In an exchange that benefits both parties, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is granting access to approximately 54 miles of roads on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge to Ruby Pipeline, LLC (Ruby) to allow access to and from Ruby’s proposed pipeline route in northern Nevada.
In addition, Ruby will transfer ownership of 20 acres of land it owns within Sheldon’s boundaries to the Service in exchange for 3.64 acres of refuge land and access along one mile of Wall Canyon Road in the southwest corner of the refuge. The 20 acres are potentially good habitat for the greater sage grouse, the pygmy rabbit and migratory birds.
Ruby is proposing to build about 675 miles of natural gas pipeline across four states from Opal, Wyoming, to Malin, Oregon. The pipeline will cross northern Nevada, about a mile south of the refuge boundary. The pipeline won’t cross the refuge but Ruby requested the use of several refuge roads to serve as access routes for construction vehicles. The access primarily applies to improved roads only.
The Service released its Record of Decision (ROD) on the Ruby Pipeline Project today, following a two-year review under the National Environmental Policy Act that included opportunities for public comment. The ROD and supporting documents can be found on the Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex website at http://www.fws.gov/sheldonhartmtn/Sheldon/rod.html
In requesting the use of certain roads within the Sheldon Refuge, Ruby LLC, worked closely with refuge staff to develop a transportation plan. A compatibility study also was done to determine whether allowing access was compatible with the purpose of the refuge, which is to provide habitat for pronghorn antelope and other sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush -dependent species. While there is some limited impact to wildlife from Ruby’s use of the roads, there is a net benefit from controlling invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , replanting road side with native plants, and moving a section of road out of a spring and spring brook.
The Service received written comments from two interested parties: one individual and a cooperative of conservation groups consisting of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and Great Basin Resource Watch. The three advocacy groups submitted a joint letter under the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club letterhead. Responding to these comments did not require changes to the Ruby Pipeline Transportation Plan, Land Exchange, or Compatibility Determination.
For further information contact Paul Steblein, Project Leader Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630, or by email to sheldon-hart@fws.gov
