Rep. Rob Bishop, others target Endangered Species Act

SALT LAKE CITY — A new report concludes the potential listing of the greater sage grouse in Utah and 10 other western states is a “case study” on why conservation of species through litigation is a practice that fails both animals and people.

Released Tuesday by the Endangered Species Act Congressional Working Group, the report said the Endangered Species Act is akin to a regulatory straitjacket that thwarts good conservation work.

“The ESA is stuck in a litigation driven model. This outdated model hinders the boots on the ground conservation we should be harnessing to actually recover endangered species, not just spout flowery rhetoric about the law in the courtrooms,” said Rep. Cynthia Loomis, R-Wyoming.