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FARMINGTON, N.M. - In addition to the five virtual public meetings that took place in May 2020, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) will host four virtual open houses for the recently published Draft Farmington Mancos-Gallup Resource Management Plan Amendment and associated Environmental Impact Statement (FMG RMPA/EIS). This planning effort will guide management decisions for public lands in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, and Sandoval counties, including areas surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. 

"We are excited to offer additional outreach to engage the public in our decision-making process, especially for this Resource Management Plan Amendment," said BLM New Mexico State Director Tim Spisak. "Hosting these open houses virtually, we will have the ability to reach a much broader audience for public input and provide additional opportunities for tribes, pueblos, and the local communities to engage with the agencies." 

"During this time, we must continue to engage with Tribes, tribal communities, and stakeholders on the Draft Resource Management Plan, to optimize the conservation and stewardship of trust resources on Indian trust lands," said BIA Navajo Regional Director Bart Stevens. "I encourage Tribes, Pueblos, and the public to participate in these virtual open houses so that they can ask questions and become more informed on the alternatives being considered." 

The open houses will take place on August 26-29 from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. each day. The August 26 session focus audience will be the Navajo Nation and Navajo Tribal members, and the August 27 session will focus on other Tribes and Pueblos. The August 28 and 29 sessions will be for the general public.    

Before the virtual open houses, interested parties are encouraged to visit the following website https://www.virtualpublicmeeting.com/fmg-rmpa-eis. The website includes stations with a project overview, information about the considered alternatives, essential resources, how to provide comments on the Draft RMPA/EIS, and frequently asked questions. Each station will include interpretation and commentary in the Navajo language.  

Additionally, on August 20 from 1-4 p.m., the BLM and BIA will be guests on a radio show on KDND radio (960 AM). Listeners will hear project information and can call in and ask questions about the project.  

The Draft RMPA/EIS, which became available to the public for review on February 28, 2020, analyzes resource management concerns for lands in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, and Sandoval counties, including areas surrounding the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The Draft RMPA/EIS provides a unified document that resource managers can use for land use management purposes. This planning effort will update management decisions such as oil and gas development, lands and realty, lands with wilderness characteristics, and vegetation.  

To register for the virtual open house meetings, use the information below. Once you have registered, you will receive an email containing instructions on how to join the meeting.

BLM Farmington Field Office, Attn.: Sarah Scott, Project Manager, 6251 College Blvd, Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402 The Draft RMPA/EIS and supporting information are available online at: https://go.usa.gov/xdrjD. Comments will continue to be accepted until September 25 and can be submitted online via the eplanning website, by phone at 720-213-5786, or by mail to:  

• BIA Navajo Regional Office, Attn.: Robert Begay, Project Manager, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, NM 87301 

For more information on the planning process, please contact Sarah Scott at 505-564-7689.  

As the oldest bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior, established in 1824, the BIA is within the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, along with the Bureau of Indian Education.  The BIA provides services (directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts) to approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. With just under 5,000 employees, the BIA carries out its core mission for 573 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives in the U.S. through four offices: the Office of Indian Services, which operates BIA's general assistance, disaster relief, Indian child welfare, tribal government, Indian Self-Determination, and reservation roads programs; the Office of Justice Services: operates or funds law enforcement, tribal courts, and detention facilities on Federal Indian lands; the Office of Trust Services: works directly with tribes and individual American Indians and Alaska Natives in the management of their trust lands, assets, and resources; and Office of Field Operations: oversees 12 regional offices and 83 agencies which carry out the BIA mission at the tribal level.