| Contacts: | Christopher B Joyner, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 210-2126 |
BLM accepting public comment on 2013 bike race (11-18-12)
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is now seeking public comment on a proposed 2013 mountain bike race.
Under the proposal, race organizer, Epic Rides, plans to route race traffic through portions of the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area. The race would begin in downtown Grand Junction with three different routes through Bangs Canyon SRMA. Trails would include parts of the Lunch Loop trails, Butterknife and Megellan Loop. The three-day race spanning Friday-Sunday in September is expected to draw approximately 600 race participants with approximately two thousand total visitors to Grand Junction and the surrounding area if approved. Some trails may be closed during the event and could affect recreation opportunities during the event.
The City of Grand Junction, Mesa County, and the Grand Valley Trails Alliance are partnering with the BLM to assess the feasibility of this event. The public is encouraged to respond with comments and concerns regarding this special event. Proposed course maps along with supporting documents are available on the BLM Grand Junction Field Office website at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html
Public comments regarding this proposal will be most helpful to the BLM if received by Dec. 19. Written comments can be mailed to the Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506, Attention: Carrie Surber. Comments can also be submitted via email to BLM_CO_GJ_Public_Comments@blm.gov.
Questions from the general public can be directed to Carrie Surber at (970) 244-3053.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
Members of the media contact BLM Public Affairs Specialist, Chris Joyner at (970) 244-3111.
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.
2815 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81506