RENO, Nev. (AP) — The U.S. Interior Department has reached an unprecedented agreement with Barrick Gold Corp. and The Nature Conservancy intended to protect sage grouse habitat across parts of more than 900 square miles of private land in Nevada.
The agreement with the largest gold mining company in the world establishes a "conservation bank," providing Barrick credit for enhancing some critical habitat now, in exchange for more flexibility in future development.
It comes as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approaches a Sept. 30 deadline for a decision on whether to list the greater sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act in 11 western states.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Thursday the deal represents the kind of voluntary partnership necessary to protect the bird while also sustaining economic activities on public rangelands.