Sage grouse saga: Trump opens habitat to drilling as activists condemn plan
Environmentalists say changes will make it harder to stop the long-term decline of the species
The Trump administration on Friday finalized changes to sweeping federal land use plans for the west, easing restrictions on energy companies and other industries in a way officials said would still protect a struggling bird species.
But environmentalists said the widely-anticipated move will undermine protections for the chicken-sized grouse. It would allow more oil and gas drilling, mining and other activities that can disrupt grouse breeding grounds.