<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title>OR/WA BLM News Releases</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:29:44 PST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/</link>
<description>The most recent Oregon/Washington BLM news releases.</description>
<managingEditor>ORwaland@blm.gov (ORWA BLM)</managingEditor>
<webMaster>BLM_OR_SO_Web_Services@blm.gov (Oregon Washington BLM Web Team)</webMaster>
<atom:link href="http://www.blm.gov/or/rss/news-or.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
<language>en-us</language><item>
<title>Bob Abbey Joins Twitter, BLM Releases New Media Strategy</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/Twitter_NR_Final.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/Twitter_NR_Final.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[As a strong proponent of public engagement, Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey has jumped into the social media conversation on land management issues with his new Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/BLMDirector]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:30:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Initiates Planning For Hardrock Geological Prospecting</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-09_Ascot_Prospecting_Press_Release.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-09_Ascot_Prospecting_Press_Release.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it is beginning the process to evaluate an exploration plan for hardrock geological prospecting northeast of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument (NVM).  Beginning in March 2011, Ascot Resources Ltd. (Ascot) - a Vancouver, B.C.-based company incorporated in the State of Washington as Ascot USA Inc.- applied for two prospecting permits.

The BLM will hold two public open houses to determine the nature and range of issues to be addressed in the environmental assessment, including alternatives:  Longview - February 15; and Morton - February 16.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Comment Period for Greater Sage-Grouse Scoping Extended</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SG_Comment_Period_Extension.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SG_Comment_Period_Extension.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are seeking public comment on issues that should be addressed in Environmental Impact Statements (EIS's) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (SEIS's) that will evaluate and provide greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 Western states. To address requests for additional time to provide comment, the two agencies have extended the public scoping period an additional 45 days and will continue to accept scoping comments through March 23, 2012.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Seasonal Wildlife Closures in Place on Prineville District BLM</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/files/Seasonal_Wildlife_Closures_in_Place_on_Prineville_District_BLM.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/files/Seasonal_Wildlife_Closures_in_Place_on_Prineville_District_BLM.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[PRINEVILLE, Ore.- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville District Office is implementing a series of wildlife closures to protect several species of birds of prey during sensitive nesting periods. Harassment by humans - unintentional or deliberate - is a leading cause of nest failure or abandonment. All public uses will be prohibited in the closure areas including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and OHV riding/driving.]]></description><category>Prineville</category><pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM and Forest Service Announce 2012 Grazing Fee</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/GrazingFee2012.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/GrazingFee2012.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Federal grazing fee for 2012 will be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.35 per head month (HM) for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The 2012 fee is the same as last year's.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM to Close Road Due to Washout</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB-OR-100-FY2012-005_Road_Closure.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB-OR-100-FY2012-005_Road_Closure.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Roseburg, Ore. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to close road 22-7-2.0, one mile south of the Upper Smith River Junction due to washout. The road closure is in T21S-R07W-S08, 14 miles northwest of Drain, Oregon.]]></description><category>Roseburg</category><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Resource Advisors Needed</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-08_RAC_Call2012.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-08_RAC_Call2012.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The BLM in Oregon/Washington announced that it is seeking public nominations for 15 open positions on its three Resource Advisory Councils (RACs).  The Eastern Washington, John Day-Snake and Southeast Oregon RACs advise the BLM and the US Forest Service on public land issues.  Nominations must be submitted by March 12, 2012. There are vacancies in Commodity, Conservation and Community categories.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:15:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Forest Roads Damaged, Closed After Storm</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-4_rddamage.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-4_rddamage.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roads are closed and several more damaged after last week's storm dumped more than nine inches of rain on some forests in the area.]]></description><category>Coos Bay</category><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Help Plan Homestead Act Celebration</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/VL_TrailCenterHomesteadAnnivActivities.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/VL_TrailCenterHomesteadAnnivActivities.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Homestead Act, the 1862 law that enabled thousands of settlers to move west and claim 160 acres of land.  The impact and legacy of homesteading will be commemorated in a special exhibit and several programs at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC).  Center staff and Trail Tender volunteers are seeking assistance from the community to add local stories to the planned activities.]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate> PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Distributes Final Payments to Counties</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-04_Secure_Rural_Schools_Payments_1-12.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-04_Secure_Rural_Schools_Payments_1-12.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The BLM announced today that it has issued payment to 18 counties in western Oregon eligible under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act extension (Public Law 110-343). The amount paid to the Oregon &amp; California (O&amp;C) counties was $40,037,160.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>San Juan County Plans to Assess Wildfire Risk</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0007_San_Juan_County_Wildfire_Risk_Assessment_Public_Notice.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0007_San_Juan_County_Wildfire_Risk_Assessment_Public_Notice.