US Considers Mining Limits To Save Sage Grouse

DENVER (AP) — The Obama administration will release five possible plans Thursday for limiting mining on federal land in the West to protect the vulnerable greater sage grouse, but it isn’t saying which it prefers.
The options range from banning new mining activity on about 15,000 square miles for up to 20 years to imposing no additional restrictions on mine locations.
The Associated Press obtained the outlines of the proposals in advance.
The rules would affect sage grouse habitat on