U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Twin Falls BLM
Twin Falls BLM
| Contacts: | Heather Tiel-Nelson, (208) 736-235 | |||
| Rick Vander Voet, (208) 736-2380 |
BLM Extends Public Comment Period on Jarbidge Resource Management Plan Alternatives and Analysis
BOISE, ID – Idaho Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Director Steve Ellis announced today that he will extend the current public comment period on the Jarbidge Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) an additional 60 days. The extended timeframe means that the comment period on the Draft EIS, which originally was set to close December 2, 2010, will now close January 31, 2011.
Once finalized, the Jarbidge RMP will provide management direction for the 1.4 million acres of public land in southwestern Idaho and northern Nevada managed by the Jarbidge Field Office. The six alternatives in the Draft offer a range of approaches to achieve and maintain desired resource conditions in the area over the coming 15 to 20 years; it also examines issues like recreation, energy development, livestock grazing and vegetation.
“We appreciate the importance of this document to the public, particularly the people of Idaho and Nevada, and we want to ensure appropriate time for public review and comment,” said Idaho State Director Steve Ellis. “This 60-day extension will enable our neighbors and the public to better inform our analysis and resultant decision.”
Electronic copies of the Draft EIS are available online at: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/planning/jarbidge_resource.html. Please send written comments by mail to Jarbidge Planning Team, BLM Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 or e-mail comments to ID_Jarbidge_RMP@blm.gov. Fax written comments to (208) 736-2375 – Attention: Jarbidge Planning Team.
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.