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Working in conjunction with San Juan County, local groups and various public agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has launched the process of developing a county-level wildland fire risk assessment that can be integrated into a future Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The BLM is seeking representatives of interested organizations to participate on a steering committee for this project.]]></description><category>Spokane</category><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Fee-Free Days for BLM-Managed Public</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/fee_freedays12.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/fee_freedays12.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related fees for visitors to the National System of Public Lands for Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend (Jan. 14 to Jan. 16), Get Outdoors Day (June 9), National Public Lands Day (Sept. 29), and Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 10-12) in 2012.  These fee-free days also apply to areas managed within the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS).]]></description><category>Salem</category><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Hazard Tree Removal at Alsea Falls Recreation Site</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/Alsea_haz_tree.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/Alsea_haz_tree.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Salem, Ore - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Marys Peak Resource Area, will be removing hazard trees at Alsea Falls Recreation Site between January 20th and April 30th as part of the South Fork Alsea Access Road Hazard Tree Removal/Roadside Enhancement and Alsea Falls Park Enhancement Project.  The Alsea Falls Recreation Site is located 27 miles southwest of Corvallis and 13 miles west of Monroe, Oregon on the banks of the south fork of the Alsea River.]]></description><category>Salem</category><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>New Roseburg Manager Named</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-06_RoseburgDM_Jan2012.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-06_RoseburgDM_Jan2012.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Oregon/Washington State Director Ed Shepard announced the selection of Katrina Symons as the new the BLM Roseburg District Manager. Symons has been the Field Manager of the Grants Pass Field Office since September 2004. Symons will report to the Roseburg District on March 11, 2012, replacing Jay Carlson who retired at the end of 2011.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM to Use State, Regional Wildlife Habitat Data</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/CHAT_BLM_PRESS_RELEASE_1-10-12_FINAL.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/CHAT_BLM_PRESS_RELEASE_1-10-12_FINAL.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it will use state and regional data and maps to help it identify wildlife corridors and crucial habitat in future land-use planning and management efforts. The maps will be available for the BLM to use as a result of the Western Wildlife Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool, known as &quot;CHAT,&quot; an initiative of the Western Governors' Association.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Agencies Release Final Analysis of Wagon Road Pilot</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-3_CBWR_finalEA.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-3_CBWR_finalEA.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Coos Bay District and the Coquille Indian Tribe are releasing today the final analysis concerning the Wagon Road Pilot project. the final environmental assessment, along with the signed Finding of No Significant Impact, is available online at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/plans/index.php]]></description><category>Coos Bay</category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:15:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>New Prineville Manager Named</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-4_PrinevilleDM.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-4_PrinevilleDM.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Today Ed Shepard, the Oregon/Washington BLM State Director, announced the selection of Ms. Carol Benkosky for the position of Prineville District Manager in Prineville, Oregon.  Benkosky is currently the District Manager for the Lakeview District.  She will report to Prineville in March, replacing Deborah Henderson-Norton who retired at the end of 2011.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:10:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Meetings Engage Public in Planning Process for Sage-Grouse</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-03_SGmeeting.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-12-03_SGmeeting.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[On Dec. 9, 2011, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) initiated a planning process to address sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans in ten western states.  Seeking public input, the BLM is now holding meetings to provide an opportunity for interested parties to discuss sage-grouse conservation with agency specialists and to identify issues related to greater sage-grouse conservation.  Five meetings will be held in Oregon.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Office of Surface Mining, Bureau of Land Management Schedule Meetings with Stakeholders on Proposed Consolidation</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/01-06-12_OSM-BLM_Consolidation_Release.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/01-06-12_OSM-BLM_Consolidation_Release.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a series of meetings around the country soliciting input on the proposed consolidation of OSM within BLM.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Secretary Salazar Approves Renewable Energy Projects</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-28-11_renewables.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-28-11_renewables.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the approval of two renewable energy projects that further advance President Obama's initiative for a rapid and responsible move to utility-scale production of renewable energy.  The projects - a solar plant in California and a wind farm in Oregon - will be built on private lands and will use power lines that cross public lands to connect to their respective power grids.  When built, the projects will deliver 379 megawatts of power - or enough to power 112,500 homes - and help support over 600 jobs through construction and operations.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:30:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Issues Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Guidance</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SageIMPR_final.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SageIMPR_final.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management today issued two Instructional Memorandums (IMs) that will help guide both immediate and longer-term conservation actions aimed at conserving the greater sage-grouse and its sagebrush habitat in 10 western states - aimed at benefitting the species while maintaining a robust economy in the West.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Carbon Sequestration Study Guidance</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SequestrationStudyGuidance.