GILLETTE (AP) - Some major energy companies say federal rules advanced to protect sage grouse do not impinge on their operations in northeastern Wyoming, but some drillers and service workers say they're set back by the rules.

The Bureau of Land Management's seasonal restrictions ban any surface disturbance on grouse strutting and nesting grounds from March 1 through June 15.

Marathon Oil Co. reports it has not seen a dramatic slowdown in its operations as a result.

"Regardless of whether it's fee, public or private land, we build our work plans to avoid periods where there are restrictions," said Paul Weeditz, public affairs officer for Marathon. "We try not to demobilize rigs and other equipment unnecessarily."

Lee Warren, public affairs officer for Anadarko, said the company isn't drilling at all now, because most of its leases are on federal land. He said the company saw the lull coming.

Bill William, owner of Pump Pro, Inc., a pump service and repair company in Gillette, said he's seen business fall because of the restrictions.

"We're not going the full days we were before," William said. "I've been doing coal-bed methane since 1993. We've always had regulations we've had to follow. This is the first year it's really caught up with us."

Devon Energy Corp. reports that the bird restrictions haven't been troublesome for its operations. But a spokesman says the company is struggling to deal with changing areas of gas production.

Thom Holmes, district operations manager for Devon in the Powder River Basin, said the company is going through its biggest slump in the past three or four years.

"As development continues to move farther west, there's more development in rugged terrain," Holmes said. He said it's been tough to construct pits in the rugged terrain to hold water left over from coal bed methane production.