U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Idaho BLM
Idaho BLM
| Contacts: | Jessica Gardetto (208) 373-4060 |
Idaho BLM Invites Public to Sage-Grouse Scoping Meetings
BOISE – Beginning January 9, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are inviting the public to participate in public scoping meetings to evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans and land management plans throughout Idaho and Southwest Montana.
The scoping meetings, in an open-house format, will be held in the following locations, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m.
Date | City | Venue |
January 9 | Boise, ID | Red Lion Boise Hotel 1800 Fairview Ave. |
January 10 | Idaho Falls, ID | Red Lion Hotel 475 River Parkway |
January 11 | Salmon, ID | Salmon Valley Business & Innovation Center 803 Monroe St. |
January 12 | Dillon, MT | National Guard Armory 1050 MT Hwy 41 |
January 25 | Twin Falls, ID | Canyon Springs Red Lion Inn 1357 Blue Lakes Blvd. |
January 26 | Pocatello, ID | The Clarion Hotel 1399 Pocatello Bench Road |
A complete list of scoping meeting times and locations can also be found on the BLM’s greater sage-grouse website at http://www.blm.gov/sagegrouse .
These scoping meetings are being held in conjunction with the 60-day public comment period to the Notice of Intent for the two agencies to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to incorporate greater sage-grouse conservation measures into land use plans and land management plans. The Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2011.
The 60-day public comment period provides the public an opportunity to comment on issues that should be addressed in the EIS. The public scoping meetings provide the public an additional opportunity to talk to staff and resource specialists and to submit written comments on the proposal in person.
Based on ongoing threats to the greater sage-grouse and its habitat throughout the West, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2015 deadline for making a decision whether to list the species under the Endangered Species Act, the BLM and the USFS plan to incorporate consistent objectives and conservation measures into all relevant plans by September 2014.
The two agencies have identified the following preliminary issues to address in their environmental analysis, including but not limited to: Greater Sage-grouse habitat management, wildfire, invasive species, rights-of-way, renewable energy development, grazing, off highway vehicle management and recreation.
To ensure that comments and information are fully considered, comments must be received by close of business on February 7, 2012. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
2. Email: sagewest@blm.gov
3. Fax: 775-861-6747
4. Mail: Western Region Project Manager, BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502
For more about the BLM’s Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy, visit the following Website: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse.html .
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.