The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today released the Lander Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for future management of public lands in the Lander Field Office area.
The 1,700-page document contains a series of management alternatives, including a preferred alternative, designed to address challenges and issues raised during public comment periods including recreation, areas of critical environmental concern, greater sage-grouse habitats, livestock grazing, energy development and units of the National Landscape Conservation System.
- Alternative A: Continues existing management practices (no action alternative);
- Alternative B: Emphasizes conservation of natural and cultural resources while providing for compatible development and use;
- Alternative C: Emphasizes resource development and use; and
- Alternative D: Provides development opportunities while protecting sensitive resources (preferred alternative).
Project Lead Kristin Yannone stresses that commenting on the alternatives is important. “The preferred alternative is not a final agency decision,” said Yannone, “but its identification lets people know the direction the BLM is leaning. We will make adjustments to the preferred action based upon the comments we receive, particularly to those areas the public identifies as requiring additional management actions.”
The document can be found online at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/lander.html and hard copies are available for review at public libraries throughout Fremont, Natrona and Sweetwater counties and at the Lander Field Office and the Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office in Worland.
Comments should be submitted by Dec. 7, 2011, using the following methods:
“The new RMP will guide BLM management of public lands for approximately twenty years,” Yannone said. “Input from the public will help ensure the broadest possible support for the RMP.”
Changes made in response to public comments will be included in the proposed RMP, scheduled for release in 2012.
The BLM will host several public commenting workshops and public meetings during the 90-day comment period. The commenting workshops, to be held Sept. 19-21, will focus on how to formulate effective comments and will feature a presentation and question and answer session about commenting and navigating the document.
COMMENTING WORKSHOPS |
Date and Time |
Location |
Monday, September 19, 2011
4-7 p.m. |
Best Western
Wind River and Fremont Rooms
260 Grandview Drive
Lander, WY 82520 |
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
4-7 p.m. |
Holiday Inn
Taggarts Room (Rooms 1 and 2)
900 East Sunset Drive
Riverton, WY 82501 |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
4-7 p.m. |
Headwaters Arts and Conference Center
Wind River Room
20 Stalnaker Street
Dubois, WY 82513 |
Public meetings will be held Oct. 24-28 throughout the Lander Field Office area to provide additional opportunities to speak with BLM staff regarding the document. For more information about the meetings and the Lander RMP revision project, visitwww.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/lander.html or you may contact Yannone at 307-332-8400.
|
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
|