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/SequestrationStudyGuidance.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The BLM recently issued guidance on processing land use proposals and permit applications for exploration and site characterization studies for potential subsurface carbon sequestration projects on BLM lands.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:15:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Burns District Manager Named</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-11-23_BurnsDM_Annct.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-11-23_BurnsDM_Annct.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Today, Ed Shepard, the Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land Management (BLM) State Director, announced the selection of Brendan Cain as the District Manager for BLM's office in Burns, Oregon.  Cain currently works at the Oregon State Office in Portland, as the Branch Chief for Rangeland Resources, Recreation, and Wilderness.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:45:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Harvest Scheduled Within Molalla River Recreation Area</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/Salem_Press_Release_Molalla_Thinning_12-11.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/salem/files/Salem_Press_Release_Molalla_Thinning_12-11.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Timber harvest operations are scheduled to begin this Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 within the Molalla River Recreation Area. Portions of the area will be temporarily closed to public access during active logging to protect public safety.  These areas include the Molalla River Shared Use Trail System and Pinecrest Road. The project is expected to last until early March 2012.]]></description><category>Salem</category><pubDate>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM to Begin Grazing at North Bank Area</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB-OR-100-FY2012-004_NBHMA_Grazing.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB-OR-100-FY2012-004_NBHMA_Grazing.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Roseburg, Ore. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to utilize cattle to graze approximately 58 acres within the North Bank Habitat Management Area (NBHMA) beginning in late December 2011. The NBHMA is situated approximately three miles southeast of Sutherlin, Oregon, along North Bank Road.  The grazing project is an effort to assess grazing as a practical tool to improve forage for the Columbian white-tailed deer.]]></description><category>Roseburg</category><pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Announces Key Appointments in Arizona, New Mexico</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/AZNM_Press_releaseFINAL.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/AZNM_Press_releaseFINAL.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management today announced the appointment of two long-term career professionals to key leadership positions in the agency's Arizona and New Mexico State Offices.  
 
Raymond Suazo has been selected as the State Director in Arizona, where he will oversee nearly 500 employees and the management of more than 12 million surface and 17 million subsurface acres of BLM public lands in Arizona.  He is currently serving as Arizona's acting State Director and has held the Associate State Director position since January 2010.  He replaces Jim Kenna, who was appointed BLM California State Director earlier this year.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Local Charities Enjoy Fundraising by Roseburg BLM Office</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB_OR-100-FY2012-003_CFC_Donations.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/RB_OR-100-FY2012-003_CFC_Donations.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[(Roseburg, OR) Another year's campaign is done, and another fantastic year of sharing for local and nationwide charities by the employees of the BLM's Roseburg District Office.]]></description><category>Roseburg</category><pubDate>Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Sage-Grouse Conservation to be Incorporated into Plans</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-8-11sage_grouse_national.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/12-8-11sage_grouse_national.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) today announced the initial steps in a formal planning process to evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 western states. The two public land management agencies are opening a 60-day public comment period on issues that should be addressed in Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (SEISs) that will be published in the Federal Register on Dec. 9.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Baker Draft RMP/EIS Released</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-04_baker_rmp.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-04_baker_rmp.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vale District has released its Baker Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)//Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The RMP is being revised for BLM-administered lands within Baker, Union, Wallowa, Umatilla, Morrow, and Malheur Counties in Oregon and Asotin County in Washington. The public lands that make up the Decision Area encompass approximately 428,425 surface acres in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. ]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Releases Triple B Report</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/TripleBReportNewsRelease.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/TripleBReportNewsRelease.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[After reviewing instances of alleged animal abuse during the recently completed Triple B wild horse gather in Nevada, a Bureau of Land Management team has found that helicopter contractor Sun J Livestock generally demonstrated appropriate, humane handling of wild horses over the course of the six-week gather that ended August 31.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate> PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>NHOTIC Reduced Hours</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-03_NHOTIC_Hours.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-03_NHOTIC_Hours.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC) announced today it will be open to the public four days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting December 5, 2011 through February 12, 2012.]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Klickitat County Prescribed Fire</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0006_Klickitat_County_Prescribed_Fire.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0006_Klickitat_County_Prescribed_Fire.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Between December 6 and December 27, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District Office will conduct prescribed fires on 100 acres of public land in Klickitat County, approximately 13 miles southeast of the town of Goldendale, WA.]]></description><category>Spokane</category><pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Holiday Open House at Trail Center</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-03.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-03.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is hosting the 20th annual Holiday Open House Sunday, Dec. 4 from 1-4 p.m.  This free event is sponsored by volunteer group Trail Tenders, and includes activities and entertainment for all ages.

