Sagebrush Focal Area Withdrawal Environmental Impact Statement Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming Draft Scoping Report

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 United States Code [USC] 4332) to analyze and disclose the potential effects of a proposal to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 USC 22-54), subject to valid existing rights. To comply with the requirements of NEPA, the EIS will disclose the potential environmental impacts associated with the withdrawal and consider alternatives to the proposal. The EIS process will inform the public and agencies about the potential impacts the withdrawal may have on human and natural resources. The areas proposed for withdrawal are located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming (as shown in Table 1). This document summarizes the results of public scoping for the EIS being prepared for the withdrawal.