According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, The Environmental Law Clinic alerted the Service to the possibility that the sage-grouse might become an endangered species:

In 2005, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service received a new petition from the Stanford Law School Environmental Law Clinic on behalf of the Sagebrush Sea Campaign, Western Watersheds Project, Center for Biological Diversity, and Christians Caring for Creation to list the Mono Basin area sage-grouse as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. In order to resolve litigation, the Service published a non-substantial 90-day finding on December 19, 2006, based on information contained in the 2001 and 2005 petitions.

Subsequently, the Stanford Law School Environmental Law Clinic filed a complaint on behalf of the Sagebrush Sea Campaign, Western Watersheds Project, Center for Biological Diversity, and Desert Survivors, in 2007 challenging the Service’s 2006 90-day finding. In response to the complaint, the Service has reconsidered the 90-day finding and will be conducting an in-depth examination of the species status.

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