MUIRNet-News

Montrose, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office is seeking public input as it begins revising its Resource Management Plans (RMP).

The new RMP will provide overall management direction for the next two decades for the almost 700,000 surface acres of public lands and 2 million subsurface acres of federal mineral estate in Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison and Delta counties managed by the BLM.  The revisions are necessary because the demands on these public lands have increased and uses have become more varied since the original plans were completed in 1985 and 1989. An Environmental Impact Statement will be developed during the planning process.

In this first opportunity for public comment, called “scoping,” the BLM is asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in the plan revisions, as well as offer potential solutions.  The BLM will use the information it receives during scoping as it prepares the Draft RMP revisions and associated Draft EIS.

“Public involvement is critical to crafting a land use plan that reflects local, regional and national values,” said Uncompahgre Field Manager Barb Sharrow.  “Scoping is only the first of many instances that we’ll seek public input as part of this planning effort.”

The scoping period runs through February 26, 2010. Six open house meetings will be held in local communities. The public is encouraged to visit, speak with BLM employees, learn more about the planning process and major issues, and share their comments and concerns. Open houses will be held:

· January 12, in Hotchkiss
Memorial Hall, 175 1st St.
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
· January 13 in Delta
Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 530 Gunnison River Drive
4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
· January 14 in Montrose
Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Drive
4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
· January 19 in Ridgway
Community Center at Town Hall, 201 N Railroad Street
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
· January 20 in Norwood
Community Meeting room at Norwood Town Hall, 1670 Naturita Street
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
· January 21 in Naturita
Naturita Community Center at the Library, 411 West 2nd Avenue
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m,

During this initial scoping period, the BLM is seeking ideas about the uses of public lands managed by the UFO, possible protection measures, and recommendations on special designations such as potential special recreation management areas or areas of critical environmental concern. The public may also comment on the preliminary planning criteria, which help guide the planning process.

The Gunnison Gorge and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Areas are excluded from this planning effort.  The management plan for the Gunnison Gorge NCA was completed in 2004. The newly designated Dominguez-Escalante NCA RMP process will begin early next year.

It is not necessary to attend an open house in order to submit scoping comments to the BLM. For further information about the planning process, visit our Land Use Planning webpage at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/uncompahgre_rmp.html, or contact the project manager, Bruce Krickbaum, at (970) 240-5300.

Scoping comments provide the greatest benefit when they are specific, and received by the BLM prior to the close of public scoping on February 26, 2010. Comments may be:

· Mailed to BLM Uncompahgre RMP, 2465 S Townsend Ave, Montrose, CO 81401
· Faxed to 1-970-240-5367
· Emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The BLM manages more land - 253 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

--BLM--