BLM invites public to comment on Draft Bering Sea – Western Interior Resource Management Plan
Organization
Media Contact:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management’s Anchorage Field Office is seeking public comments on a draft plan for future public land management actions in the Bering Sea-Western Interior region of Alaska. The 90-day public comment period begins March 15 and closes June 13, 2019.
The planning area consists of about 62.3 million acres of land, including almost 13.5 million acres of public lands managed by the BLM Anchorage Field Office. When complete, the revised plan will replace the 1981 Southwest Management Framework Plan and a small portion of the 1986 Central Yukon Resource Management Plan for BLM-managed public lands in the planning area. The draft plan outlines the goals, objectives, and actions being considered to guide the management of these public lands, including management of subsistence resources, mineral exploration and development, and recreation.
“The alternatives in this draft plan were carefully crafted in response to issues and concerns brought to us through extensive public involvement that ran from 2013 through 2015,” said BLM Anchorage Field Office Manager Bonnie Million. “We look forward to meeting with residents of the area again throughout this public comment period to hear their feedback.”
The Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) and supporting information are available on the BLM ePlanning site. A link to ePlanning can be found at www.blm.gov/alaska/BSWI.
Copies of the DRAFT RMP/EIS are also available for review at the following locations:
BLM Anchorage Field Office
4700 BLM Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
BLM Alaska Public Information Center (Public Room) at the Federal Building
222 West 7th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99507
Alaska Resources Library & Information Services (ARLIS) Library Building
3211 Providence Drive, Ste 111
Anchorage, AK 99507
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Office
807 Eddie Hoffman Highway
Bethel, AK 99559
Comments are due no later than June 13 and can be submitted by the following methods:
- Commenting through the BLM ePlanning website. The link to ePlanning can be found at www.blm.gov/alaska/BSWI (Once on ePlanning, click on the “comment” button next to the Draft RMP/EIS document)
- Emailing comments to: BSWI_RMP_Comment@blm.gov
- Mailing comments to:
BLM Anchorage Field Office
Attn: BSWI RMP
4700 BLM Road
Anchorage, AK 99507 - Providing comments at a public meeting.
The BLM will host a series of public meetings to provide information and answer questions. These meetings will be announced here: www.blm.gov/alaska/BSWI
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.