San Juan Public Lands Center
| Contacts: | Michael Jensen | , 970-882-6828 | , michael_jensen@blm.gov |
BLM Accepting Public Comments on a Grazing Permit Renewal Environmental Assessment
DURANGO, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management is now accepting public comments on a Preliminary Environmental Assessment that evaluates the potential effects of renewing an existing term grazing permit for livestock grazing within the Cross Canyon and Cross Canyon-Utah Allotments on public lands. The Cross Canyon Allotment is located entirely on lands within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The Cross Canyon-Utah Allotment is located on BLM land in Utah that is not part of the Monument. This Utah allotment has been administered by the Colorado BLM since 1982. The reference number for this EA is CO-800-2008-035.
Two alternatives are analyzed in the EA, the Proposed Action, and a No Grazing Alternative. The Proposed Action analyzes the impacts of renewing the term grazing permit for a period of 10 years. The No Grazing Alternative analyzes the impacts of not renewing the permit and discontinuing livestock grazing on these allotments.
The Cross Canyon Allotment covers approximately 30,000 acres of public lands within the Monument boundaries. The Cross Canyon-Utah Allotment covers approximately 10,000 acres of BLM land in Utah.
Written public comments must be postmarked by Oct. 20, 2009, and mailed to Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. No electronic or verbal comments will be accepted.
The Preliminary EA is available on the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument website at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nm/canm/nepa_documents.html. Paper copies of the EA will be available at the Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, C0, and at the Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO.
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.
San Juan Public Lands Center San Juan Public Lands Center 15 Burnett Court Durango, CO 81301