DENVER, Colo. -- As the next step in aligning federal habitat conservation efforts with state wildlife management plans, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold two meetings in Colorado beginning June 26, 2018, to provide information and answer possible questions regarding the recently released draft amendments to sage-grouse plans finalized in 2015.
Draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and amendments to the 2015 plans were published on May 4, 2018, beginning a 90-day public comment period. The public meetings will help attendees learn about the draft plan amendments and formulate written submissions before the comment period ends on Aug. 2, 2018.
“We have identified areas in Colorado where we can better align BLM’s resource management plans with state and local conservation efforts," said BLM Colorado Acting Associate State Director Andy Tenney. “We look forward to continuing our conversation with the public."
Western governors have sought changes to the 2015 plans for BLM-managed lands in their states, which spurred the BLM in proceeding with the plan amendments. Comments on the draft amendments will guide the BLM in finalizing changes that build on and strengthen these plans to conserve public land habitat in cooperation with state plans for managing wildlife species.
Plan amendments could affect up to 61 land-use plans for about 53 million acres in seven western states. In Colorado, five plans guiding management on 1.73 million acres of public land could be revised.
Colorado meetings will be at:
Silt June 26 5:00-7:00 pm BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office
2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, Colo. 81652
Craig June 27 5:00-7:00 pm Moffat County Fairgrounds
640 E. Victory Way, Craig, Colo. 81625
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
