BLM Releases Draft Plan for Western Oregon
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Today the Bureau of Land Management announced the release of draft alternatives for the future management of 2.5 million acres of BLM-administered lands in western Oregon to better achieve social, economic and ecological objectives. Five alternatives are detailed in the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for western Oregon, which is available online at: blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon. The 90-day public comment period includes 16 open houses or workshops in the region. There will be a media call at 10am PDT (1pm EDT) on Friday, April 24, 2015. To join the call, dial 1-800-369-3360, and enter passcode 4672562. The Draft RMP/EIS for western Oregon addresses a range of options to guide the management of BLM lands in western Oregon for the purposes of: producing a sustained yield of timber; contributing to the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species; providing clean water; restoring fire adapted ecosystems; providing for recreation opportunities; and coordinating the management of lands surrounding the Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe. These lands play an important role in the social, economic and ecological well-being of western Oregon, as well as for the greater American public.
“Some of the most productive forests in the world are managed by the BLM in western Oregon," said BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Jerome Perez. “These forests provide valuable fish and wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and clean water, and that is why it is so important to strike the right balance in the future management of these public lands. I encourage everyone to take a look at these documents, attend a public meeting, or explore the many online resources."
The Draft RMP/EIS explains why the BLM is proposing a plan revision, presents a full spectrum of different management alternatives, and analyzes the environmental effects of the alternatives. Based on this analysis and comments that the agency receives on the Draft RMP/EIS, the BLM will prepare a Proposed RMP/Final EIS with the assistance of cooperating agencies. The BLM needs to revise its current RMPs for western Oregon lands, adopted in 1995, to stay current with new scientific information and policies. The five alternatives contain varying strategies for forest reserves, timber harvest, riparian management, and recreation. The alternatives span the full spectrum of management approaches to meet the purpose and need. The identification of the preferred alternative is not a commitment or decision; it provides a useful starting point from which to construct a proposed final RMP from among all the alternatives analyzed based on the analysis and public comment received on the Draft RMP/EIS.
“Protecting endangered species by providing large blocks of older forest habitat, providing clean water, and enhancing fire resiliency across the landscape are necessary for the BLM to be able to deliver a predictable and sustainable supply of timber," said BLM State Director Perez. “The BLM is committed to these environmental protections, as well as providing predictability and sustainability to communities in western Oregon."
Following publication of this Draft RMP/EIS, members of the public will have 90 days to provide written comments. The BLM encourages all interested members of the public to submit comments and participate in the upcoming open houses and workshops: May 19th: Open house, Roseburg, OR May 20th: Open house, Eugene, OR May 21st: Open house, Salem, OR May 26th: Open house, Klamath Falls, OR May 27th: Open house, Medford, OR May 28th: Open house, Coos Bay, OR June 9th: Socio-economics workshop, Salem, OR June 10th: Socio-economics workshop, Roseburg, OR June 11th: Recreation workshop, Roseburg, OR June 16th: Forest management workshop, Salem, OR June 17th: Forest management workshop, Medford, OR June 18th: Recreation workshop, Medford, OR June 23rd: Riparian workshop, Eugene, OR June 24th: Recreation workshop, Eugene, OR June 25th: Recreation workshop, Salem, OR June 30th: Elected officials workshop, Salem, OR
For more information on the times and locations of public meetings, please visit our website at: blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/meetings.php
The public is encouraged to submit comments through the internet, email, or postal mail:
Website: blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/index.php
Email: blm_or_rmpwo_comments @ blm.gov
Postal: Draft EIS for Western Oregon P.O. Box 2965 Portland, OR 97204
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.