BLM seeks comments on temporary target shooting closure on Anderson Butte
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Medford, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking comments on a proposal to close a portion of Anderson Butte to recreational target shooting for up to two years to address public safety concerns. The proposed closure would affect 11 sites, totaling 50 acres.
The Anderson Butte area, located just south of Medford, is a popular recreation destination for hiking, horseback riding, hunting, riding off-highway vehicles, and recreational target shooting. Increasing recreational use of these public lands, driven by population density and urban development in the area, has resulted in increased user conflicts and public safety concerns.
Many of the popular recreational target shooting sites are not safe for target shooting. They are located on exposed ridges without adequate backstops, and they look out over homes and other public areas. Local residents have found bullets have been found in gutters of nearby private homes and in fields where livestock graze. Hikers have also reported hearing bullets pass overhead.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act requires the bureau to consider public comments when temporary closures are proposed that would affect recreational target shooting on public lands. Following the public comment period, the BLM will issue a final decision which will include a summary of comments received and how significant issues were resolved. The final document will be made available on the project website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/123432/510.
During the closure, the BLM will monitor recreation uses and site conditions to determine if target shooting restrictions resolve safety issues. The findings will help guide long-term solutions to these land management challenges.
Comments on the temporary closure must be submitted by January 3, 2022. Comments can be submitted on the project website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/123432/510 or by email to: BLM_OR_AFO_Anderson_Butte_SP@blm.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in any comment, be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
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.