(ED-The move to
"protect" the sage-grouse could reduce the areas where we are able to go
off-road riding so this is an issue we should pay close attention to.)
Boise - Beginning Jan. 9,
2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
are inviting the public to participate in public scoping meetings to evaluate
greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans and land management
plans throughout Idaho and southwest Montana.
The scoping meetings, in an open-house format, will be held
in the following locations, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m.
|
Date
|
City
|
Venue
|
|
January 9
|
Boise,
ID
|
Red Lion Boise Hotel
1800 Fairview
Ave.
|
|
January 10
|
Idaho Falls,
ID
|
Red Lion Hotel
475 River
Parkway
|
|
January 11
|
Salmon, ID
|
Salmon
Valley Business
& Innovation Center
803 Monroe St.
|
|
January 12
|
Dillon,
MT
|
National Guard Armory
1050 MT Hwy
41
|
|
January 25
|
Twin Falls,
ID
|
Canyon Springs Red Lion Inn 1357 Blue Lakes Blvd.
|
|
January 26
|
Pocatello,
ID
|
The Clarion Hotel
1399
Pocatello Bench Road
|
A complete list of scoping meeting times and locations can
also be found on the BLM's greater sage-grouse website at http://www.blm.gov/sagegrouse .
These scoping meetings are being held in conjunction with
the 60-day public comment period to the Notice of Intent for the two agencies
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to incorporate greater
sage-grouse conservation measures into land use plans and land management
plans. The Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on Dec.
9, 2011.
The 60-day public comment period provides the public an
opportunity to comment on issues that should be addressed in the EIS. The
public scoping meetings provide the public an additional opportunity to talk to
staff and resource specialists and to submit written comments on the proposal
in person.
Based on ongoing threats to the greater sage-grouse and its
habitat throughout the West, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
2015 deadline for making a decision whether to list the species under the
Endangered Species Act, the BLM and the USFS plan to incorporate consistent
objectives and conservation measures into all relevant plans by September 2014.
The two agencies have identified the following preliminary
issues to address in their environmental analysis, including but not limited
to: Greater Sage-grouse habitat management, wildfire, invasive species,
rights-of-way, renewable energy development, grazing, off highway vehicle
management and recreation.
To ensure that comments and information are fully
considered, comments must be received by close of business on Feb. 7,
2012. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
1. Web: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/western.html
2. Email: sagewest@blm.gov
3. Fax: 775-861-6747
4. Mail: Western Region
Project Manager, BLM Nevada State
Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502
For more about the BLM's Greater Sage-Grouse Planning
Strategy, visit the following website: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse.html.
