasing Stipulations for leasing and development Wildlife protection measures Timing limitations Mitigation practices RMPs will impact project-level decisions within the Planning Area.

11. SAGE-GROUSE RMP GOALS Stop population declines and habitat loss Habitat Restoration Develop State and local incentive based regulatory mechanisms Proactive conservation Monitoring Plans

12. UTAH SAGE-GROUSE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT In Utah, a different strategy than Wyoming RMPs Utah RMP not tied to state sage-grouse plan Sage-grouse habitat divided into Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs), Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA), and General Habitat Management Areas (GHMA)

13. SAGE GROUSE MANAGEMENT AREAS

14. REQUIREMENTS FOR LEASES IN PHMA, SFA Locate development more than 3.1 miles away from leks 3% Disturbance Cap & Density Limitation Mitigate to provide a net conservation gain Apply Required Design Features (RDFs)

15. REQUIREMENTS FOR LEASES IN PHMA, SFA Seasonal NSO Noise Restrictions Collectively, these restrictions will either make development on existing leases impossible or so uneconomic that they effectively prohibit development.

16. GHMA REQUIREMENTS Mitigate to provide a net conservation benefit Apply RDFs Noise restrictions within 4 miles of a lek in PHMA Limit energy infrastructure within 3.1 miles of leks The practical effect of large buffers is to "protect" vast areas of non-habitat and marginal habitat, with no demonstrable benefit to the Greater Sage-Grouse

17. RESULTS Western Energy Alliance study: range of job losses from 9,170 to over 18,250 and reduced economic growth of between $2.435 billion and $4.847 billion Disincentive to state and local efforts Less money for conservation States sue: Utah, Nevada, Idaho

18. Questions? Contact me: tparks@westernenergyalliance.org