BLM Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed
Vegetation Treatments
on BLM-Managed Public Lands
The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it is extending until
February 10, 2006, the public comment period on its proposed methods for
treating and managing vegetation on BLM-managed public lands. The agency,
which held public meetings on its vegetation treatment proposal from November
28, 2005-December 13, 2005, is extending the public comment period to
ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to express their
views. The public comment period had originally been slated to close on
January 9, 2006.
The public is invited to comment on the BLM’s extensive environmental
analysis of proposed vegetation treatments, which are aimed at controlling
the spread of noxious and invasive plants on BLM-managed lands in the
West. The treatments will also reduce the amount of highly flammable forest
and rangeland fuels, such as stands of pinyon and juniper trees or dead
and down woody materials.
The BLM’s environmental analysis consists of two vegetation-related
reports released on November 10, 2005. The Draft Vegetation Treatments
Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) addresses the
BLM’s use of herbicides, and the Draft Vegetation Treatments
on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental
Report (PER) describes the environmental impacts of using non-herbicide
treatment methods, including fire and mechanical, manual, or biological
controls. The documents and associated material can be accessed at www.blm.gov.
(For further details, see the accompanying Frequently
Asked Questions.)
To submit written comments, be placed on the mailing list, or request
compact discs of the documents, please contact Brian Amme, Project Manager,
BLM, P.O. Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520-0006. Comments may also be faxed to
775-861-6712, or e-mailed to vegeis@nv.blm.gov.
The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more
land – 261 million surface acres – than any other Federal
agency. Most of this public land is located in 12 Western States, including
Alaska. The Bureau 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 by managing such activities
as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy
production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other
resources on the public lands.
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