"RENO, Nev. – An unprecedented attempt to protect sage grouse habitat across parts of more than 900 square miles of privately owned land in Nevada began under a deal Thursday involving the federal government, an environmental group and the world's largest gold mining company.

The agreement comes as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approaches a fall deadline for a decision on whether to protect the greater sage grouse, a bird roughly the size of a chicken that ranges across the West, under the Endangered Species Act.

Commercial operations, including mining companies and oil and gas producers, are entering into such deals in an effort to keep the bird off the threatened or endangered list because the classification would place new restrictions on their work."

Scott Sonner reports for the Associated Press March 29, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Sage Grouse Protections Expand To Cover Bird's Entire Oregon Range" (AP) [3]

"Oregon Ranchers in Deal With Federal Government To Protect Sage Grouse" (Reuters) [4]