The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently published draft environmental impact statements (EISs) for six states with sage grouse habitats. The proposed changes are intended to better align plans for managing greater sage-grouse habitat on federal lands with state plans in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and part of California.
Ethan Lane, executive director of the Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Federal Lands, called the plans “progress.” He told WLJ that BLM “approached this the way we asked them to, and that is to take direction at the state and local level rather than a top-down approach from Washington.”
Lane noted that in listening to and applying local input, the plans are more tailored to the states in which they will apply. Many of the proposed changes deferred to the governors of the respective states, which Lane said is good, especially in states like Utah and Wyoming that have taken an aggressive approach in developing sage grouse management plans. However, he noted that in other states, “I think the plan amendments leave a little to be desired.”
Notice of the plans and opportunity for people to submit comments was published in the May 4 Federal Register. Comments will be accepted through Aug. 9. Comments may be submitted by mail or online and at public meetings the BLM will hold during the comment period. The BLM expects to publish a final EIS and plan amendments by October 2018—one year after publishing the Notice of Intent to begin this planning effort.
With the comment period open, Lane said ranchers in areas with sage grouse habitat are encouraged to communicate with their state cattle or livestock affiliates and state Public Lands Council to make sure they are tailoring their comments to the situation in their specific area.
“We are going to be commenting at the national level on the whole process and some of the larger issues where we want to see focus placed, but the Department of Interior (DOI) needs to hear about the specifics, and where they have fallen short in specific areas,” Lane said.
Some of the information provided in the EIS simply provides clarification while others provide more detailed suggestions for changes, that, as noted, better align state and federal plans.
The draft EIS for each state is available online using the respective links below. The landing page for each state includes general information; complete documents and reports can be found in the left column.
• California/Nevada: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502; or online at https://goo.gl/uz89cT.
• Colorado: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; or online at https://goo.gl/kmLtwT.
• Idaho: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709; or online at https://goo.gl/f94eKW.
• Oregon: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR, 97208-2965; or online at https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
• Utah: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 440 West 200 South, Ste. 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or online at https://goo.gl/ywBXSn.
• Wyoming: Comments may be submitted by mail to BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009; or online at https://goo.gl/22jKE2.
Although there are also greater sage-grouse in Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota, BLM said plans in those states will be addressed by other means.
Peter Orwick, executive director of the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), told WLJ, “Sage grouse management cuts across the heart of sheep production in the U.S. including key growing states from Colorado to Montana, Wyoming to South Dakota, and it’s important that producers comment at the state level.” He added, “ASI believes overwhelmingly DOI amendments are a positive and greatly reduce the burden to sheep producers grazing federal lands. — Rae Price, WLJ editor
