"A coalition of environmental groups has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's sweeping greater sage grouse conservation plans across the West, claiming they are riddled with loopholes, scientific flaws and "political compromises" and won't protect the bird or its habitat.

The Interior Department released a statement [Thursday] defending the plans and pledging to continue implementing them with state and local partners.

The lawsuit, filed [Thursday] in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, does not ask the court to throw out the plans that amended 98 federal land-use plans in 10 states to incorporate grouse protections."

Scott Streater reports for Greenwire February 25, 2016. [2]