Montrose, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office is seeking public input as it begins revising its Resource Management Plans (RMP).
The new RMP will provide overall management direction for the next two decades for the almost 700,000 surface acres of public lands and 2 million subsurface acres of federal mineral estate in Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison and Delta counties managed by the BLM. The revisions are necessary because the demands on these public lands have increased and uses have become more varied since the original plans were completed in 1985 and 1989. An Environmental Impact Statement will be developed during the planning process.
In this first opportunity for public comment, called “scoping,” the BLM is asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in the plan revisions, as well as offer potential solutions. The BLM will use the information it receives during scoping as it prepares the Draft RMP revisions and associated Draft EIS.
“Public involvement is critical to crafting a land use plan that reflects local, regional and national values,” said Uncompahgre Field Manager Barb Sharrow. “Scoping is only the first of many instances that we’ll seek public input as part of this planning effort.”
The scoping period runs through February 26, 2010. Six open house meetings will be held in local communities. The public is encouraged to visit, speak with BLM employees, learn more about the planning process and major issues, and share their comments and concerns. Open houses will be held: