S.E. Idaho BLM Draft Land Use Plans Avail. for Public Review

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BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Southeast Idaho BLM Draft Land Use Plans Available for Public Review and Comment, Public Information Meetings Set for February

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for approximately 621,500 acres in southeast Idaho for public review and comment. The plans affect lands managed by the BLM's Pocatello Field Office.

An RMP can be compared to a county master plan where management direction and objectives are defined for specific resources and areas. They address issues including livestock grazing, recreation, wildlife habitat, off-highway vehicle use, camping and even energy and mineral development. The document contains a preferred alternative as well as a range of other management alternatives. Each draft plan includes a draft EIS which analyzes the environmental effects of each planning alternative.

The DRMP/DEIS presents a total of four alternatives which takes into consideration comments received by other governmental agencies, public organizations, state, tribal entities, and interested individuals. Public collaboration through the scoping process led to shaping of issues covering recreation, wildlife, minerals, cultural resources, grazing, land tenure, designation of areas of critical environmental concern (ACEC), access to public lands, and other topics. The DRMP/DEIS analyzes alternatives to resolve management issues, determines management objectives and actions, and establishes monitoring methods to facilitate multiple use and sustained yield management for the entire planning area.

Your comments and suggestions are critical at this stage in the new RMP development. The BLM will accept public comments until April 4, 2007. BLM will need to know what part of the preferred alternative you support and what part you oppose. Also, BLM needs to know what parts of the other alternatives should be included in the final plan, and which parts of the other alternatives should NOT be in the final plan. The documents are available at http://www.id.blm.gov/planning/pocrmp/index.htm.

Comments may be submitted in writing to the Pocatello Field Office, Attn: Project Manager, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204. You may also comment via email at ID_Pocatello_RMP@blm.govor on comment forms that will be provided at each of the Public Open Houses.

Open Houses will be held at four locations during February 2007. The purpose of these Open Houses is to answer questions regarding the Draft Pocatello Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement and assist the public in understanding the alternatives. Following are the dates, locations and times:

Monday, February 12, 2007 4-7 P.M.
Caribou County BLM Interagency Fire Station
655 East 2 South,
Soda Springs, ID 83276

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 4-7 P.M.
Malad Senior Center
26 North Main Street
Malad City, ID 83251

Wednesday, February 14, 2007 4-7 P.M.
City Council Chambers, Pocatello City Hall
911 North Seventh Avenue
Pocatello, ID 83201

Thursday, February 15, 2007 4-7 P.M.
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Tribal Business Center
Pima Drive
Fort Hall, ID 83203

Thanks in advance for your support,
Brian Hawthorne
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102