Federal Judge Overturns Approval of Idaho Phosphate Mine, Citing Impact on Sage Grouse Population

A federal judge revoked approval for a phosphate mining project in southeastern Idaho, finding that federal officials did not properly consider the impact on sage grouse.
The judge ruled that the Trump administration failed to assess how the mine would affect the sage grouse, a bird species that has declined 80% since 1965.
The mine was proposed by a subsidiary of the German company Bayer AG, which said it may appeal the ruling.
The judge threw out the mine's approval, its environmental analysis, and other related decisions.
Had it been built, the 1,550-acre mine would have produced glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup weedkiller.