Center for Biological Diversity

Protecting endangered species and wild places of western North America
and the Pacific through science, policy, education, and environmental law.

June 15th, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14 Federal Register Notice at BLM California website

The CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Contact: Daniel Patterson, Desert Ecologist, 520.623.5252 x 306

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."

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