| Contacts: | Tom Alvarez, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM White River Field Office Seeks Public Comments
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), White River Field Office (WRFO) is conducting an environmental assessment and seeking public comment on a proposed construction project by the White River Electric Association (WREA), through public lands near the community of Meeker, Colo. The public comment period begins on Jan. 12, 2011 and ends on the close of business on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011.
The construction project is a new overhead power line, crossing 3 miles of BLM managed public land, and connecting to the Sulphur Creek Substation currently in construction along Rio Blanco County Road #11, about 1 mile north of Sage Hill Subdivision. Copies of the proposed plan and details of the construction route can be picked up at the BLM Visitors Services Information Desk, WRFO, 220 E. Market Street, in Meeker or by contacting Stacey Burke, at 970 878-3827, or by email at Stacey_Burke@blm.gov.
The WREA will host a public presentation of the proposed construction project on Wednesday, Jan. 12, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Kilowatt Korner, 233 6th Street, Meeker. Public comments can be delivered or mailed to Stacey Burke at the WRFO, or emailed to Stacey_Burke@blm.gov. If using email, please note WREA Proposed Construction in the subject line.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. 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.