Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM Announces Summer Field Trips and Updates to RMP Website
In support of the Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision project, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cody and Worland Field Offices announce that six field trips to key areas are planned and several new documents are now available on the Bighorn Basin RMP website.
Three new maps illustrate a range of management options the BLM may use to manage public lands within the Bighorn Basin. The range of options will be more fully presented in the Draft RMP and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), scheduled for release in January 2011. These maps do not represent a final agency decision. First, the BLM will analyze and address the comments received on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS, and then it will develop its Proposed RMP/Final EIS, scheduled for release in 2012. After a 30-day review period, the BLM will issue its Approved RMP/Record of Decision detailing the final agency decision.
In addition to the maps, the BLM has provided a report of possible Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in the Bighorn Basin. An ACEC is a designation that provides special management attention to areas that require protection to prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural and scenic values; fish and wildlife resources or other natural systems or processes; or to protect human life and safety from natural hazards.
The BLM encourages the public to attend one of several scheduled field trips this summer. “The main purpose of these field trips is to become familiar with some of the key issues and to prepare to make effective comments during the 90-day comment period, currently planned for early 2011,” said Caleb Hiner, BLM project lead for the RMP. "We hope you will join us."
DATE DESTINATION Friday 7/23 West slope of the Bighorn Mountains (in the vicinity of Ten Sleep and Big Cedar Ridge): RMP issues to be discussed include travel management, visual resource management (VRM), off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, paleontology, ACECs, multiple use lands with wilderness characteristics, land tenure adjustment, wildlife habitat and sage-grouse, oil and gas management, renewable energy, and social and economic considerations. Thursday 7/29 Tatman Mountain/Fifteen Mile: RMP issues to be discussed include travel management, VRM, OHV use, wilderness study areas, multiple use lands with wilderness characteristics, wild horse management, wildlife habitat and sage-grouse, and social and economic considerations. Saturday 7/31 Legend Rock/Grass Creek Oil Field/LU Ranch: RMP issues to be discussed include geothermal leasing, travel management, VRM, cultural resources, oil and gas management areas, multiple use lands with wilderness characteristics, social and economic considerations and vegetation management (fire/fuels). Thursday 8/5 Carter Mountain ACEC: issues pertinent to the ACEC to be discussed include fragile soils, wildlife habitats, threatened and endangered species, geology and minerals, and oil and gas leasing. Tuesday 8/10 Little Mountain: RMP issues to be discussed include cultural resources, caves, travel management, wildlife habitats, land acquisitions and fuels management. Saturday 8/14 McCullough Peaks: RMP issues to be discussed include the wild horse herd management area, oil and gas exploration/development, recreation, VRM and paleontology.
Departure location and time for each field trip will be posted on the project website at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/bighorn.html. You may also contact Caleb Hiner at 307-347-5100.
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. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office 101 South 23rd Worland, WY 82401-0119