Mineral withdrawal extension proposed for Whiskey Mountain Bighorn Sheep Winter Range
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LANDER, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management proposes to extend for another 20 years a mineral withdrawal in the Whiskey Mountain Bighorn Sheep Winter Range, southeast of Dubois.
In the spirit of shared conservation stewardship on public land, the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and U.S. Forest Service have coordinated the management and enhancement of bighorn sheep and their habitat on Whiskey Mountain for nearly 50 years. The winter range supports one of the largest wintering herds of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in North America and draws thousands of people annually, including hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.
The proposed extension withdraws 1,431 acres of federal land from location or entry under the U.S. mining laws but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. The public land order that established this withdrawal in 2000 will expire soon unless extended.
A notice announcing the proposed mineral withdrawal extension was published in the Federal Register on April 26, 2018, beginning a 90-day public comment period. Comments on the proposed extension, or requests for a public meeting to discuss the extension, should be received by July 24, 2018, and submitted to the BLM Wyoming State Director, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009.
For more information, please contact Michael Hogan, BLM Wyoming State Office realty officer, at 307-775-6257 or mthogan@blm.gov, or Leta Rinker, BLM Lander Field Office realty specialist, at 307-332-8400 or lrinker@blm.gov.
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.