Wildlife
Healthy wildlife populations are a major part of the culture and economy of the West, and oil and natural gas employees take their responsibility to protect these populations seriously. Western Energy Alliance supports a regulatory framework that promotes species conservation and collaboration with stakeholders to sustain viable habitat. Companies ensure impacts to wildlife and habitat are avoided or minimized by reducing surface disturbance and employing advanced reclamation measures, surveys, best management practices (BMP), and monitoring programs.
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Our industry also takes seriously the obligation to conserve species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and state wildlife laws. Development on public lands is conducted under rigorous restrictions for ESA-listed and at-risk species.
The oil and natural gas industry frequently takes the lead on voluntary conservation efforts to protect wildlife and habitats. Representatives of the industry work with partners from federal, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, and other land users to protect at-risk species and ensure responsible energy development coexists with flourishing wildlife populations. Examples of these partnerships include the Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative, the Intermountain West Joint Venture, and the Sage Grouse Initiative.
Related Content
- Western Governors' Association Species Conservation and ESA Initiative
- Technical Advances in Oil and Natural Gas Development Reduce Landscape Disturbance
- Gaining Ground: Industry Innovation Reduces Impacts on Sage Grouse and Big Game
- Western Governors' Association Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT)
Regulatory Comment Letters
- 10/07/24 PAW and Alliance Comments on USFSW Proposed Listing on the Western Regal Fritillary
- 6/13/24 Comments on Greater Sage-grouse RMPA/EIS
- 5/14/24 Comments on Greater Sage-Grouse ACECs
- 3/28/24 Greater Sage-Grouse RMPA, EIS, and ACECs Extension Request Letter
- 2/6/24 Joint Trade Comments on BLM Big Game RMPA DEIS
- 2/6/24 Comments on Gunnison Sage-Grouse RMPA and DEIS
- 10/2/23 - Comments on Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
- 8/21/23 Comments on Fish and Wildlife Service Regulations Pertaining to Wildlife and Plants
- 8/21/23 Comments on Fish and Wildlife Service Proposed Revisions to Section 7
- 8/21/23 Comments on Fish and Wildlife Service on ESA Listings and Critical Habitat
- 4/10/23 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ESA Section 10 Revision Comments with PBPA, PAO and
- 11/14/22 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tricolored Bat Listing Comments with API and AXPC
- 9/26/22 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Compensatory Mitigation Comments with API. AOGA, PAO
- 9/2/22 - BLM Big Game Habitat and Corridor RMP Amendment Scoping Comments with WSCOGA and API-CO
- 8/22/22 - Gunnison Sage Grouse RMPA Scoping Comments
- 8/8/22 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ESA Experimental Population Rulemaking with PAO
- 2/8/22 - Scoping Comments on the Greater Sage-Grouse Plan Amendments