BLM, Forest Service Protect Over 300,000 Acres of Pristine Forest
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Portland, Ore. – Today the BLM announced a two year mineral segregation of 340,079 acres of National Forest System land on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Okanogan County, Washington.
The segregation temporarily withdraws these lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, and operation of the mineral and geothermal leasing laws for a period of two years while Congress considers legislation introduced by Senators Murray and Cantwell to permanently withdraw those areas.
This action protects the upper Methow River drainage from possible adverse effects of new mineral development. While this action prohibits the location of new mining claims, it does not prohibit ongoing or future mining exploration or extraction operations on valid pre-existing mining claims, nor does it prohibit any other authorized uses on these lands.
In addition, the Federal Register notice concurrently proposes a 20-year mineral withdrawal of the area at the conclusion of the two year segregation. Today’s publication of the Federal Register notice begins the official start of a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal, which will end on March 30, 2017.
Written comments should be sent to the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208-2965 or may be sent electronically to BLM_OR_WA_WITHDRAWALS@blm.gov. The public will also have the opportunity to verbally comment or provide written comments at a public meeting to be scheduled in early 2017.
Information regarding the withdrawal application will be available for public review at the BLM Oregon State Office, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, and at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.