Rangeland and Sage-Grouse Stewardship Awards
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240-0036
http://www.blm.gov
June 9, 2016
In Reply Refer To:
4100 (220) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 06/10/2016
Instruction Memorandum No. 2016-106
Expires: 09/30/2016
To: All Field Office Officials
From: Deputy Director, Operations
Subject: Rangeland and Sage-Grouse Stewardship Awards DD: 7/11/2016
Program Area: Rangeland Management Program.
Purpose: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will recognize the accomplishments of grazing permittees/lessees and other partners involved with public land management with the presentation of four awards. There will be an individual and group award for Rangeland Stewardship and an individual and group award for Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship. These four awards highlight outstanding examples of rangeland stewardship.
The Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship Award has the same criteria as the Rangeland Stewardship Award with additional criteria related to stewardship of sage-grouse habitat conditions and the restoration, protection, and enhancement of sage-grouse habitat. This includes:
- Maintenance or improvement of rangeland conditions.
- Use of beneficial management practices to restore, protect, and enhance rangeland resources.
- Efforts to collaborate and cooperate with other users of public lands.
The awards will be presented at the Public Land Council (PLC) meeting in Boise, Idaho, September 7- 10, 2016.
Policy/Action: Each state office must submit at least one nomination for at least one of the awards electronically to Jim Bowmer (jbowmer@blm.gov) in the Division of Forest, Rangeland, Riparian and Plant Conservation (WO-220) by July 11, 2016. Each nomination must clearly state the award for which the nomination is submitted.
The four awards are:
- Rangeland Stewardship for a grazing permittee or lessee.
- Rangeland Stewardship for a collaborative team in recognition of an overall collaborative effort.
- Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship for a grazing permittee or lessee.
- Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship for a collaborative team in recognition of an overall collaborative effort.
Nominations should not only be considered for new and innovative efforts, but also to recognize the efforts of those committed to longstanding effective resource management.
Further details on the nomination process and standards for judging nominees are contained in the Nomination Process for the Rangeland and Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship Awards (Attachment 1).
Time Frame: July 11, 2016 – State offices final date for submission to WO-220.
Budget Impact: The Washington Office (WO) will pay for the plaques. There will be labor costs associated with the time involved with the nominations and award selection process. The agency will incur additional costs associated with public notification of the award(s).
Background: This is the tenth year the Rangeland Stewardship Award has been presented and the first year for the Sage-Grouse Habitat Stewardship Award. Both awards are an important component of BLM’s overall goal to improve public lands.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.
Coordination: Awards will be coordinated with the Divisions of Fish and Wildlife (WO-230), National Landscape Conservation System (WO-410), and Public Affairs (WO-610).
Contact: Any questions pertaining to this award program should be directed to Richard Mayberry (WO-220) at 202-912-7229, or by email rmayberr@blm.gov, or Kimberly Hackett (WO-220) at 202-912-7216, or by email khackett@blm.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Steven A. Ellis Robert M. Williams
Deputy Director, Operations Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870
1 Attachment