Holiday decorations and historically costumed interpreters are a special feature of this community event. This year's decorations are based on a &quot;green&quot; theme with many decorations made from recycled materials by fourth graders from Baker County.]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Resource Advisory Council Meeting in Pendleton</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-02.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/vale/newsroom/files/OR-030-2012-02.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The John Day/Snake Resource Advisory Council (JDSRAC) will meet November 29, 2011, in the conference room at the Umatilla National Forest Supervisor office located at 2517 SW Hailey Avenue, Pendleton Oregon 97801.

Topics to be discussed at the meetings include:  Welcome/Orientation of new members, elections of officers, a presentation on a more efficient way of transmitting power/energy to minimize the impacts of disturbance on public lands, identification of sub-committee members, report by the Federal managers on litigation, energy projects, and other issues affecting their districts; and other matters as may reasonably come before the Council]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>The Yuletide Season Is Drawing Near Christmas Tree Tags Available Soon</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/files/christmastree2011nr.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/files/christmastree2011nr.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Starting on Saturday, November 19, tree tags will be available at numerous vendor locations in southwest Oregon. Starting on Monday, November 21, Christmas tree tags may also be purchased from Forest Service and BLM offices in southwest Oregon, including the Medford Interagency Office and the BLM Coos Bay District in North Bend starting on Monday, November 21. The tags allow the cutting of personal-use trees for Christmas and other holiday events. A permit is required for the harvest of each individual tree.]]></description><category>Medford</category><pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:16:13 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM 2011 Secure Rural Schools Payment Estimates</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/rac/ctypaypayments.php</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/rac/ctypaypayments.php</guid><description><![CDATA[The final FY2012 Secure Rural Schools payment will be later than those in 2008 to 2010. Because this will be the first Secure Rural Schools payment under the &quot;new&quot; formula detailed in the Act, a new procedure affects the timing of the payments. The BLM now relies on the final U.S. Forest Service payment calculation, and the Forest Service will not have their figures available until mid-December. Therefore, the earliest the BLM payments can be distributed will be at the end of December 2011.]]></description><category>Coos Bay</category><pubDate>Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:56:55 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Prescribed Fire near Orient, Washington</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0005_Pierre_Lake__Pile_Burn.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0005_Pierre_Lake__Pile_Burn.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Between November 14 and 16, 2011, the BLM will conduct prescribed fires in Stevens County, WA ]]></description><category>Spokane</category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:56:55 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Salazar Highlights Areas Deserving Congressional Protection</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/DOIPressRelease_111011.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/DOIPressRelease_111011.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Devil's Staircase in Oregon, the San Juan Islands of Washington, and Castle Peak in Colorado are among 18 backcountry areas in nine states that Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar highlighted today as deserving protection by Congress as national conservation areas or wilderness areas.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Wagon Road Pilot Environmental Analysis Available for Review</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-2_CBWR_EA.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/files/OR-120-12-2_CBWR_EA.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Coos Bay District and the Coquille Indian Tribe are releasing an analysis of the environmental effects of implementing the Wagon Road Pilot project for a 30-day public review period. The environmental assessment will be available for public review until December 12, 2011 and is available online at www.blm.gov/or/districts/coosbay/plans.]]></description><category>Coos Bay</category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Family Fun Day at Trail Center</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-02.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-02.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center will offer a variety of pioneer style activities and simple frontier crafts for families to share together during &quot;Family Fun Day&quot; the day after Thanksgiving, Friday Nov. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For families with youngsters and holiday visitors looking for an alternative to shopping, the activities will provide opportunities to have fun while learning. Crafts include making beeswax candles, colorful leaf rubbings, and rice cake birdfeeders. ]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Guidance on Railroad's Rights-of-Way</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/RR1875NewsRelease_final.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/RR1875NewsRelease_final.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey today announced that he will issue guidance shortly in light of  the Interior Department Solicitor's issuance of Opinion M-37025, a legal opinion regarding a railroad's authority to authorize activities within a right-of-way authorized under the General Railroad Right-of-Way Act of 1875 (1875 Act).]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Christmas Tree Permit Season</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/OR-100-FY2012-002_Christmas_Tree_Permits.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/files/OR-100-FY2012-002_Christmas_Tree_Permits.