BLM to hold public scoping meetings on proposed minerals withdrawal in Sagebrush Focal Areas
Public comment period extended to Jan. 15, 2016
November 13, 2015
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding a series of public meetings across the west to gather information on a proposal to withdraw lands the BLM believes to be crucial to the survival of the greater sage-grouse from location and entry under the 1872 Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights. The BLM is also extending the public comment period on the withdrawal proposal until January 15, 2016 to allow the Secretary of the Interior to collect additional information relevant to the decision on whether to withdraw these areas from the location of new mining claims for up to 20 years. An interactive map of the areas included in the proposed withdrawal is available at www.blm.gov/sagegrouse.
Meetings are scheduled for:
Monday, December 14:
Burns, OR; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Harney County Chamber of Commerce
484 North Broadway
Burns, Oregon 97720
Lakeview, OR; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Lakeview BLM District Office
1301 South G Street
Lakeview, Oregon 97630
Salt Lake City, UT; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Salt Lake City BLM Office
2370 South Decker Lake Drive
West Valley City, Utah 84119
Tuesday, December 15:
Boise, ID; 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Best Western Vista Inn & Conference Center
2645 Airport Way
Boise, Idaho 83709
Rock Springs; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Rock Springs BLM Field Office
280 Highway 191 North
Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901
Reno; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Nugget
1100 Nugget Avenue
Sparks, Nevada 89431
Wednesday, December 16:
Idaho Falls; 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Shiloh Suites Conference Hotel
780 Lindsay Blvd.
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
Elko; 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Elko Conference Center
724 Moren Way
Elko, Nevada 89801
Malta; 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Great Northern Hotel
2 South 1st Street East
Malta, Montana 59538
The withdrawal proposal is in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) identifying habitat disturbance and fragmentation caused by certain hardrock mining operations these agencies believe are a threat to sage-grouse habitat. The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) plan to use land use plan amendments and revisions that were finalized in September to recommend that the Secretary of the Interior exercise her authority under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to withdraw land identified by the FWS as within Priority Habitat Management Areas. The agencies want to protect Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) by withdrawing these lands from future hardrock mining operations.
The BLM and US Forest Service are seeking information from the states, stakeholders and others on mineral potential, including rare earths, as well as the importance of these areas as sagebrush habitat. At the end of the process, a decision on the proposal may be made.
As part of the withdrawal process the lands covered by the proposal have been temporarily segregated for a period of up to two years. During that period, the agencies will undertake environmental and other analyses to determine if the lands should be formally withdrawn to protect sage-grouse habitat from adverse effects of future locatable exploration and mining. The government invites participation by the public, tribes, environmental groups, industry, state and local government, as well as other stakeholders.
Neither the segregation for up to two years, nor any subsequent withdrawal, would prohibit ongoing or future mineral exploration or extraction operations on valid pre-existing mining claims, or any other authorized uses on these lands. Under FLPMA, the Secretary may withdraw these lands for a maximum of 20 years, and may extend the period in the future.
Written comments must be received by January 15. 2016. Comments should be addressed to the BLM Director, 1849 C Street NW (WO-200), Washington, DC 20240 or electronically to sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov.
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