RENO, Nev. (AP) — Conservationists say the Trump administration's approval of exploratory drilling for oil in sage grouse habitat on federal land in eastern Nevada violates its own protection guidelines.
They say it ignores concerns raised by scientists about potential harm to the imperiled bird. Two groups are asking the Bureau of Land Management's state director to at least temporarily halt the Western Oil Exploration Co.'s plans to drill two oil wells on public lands about 40 miles west of Ely.
They say the wells are planned in grouse habitat that's supposed to be off limits under a resource management plan adopted in 2015.