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Roseburg, Ore. -- Christmas tree permits will be available from the Bureau of Land Management's Roseburg District Office from November 21 through December 23, 2011. The cost for a single tree up to 12 feet high is $5.00. There is a limit of three trees per household. No commercial permits will be issued.]]></description><category>Roseburg</category><pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:23:03 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Fees Free During Veterans Day Weekend!</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-11-20_VeteransDayJointRelease.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/OR-11-20_VeteransDayJointRelease.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are waiving fees at most day-use recreation sites over Veterans Day weekend in honor of U.S. veterans and members of the U.S. armed forces.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:30:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Workshops Offered for &quot;Green&quot; Holiday Decorating</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-01.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/files/OR-038-2012-01.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is offering workshops and activities over the next month to help develop holiday traditions and decorations that are friendly to the environment.  Workshops are offered Wednesday, November 16, and Saturday, November 19, to create decorations using recycled materials.  The annual Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 4, will feature decorations made from &quot;greener&quot; designs and reclaimed materials.]]></description><category>Vale</category><pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Arlington Ridge Prescribed Burn</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0004_Arllington_Ridge_Pile_Burn.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/files/FY12NR_0004_Arllington_Ridge_Pile_Burn.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[Between October 28 and November 3, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District Office will conduct prescribed fires in the Arlington Ridge area, approximately 8 miles west of the town of Omak in Okanogan County, WA. Approximately 225 acres of BLM-administered public land will be burned. The overall goal of this burn is to reduce fire hazard and intensity.]]></description><category>Spokane</category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:26:54 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Updated Roadmap for Solar Energy Development</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/10-27-11_SOLAR_PEIS.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/10-27-11_SOLAR_PEIS.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[As part of President Obama's commitment to developing  our domestic energy portfolio, including our clean energy resources, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today made public a supplement to the federal plan to facilitate responsible utility-scale solar development on public lands in six western states -- Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:35:09 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>DOI to Examine Integration of Interior's Mining Regulation and Mine Reclamation Programs</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/10-26-11_OSM-BLM_integration.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/news/files/10-26-11_OSM-BLM_integration.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today launched a process to evaluate how to best integrate the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) into the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to further strengthen the bureau's mining regulations and abandoned mine land reclamation programs.  The initiative will be undertaken with the coordination and input of employees, Members of Congress, and interested parties.]]></description><category>State Office</category><pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Representatives Needed for Steens Council</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/files/SMACVacancies_10-26-11.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/files/SMACVacancies_10-26-11.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting public nominations to fill five positions on the Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC).  Nominations are being accepted for:
1) a person who represents and participates in what is commonly called dispersed recreation; 
2) a person who represents grazing permittees and holds grazing permits on Federal lands in the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area; 
3) a representative of a local environmental organization; 
4) a person who represents and demonstrates an expertise and interest in wild horse management on Steens Mountain; and
5) a member and representative of the Burns Paiute Tribe.]]></description><category>Burns</category><pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>BLM Seeks Public Comments on Rudio Highlands Fuels Treatment Projects</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/files/RudioHighlandsEA_10212001FINAL.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/files/RudioHighlandsEA_10212001FINAL.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The BLM Prineville District Office is currently seeking public comments on the Rudio Highlands Forest Management Project Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA analyzes a potential vegetative and hazardous fuels treatment project on isolated BLM-administered parcels of land 11.5-miles
northeast of Dayville, Ore. The goal of the project is to improve the health of the forest and reduce the risk of wildfire.]]></description><category>Prineville</category><pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:21:00 PST</pubDate>
</item><item>
<title>Final EIS Released for North Steens Power Line</title>
<link>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/files/NOA_prsteens_trans_10-11.pdf</link>
<guid>http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/files/NOA_prsteens_trans_10-11.pdf</guid><description><![CDATA[The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Burns District has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed North Steens Transmission Line Project (Project).
  
The Project is a 29-mile, 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that would convey power generated from wind energy projects proposed for development on private land on the north side of Steens Mountain.]]></description><category>Burns</category><pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
</item></channel>
</rss>
