More to Sage Grouse protection than meets the eye

Dear Editor,

I tend to be more worried about my own survival than the survival of the sage grouse. I believe there is more to this issue than the fate of a little bird. After studying the Bureau of Land management (BLM) information packet it would appear more of an attempt to control over 11 million acres of surface property, of ownership other than BLM, with underlying federal mineral estate. This is more of an action of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) than the BLM, as their profit ratio would be greater.

The BLM Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) is only a tool as a means to an end. I fear these lands will be viewed more as public domain than their currently recognized ownership. I admit I am not knowledgeable as to the current division of ownership of the 11 million acres, in these Montana counties, but surely a good percentage is in private ownership. I do have lands with federal minerals and will be most upset if they are inverted to a quasi-public domain status, through the excuse of sage grouse protection. I have no wish to be victim of an elaborate and most subtle land grab.

John Snyder

Weston, Wyoming