Boise District
| Contacts: | John Sullivan | , 208-384-3338 | ||
| M.J. Byrne | , 208-384-3393 | , cell 208-871-1992 |
Comment period extended on proposed land exchange in Wilderness
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has extended the public comment period to August 31, 2012, on a Notice of Exchange Proposal (NOEP) discussing a proposed land exchange that would allow BLM to acquire State lands within and adjacent to Wilderness Areas in Owyhee County, Idaho.
The purpose of the exchange would be to allow both the BLM and the Idaho Department of Lands to consolidate their respective ownerships, and to enhance and increase efficiencies in managing and using these lands.
The NOEP was published once per week for four consecutive weeks in the Idaho Statesman beginning on June 13, 2012, in the Idaho Press Tribune beginning on June 14, 2012, and in the Owyhee Avalanche beginning on June 20, 2012. The NOEP provided for a 45-day public comment period beginning on the first publication date.
“Extending the comment period to August 31, 2012 will ensure that interested individuals and organizations have sufficient time to review the proposal and provide any comments to the BLM,” said John Sullivan, supervisory resource management specialist, at the BLM’s Boise District Office.
Please provide written comments to John Sullivan, supervisory resource management specialist, at the BLM Boise District Office, 3948 S. Development Avenue, Boise, ID 83705-5389. Faxes, e-mails, and telephone conversations are not acceptable means of comment. A copy of the NOEP can be viewed on BLM’s website at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/owyhee_initiative.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.
Boise District 3984 S. Development Avenue Boise, ID 83705-5389