Paria River District

District Updates

RMP Public Meetings Announcement

Updated News release (published Sept. 8, 2023)
News release (published Aug. 15, 2023)

RMP Update

News release (published Aug. 10, 2023)

RMP Public Notification

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently developing a new resource management plan (RMP) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) located in portions of Kane County Utah and Garfield County Utah. The Draft RMP and associated environmental assessment (Draft RMP/EIS) includes a range of alternatives that propose closures of areas to recreational target shooting within GSENM to meet public safety needs and protect GSENM objects identified in Proclamation 10286.

In accordance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 (Dingell Act, Pub. L. 116-9, section 4103) the BLM initiated a public review and comment period for proposed closures of areas within GSENM to recreational target shooting. This comment period will run concurrently with the public review and comment period for the Draft RMP/EIS ending on November 9, 2023. For more information, visit the project planning page https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020343/510.

General Information

About the District

Paria River District manages 2.3 million acres of Federal land in Southern Utah encompassing both Kane and Garfield Counties, providing multiple-use opportunities for both commercial and personal recreation, livestock grazing and mining in order to support both local and regional economies.

On Oct. 8, 2021, President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation 10286 modifying the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which restored the original Monument boundaries that were established in 1996, and by default, decreased the number of acres managed by the Kanab Field Office (KFO). This proclamation adds detail to 1) identification of Monument objects and values, and 2) procedures for their preservation, restoration, and protection.

The Bureau is providing interim guidance regarding management of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This interim monument management direction will provide direction on the stewardship of these lands during the public planning effort, pending approval of a monument management plan and associated environmental impact statement, in compliance with the Presidential Proclamation. The interim guidance memorandum can be viewed on the BLM website.