GLENWOOD SPRINGS — — Garfield County commissioners are turning to a Texas-based private property rights organization to assist in their efforts to influence a federal land management decision aimed at protecting the greater sage grouse.
But the commissioners’ decision Monday to sign a contract for services with the nonprofit American Stewards of Liberty was criticized by some local citizens who question the organization’s motives and its ties to the oil and gas industry.
The organization, according to its website (http://americanstewards.us), bills itself as a defender of private property rights that also trains local governments on how to work with federal and state agencies on regulatory issues related to public lands.
Commissioners voted 2-0 at Monday’s meeting to contract with the organization for an amount not to exceed $20,000.
The county has an existing sage grouse working plan that was developed locally in cooperation with state wildlife officials four years ago. Commissioners want to have that plan included as part of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s planned Environmental Impact Statement, which will outline measures for protecting the bird and its habitat.
The greater sage grouse thrives in the remote sagebrush-covered regions of northwest Colorado, including a large part of western Garfield County. The management plan will affect public lands in a nine-state region.
Read more at:
