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Senator Hankins urges federal exclusion of private lands from Gunnison sage‑grouse critical habitat
Summary
Senator Hankins introduced HCR7 urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to exclude private land such as portions of San Juan County from critical‑habitat designation for the Gunnison sage‑grouse, citing local economic impacts on farming, ranching and energy leases.
Senator Hankins introduced House Concurrent Resolution 7, which urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recognize and protect private landowners’ rights and to consider excluding private property — including areas of San Juan County — from any federal critical‑habitat designation for the Gunnison sage‑grouse. "Ninety‑five percent of this ground that they're wanting to set aside for sage grouse, is 95% private, 4% Bureau of Land Management, 1% State," Hankins said, adding that the proposed designation could disrupt local farmers and ranchers and affect potential oil and gas leases.
Hankins told the Senate that San Juan County sold about $10.3 million in crops and livestock commodities last year and argued that critical‑habitat rules could jeopardize local economic activity. He said one family withdrew a potential million‑dollar oil and gas lease because of concerns about the sage‑grouse designation.
The resolution frames the issue as federal action that should weigh private‑property uses and local economies when considering habitat protections. No committee amendments or floor votes on the resolution are recorded in the provided transcript excerpt; the measure was introduced and the sponsor described the rationale on the floor.
The Senate record shows the resolution was read on the floor with members present for subsequent procedural steps; further committee action or federal response would determine any legal effect of the resolution’s request to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
