CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — An environmental group is asking the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to impose strict limits on oil drilling in designated sage grouse habitat east of Douglas.

BLM officials say they are reviewing the request and won't approve drilling any time soon. Habitat zones such as the Douglas sage grouse core area are a key part of Wyoming's strategy for keeping sage grouse off the threatened or endangered species list. Even so, the governor's office and Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy recently agreed to allow potentially hundreds of new oil wells in the core area.

The group WildEarth Guardians wants the Interior Department and BLM to postpone and then restrict drilling in the habitat zone. The group says BLM should first finish adopting its own sage grouse core area strategy in Wyoming.

 

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