U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed her support for the secretarial order signed by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to improve sage grouse conservation and strengthen consultation between the federal government and western states.

Secretarial Order 3353 establishes an internal review team to evaluate and make recommendations on the land use plans finalized in 2015 that address conservation of the sage grouse and its habitat. The review will also consider local economic growth and job creation. 

“I applaud Secretary Zinke for directing Interior to evaluate the land management policies aimed at protecting the sage grouse to ensure that the input of the 11 impacted western states is properly considered,” Murkowski said. “Cooperation between the federal, state, and local governments will produce a better result for the citizens and species that depend on our public lands.” 

Murkowski is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. More information about the new Secretarial Orders is available here.