Posted on 03/30/2014 10:38:30 AM PDT by george76
Will Obama use two small birds to limit oil drilling in the West?
Almost half the land west of the Mississippi belongs to the federal government, including 48% of California, 62% of Idaho and 81% of Nevada. No surprise that the Obama Administration wants to control more. But the result could be to suppress the country's booming oil and gas development.
In partnership with green activists, the Department of Interior may attempt one of the largest federal land grabs in modern times, using a familiar vehicle—the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A record 757 new species could be added to the protected list by 2018. The two species with the greatest impact on private development are range birds—the greater sage grouse and the lesser prairie chicken, both about the size of a barnyard chicken.
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The sage grouse is found in 11 western states—California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Most of the areas affected are federal lands routinely used for farming, ranching, mining, road building, water projects and oil and gas drilling.
However, much of the prairie chicken population and some sage grouse are on private property that could become subject to some of the most invasive private land-use rules and property acquisitions in the history of the protected-species law.
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Environmental groups have won victories by using a strategy called "sue and settle" under which groups propose species for protected status and then sue the federal government, which settles the lawsuit on terms favorable to the greens rather than fight. These settlements typically bypass a thorough review of the scientific evidence and exclude affected parties, such as industry and local communities.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Just because the feds own the property doesn’t mean that they can control what goes on there. Too few feds, and way too much real estate for any government to effectively cover, or control for that matter. They don’t call the region “no man’s land” for no particular reason.
Aren't there free drinks at the LaTourett's Syndrome, S0r0$ funded, Amelia Island Party this weekend?
This is the works of the lilly whites. They do not care if prices go up.
Looks like plenty o’ pluckin’ involved there.
Given the Fed’s responses to the People during the “shutdown”, the Western States need to start stripping the gov’t lands from the Feds.
They’re in a horse race with the EPA which is about to declare the potholes in your street and the rain puddle on your driveway as protected wetlands.
Much better and easier to skin them.
This will not have nearly as big an impact on oil production as it might appear.
Most new production is the result of tight (shale) oil drilling.
The major new fields to date have been east of the Rockies, where almost all land is private. That non-involvement of federal land is one of the attractions, but another is simply the geology involved.
The land west of the Rockies is simply much more complex geology, both above and below the surface, due to its more complex geological history tectonically. A lot less of the large horizontal shale beds that are more easily fracked than in the less complex geology of the East and Middle US. Water, a key factor, is also generally a lot less available in the West.
At present there is still a LOT of accessible private land available for drilling east of the Rockies, so it doesn’t seem likely that making federal or western land less available for drilling is going to slow things down much if at all.
It should also be noted that any gas/oil down there isn’t going anywhere. It will still be there in 100 years if we need it.
Not a fan of these proposed regulations. Just trying to keep some perspective on the issue.
- Obama is setting up his royal Muzzie buddies mid-east Islamic oil countries future cash-flow to get an massive endless off-shore retirement fund for himself and his daughters by permanently blocking the use of America’s available and abundant energy assets…..
- It is time for the pathetic pansy Mom-Jeans jerk to put on his sissy helmet to visit Dallas on his girl’s bike -
What we need is true and honest campaign finance reform. Our elected need to be forced to listen to those they claim to represent.
Remember the best laws are simple laws such as "You shall not murder" or "You shall not steal". Keeping that in mind, only legally registered voters should be allowed to contribute to a political campaign because only they can legally vote. These contributions should be limited to only those campaigns that represent that voter. The amount that a voter can contribute should also be limited to a certain amount each year that the average voter can afford, say $200. That $200 should be set at abase year and adjusted for inflation/deflation, I think 1960 would be ideal because as each voter decides to contribute they will be faced with the reality of what the government has done to their money.
By doing this the elected will have to fill their campaign chests within in their own districts from the people they represent and the influence of special interests curtailed (lawyers will always find ways around any law but should they be caught see the last of this rant)
Our right to vote is the most precious right we have as citizens it should be guarded jealously. Voter fraud should be relentlessly pursued and the punishments draconian.
yes, well said.
the bakken is primarly own by farmers
Best time for harvesting sage chickens is starting about Aug. 1. A .22 long gun is an excellent harvesting tool. Target the young ones. They are the best eating.
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Why don’t you care about the poor, little, ENDANGERED, little, helpless, cute, sage chicken?
Pardon me while I weep — weep for the poor sage chickens whose blood you wantonly spill, as well as — for your sin-darkened soul!
/sarc
***Wind farms are the biggest threat to sage grouse and prairie chicken habitat.***
Are these two species low or non-fliers? Strange that the environmentalists are not upset about wind farms killing thousands of majestic, high-flying raptors.
Windfarms are a blight on the landscape - bird killers and they don’t even generate much power. Boondoggle for subsidies from taxpayers to the leftie greenies.
It must be the poor, little, ENDANGERED, little, helpless, HUNGRY, cute white boy in me.
I think Boehner will come out and fully support Sheila Jackson Lee baby for Home Lan securty if she axe him.
The prairie chickens avoid roosting near any tall structure to stay away from raptors. They don’t know that wind generators kill raptors, the chicken just sees the tall structure and stays away. Wind farms erode the habitat.
The sage hens will fly 40-50 miles at times to summer or winter ranges. I don't know if they take a break during the trip, but I see them leave the country once in a while when jumped. Usually they go a half mile or so. A friend smacked one at 3000' with his Super Cub. He made it home but had to get a new leading edge.
i love grouse hunting..
they are one elusive creature, and to bag one is to be rewarded with a right tasty meal...
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