News Release

For Release: September 19, 2007
Contact: Brian White (208) 769-5031

BLM Invites Public to Blue Creek Bay Meeting
Recreation Site Plan Alternatives to be Outlined

COEUR D'ALENE, ID - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Coeur d’Alene Field Office invites the public to attend the third and final scoping meeting concerning recreation management on public lands located in Blue Creek Bay. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on September 24th, at the BLM Office located at 3815 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene.

The BLM initiated public scoping meetings for the Blue Creek Bay area with an open forum meeting on June 12, followed by a field tour of the area on July 21.  The BLM has, based on comments from over 50 people who attended the previous meetings, developed three draft alternatives for recreation management in this area.   Those wishing to learn more about the alternatives or provide feedback to the BLM should plan to attend the meeting.
 
According to Eric Thomson, BLM Field Manager, the public has been an integral part of this planning effort.  “This meeting will culminate the initial public input and collaborative effort involved in guiding future recreation management for public lands in Blue Creek Bay,” Thomson said.

At the September 24th meeting, the BLM will provide an overview of the draft alternatives and allow for additional public comments and feedback.  This information will then be used to develop an environmental assessment to analyze the effects of the actions within each alternative.  “Once we complete the environmental assessment later this winter, we will once again ask the public to provide their comments.  We want to continue this open and collaborative process,” stated Thomson. 

Please contact Brian White, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at (208) 769-5031 or visit http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/coeur_d_alene/programs/planning/0.html for additional information.

— BLM —