Greater Sage Grouse Data Call; DD: 4/20/2008

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

March 20, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
6846 (200) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 03/26/2008
Information Bulletin No. 2008-059

To: All Field Office Officials

From: Director

Subject: Greater Sage Grouse Data Call DD: 4/20/2008

The 2008 greater sage grouse status review was initiated with a Federal Register Notice published by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on February 26, 2008. The Notice establishes a 90-day period within which to provide the FWS with information regarding the status of, and potential threats to, the greater sage grouse.

Part of the Bureau’s response to this status review will be to provide the FWS with an update of information since 2004, when the last status review was conducted for greater sage grouse. A crucial component of this effort is a data call that will be deployed to the field later this week.

The data call has been designed in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide specific information to support the FWS’ assessment process and our own monitoring and evaluation needs. It will require input from a variety of disciplines such as solid and fluid leasable minerals, lands and realty, recreation, rangeland management, fire and fuels, wildlife, and others. Every effort has been made to make this as efficient as it can be, but we recognize that it comes as an unprogrammed workload with a short turnaround.

I am asking that you ensure that the necessary attention is given to completing this data call by the field offices. Our status review teams need to be able to begin using the information derived from the data call by April 20, 2008.

If there are any questions about the data call or associated status review activities, please contact the following individuals:

Data call procedures or technical support: Danielle Flynn, 202-452-0342, Danielle_Flynn@blm.gov

Status Review Project Manager: Jay Carlson, 202-452-5029, Jay_Carlson@blm.gov

Status Review Planning/NEPA and Directives Team Leader: Teresa Hanley, 406-896-5068, Theresa_Hanley@blm.gov

Status Report Team Leader: Mike Holbert, 775-861-6464, Mike_Holbert@blm.gov

Signed by: Authenticated by:
James L. Caswell Robert M. Williams
Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560