Public meeting set for BLM fuel breaks and restoration environmental impact statements
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SUSANVILLE, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management will hold a public meeting in Susanville to gather input for the preparation of two programmatic environmental impact statements aimed at reducing wildfires and restoring sagebrush habitat. The meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2550 Riverside Dr.
The two PEISs will analyze future projects in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah and California. One will analyze fuels breaks, which slow the advance of wildfire and thereby reduce the threat to life and property, among other benefits. The other will analyze restoration of burned areas, with an emphasis on replacing invasive species with native and other species more conducive to sagebrush-steppe health. When completed, the two documents will provide standard analyses for fuels breaks and restoration projects, thereby reducing the need for in-depth evaluation on an individual project basis.
“The fuel break PEIS will help us to limit the size of wildfires and provide better protection for the public and firefighters,” said John Ruhs, BLM Nevada state director. “The restoration PEIS will speed the recovery of burned areas, helping the vegetation to recover faster and minimize the disruption of local economies.”
BLM will accept comments until March 1, 2018. Comments may be submitted in writing at the public meetings, by email to GRSG_PEIS@blm.gov, or by fax at 208-373-3805. Written comments may also be mailed to Jonathan Beck, BLM Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709.
The Susanville meeting is one of 14 such sessions in six western states.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.