A federal judge says Nevada counties seeking a preliminary injunction to block new U.S. protections for the greater sage grouse must meet a high burden of proof to warrant such a drastic action.
U.S. District Judge Miranda Du said at the start of a Tuesday hearing in Reno she needs specific examples of projects that are being help up as a result of the government's land planning amendments intended to conserve grouse habitat.
Du says she has no doubt about the seriousness of the concerns expressed by opponents of new restrictions on mining, livestock grazing and other development.
But without specific examples of activity that has been stopped by the regulations, she's unlikely to grant an injunction on those rules before an upcoming trial on the merits of the case.
