For Release: Aug. 21, 2003
Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332
CA-N-03-83

BLM TO HOST SHASTA COUNTY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS LAND USE PLANNING
Sessions Planned for Redding, Fall River Mills

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host public meetings in Redding and Fall River Mills to gather public comments and ideas on development of new land use plans for public land in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada.

In Redding, the meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the BLM Redding Field Office, 355 Hemsted Dr. The meeting room is next door to the main BLM office. In Fall River Mills, the meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the conference room of the U. S. Forest Service Hat Creek Ranger District on Highway 299. Both meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Following introductory comments, the BLM staff will host an open house session, where anyone interested can ask questions about the planning process and provide comments on issues that should be addressed in new land use plans. BLM staff specialists will be available to answer questions and to receive comments.

The meetings are part "public scoping," an early phase of the land use planning process in which members of the public can share ideas about the issues that should be addressed in the BLM's new land use plans, called Resource Management Plans. The agency staff and a planning consultant will use ideas gathered during scoping, along with regulatory planning requirements, to develop a range of planning alternatives which also will be open to public review and comment.

When the planning process is completed in the fall of 2005, new resource management plans will be in place for the three million acres managed by the BLM's Alturas, Eagle Lake and Surprise field offices. The land use plans provide broad overall guidance for land management, and are intended to provide direction for up to 20 years.

Those who cannot attend the meetings can provide scoping comments to the BLM by emailing them to: necarmp@ca.blm.gov. Comments can be mailed to: Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130. A closing date for public comments will be announced at the conclusion of the series of public scoping meetings.

More information is available from BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana at (530) 252-5332.

-BLM-

Northern California Support Team 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 95630