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(June 21, 2018) - The Forest Service published a Supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register this week to create a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, beginning a 30 day comment period. The Forest Service is proposing to amend the Forest Service land management plans that were amended in 2015 regarding greater sage-grouse conservation in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah.

The NOI lists several categories of potential changes, but specific proposed adjustments to the text in the plans can be found for each state at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381. Commenters are encouraged to comment on the textual edits that are being considered.

The purpose of proposed changes are to improve the clarity, efficiency, and implementation of greater sage-grouse plans, including better alignment with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state plans, in order to benefit greater sage-grouse conservation on the landscape scale. The agency will use lessons learned from new science, scoping and implementing during the last three years to make revised plans more efficient. Proposed actions are intended to improve sage-grouse conservation and although some management areas, such as Sagebrush Focal Areas may change in name designation, limits to development and other protections will remain.

After reviewing comments to the June 20 NOI, the Forest Service plans to continue the planning process with multi-regional draft and final Environmental Impact Statements, and have plan amendments finalized in the spring of 2019.

To read and comment on the Supplemental NOI, visit:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-06-20/pdf/2018-13260.pdf