BLM Publishes Sage Grouse Changes
The Bureau of Land Management marked a milestone in early May in the administration’s effort to better align plans for managing Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on federal lands with state plans by publishing draft environmental impact analyses of proposed changes to resource management plans in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and part of California
The BLM developed the proposed changes in collaboration with the governors of those states, state wildlife managers and other external partners to align federal and state plans in order to pursue the shared goals of healthy sagebrush-steppe habitat that benefits wildlife and recreation while supporting local economies.
The BLM is accepting comments on the draft EIS plans through Aug. 9. Comments may be submitted by mail or online and the BLM will also hold public meetings during the comment period. The BLM expects to publish a final EIS and plan amendments by October 2018 – one year after publishing the Notice of Intent to begin this planning effort.
Each state has a landing page for the Draft EIS and other documents, and specific information on commenting and public meetings:
• California/Nevada: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502; or online at https://goo.gl/uz89cT.
• Colorado: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; or online at https://goo.gl/kmLtwT.
• Idaho: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709; or online at https://goo.gl/f94eKW.
• Oregon: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR, 97208-2965; or online at https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
• Utah: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 440 West 200 South, Ste. 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or online at https://goo.gl/ywBXSn.
• Wyoming: Comments may be submitted by mail: BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009; or online at https://goo.gl/22jKE2.