News Release

For Release: September 6, 2007
Contact: Jeff Fontana, BLM, (530) 252-5332; Laura Williams, Modoc NF, (530) 233-8713  
CA-N-07-72

Meetings, Field Tours Planned for Sage-Steppe Management Strategy

A series of public meetings and field tours will be held in locations across northeast California later this month, providing opportunities for people to learn more about proposed strategies for restoring sage-steppe ecosystems.
 
The meetings and tours are part of the public review process for a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) analyzing various alternatives for restoring sage-steppe ecosystems that have been impacted by expanding stands of juniper trees.  The DEIS was developed by the Modoc National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and Modoc County.
 
Meetings, which will include opportunities to provide written comments, will be held as follows:

 Susanville:  Monday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m., BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Dr.

 Cedarville:  Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., BLM Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler St.

 Bieber:  Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m., Veterans’ Memorial Hall, 657-555 Bridge St.

 Tulelake:  Thursday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Community Partnership Building, 611 Main St.

 Alturas:  Friday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m., Modoc National Forest Headquarters, 800 W. 12th St.

Field tours, also open to the public, will be held as follows:

 Cedarville:  Tuesday, Sept. 25.  Meet at 1 p.m. at the BLM Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler St.

 Alturas:  Friday, Sept. 28.  Meet at 1 p.m. at the Modoc National Forest Headquarters, 800 W. 12th St.

Tours will last about four hours, returning at about 5 p.m.  Depending on the turnout, participants may need to provide their own high-clearance vehicles.
 
The agencies on August 31 released the DEIS for public review and comment.  It describes alternatives for treating areas where grass and brush have been crowded out by advancing stands of juniper.  The document describes the environmental effects of various treatment methods.
 
Written comments will be accepted until Oct. 15, 2007.  Comments can be presented at the public meetings or mailed to: Sage Steppe Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, 800 West 12th St., Alturas, CA  96101. Email comments should be directed to: comments-pacificsouthwest-modoc@fs.fed.us.

For more information, contact Project Lead Rob Jeffers, (530) 233-8816, email: rgjeffers@fs.fed.us.

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