Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment Released
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VALE, Ore. – Today, the Vale District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the Draft Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft RMP would amend the existing 2002 management plan, which allocates resources and provides long-term management goals and objectives for 4.6 million acres of lands and resources administered by the BLM within the planning area.
“Public input continues to be an important part of the Resource Management Plan Amendment process,” said Theresa Hanley, Acting State Director for BLM Oregon/Washington. “In addition to opening a public comment period, the BLM will hold public meetings, which will be announced soon, to discuss the proposed Plan Amendment and alternatives analyzed in the draft EIS.”
The proposed Plan Amendment and Draft EIS analyze a range of management alternatives addressing the following three issues:
- Lands with wilderness characteristics;
- Travel management for off-highway vehicle area designations (open, limited, closed); and
- Range management related to voluntary grazing permit/lease relinquishment processes and meeting rangeland health standards.
As part of its commitment to healthy and productive landscapes, the Malheur Field Office is seeking public comments on these documents. Today’s publication of a Notice of Availability opens a 90-day public comment period ending on August 28, 2019. The Draft Southeastern Oregon RMP Amendment and Draft EIS and accompanying background documents are available on the Southeastern Oregon RMP website.
The 4.6 million-acre planning area encompasses land administered by the BLM within Malheur, Grant, and Harney Counties. Much of the public land in the planning area is contiguous with multiple scattered or isolated public land parcels.
To ensure comments are considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft Southeastern Oregon RMP Amendment and Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
The Vale District plans to hold public meetings regarding changes to current land use management, and answer questions. These meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance.
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.