Center for Biological DiversityProtecting endangered species and wild
places of western North America |
June 15th, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE The
CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY NEWS ADVISORY: BLM MOVES ON DESERT LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT PROVISION TO PROTECT PENINSULAR RANGES BIGHORN SHEEP IN COYOTE MOUNTAINS FROM OFF-ROAD VEHICLES & UNPERMITTED MINING NOTICE COMES 3.5 MONTHS LATE DUE TO STALLING BY INTERIOR SECRETARY GALE NORTON, WHILE BLM STILL STALLS ON-THE-GROUND ACTION. "Finally BLM has acted to uphold the court order to protect the bighorns in the Coyote Mountains," said Daniel Patterson, CBD's Desert Ecologist. "Unfortunately the endangered sheep have not been protected all spring, and will continue to be at risk due to BLM's delay in implementing this closure on-the-ground until at least July 16. This protective action is very overdue and it should go in to effect immediately." The ecologist adds, "Anti-environmental political delays of the Bush administration are blocking protection of this bighorn population and critical lambing ground this lambing season." |