RMP Maintenance Action: Incorporation of the BLM's Programmatic Biological Evaluation for the White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) and the USFWS Inter-agency Coordination Memorandum into Field Office RMPs

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Wyoming State Office

P.O. Box 1828

Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003-1828

In Reply Refer To:
6840 (930) P
January 29, 2008
Instruction Memorandum No. WY-2008-025
Expires: 09/30/2009
To: Field Managers, Buffalo, Casper, Cody, Newcastle, and Rawlins
From: State Director
Subject: Resource Management Plan (RMP) Maintenance Action: Incorporation of the
Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Programmatic Biological Evaluation (BE)
for the White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) and the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) Inter-agency Coordination Memorandum into Field Office
(FO) Resource Management Plans (RMPs) by Maintenance Action
The attached document transmits the FWS inter-agency coordination memorandum based on a
review of potential activities and conservation measures described under the Casper, Cody,
Kemmerer, Lander, Pinedale, Rawlins, Rock Springs and Worland BLM RMPs and the
Wyoming BLM Statewide Programmatic White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) BE, and
the potential effects of these activities on the white-tailed prairie dog in accordance with BLM’s
6840 manual. The FWS reviewed all of BLM’s activity specific determinations and was in
agreement with our proactive analysis and proactive conservation measures, which should serve
to guard this species from further decline.
The Wyoming BLM Statewide Programmatic White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) BE
and the inter-agency coordination memorandum covering the FWS review can be found on the
on the internet at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wildlife/WTprdog.html.
The preliminary determination is that this action is an RMP Maintenance Action as defined in
43 CFR 1610.5-4. The Casper, Cody, Kemmerer, Lander, Pinedale, Rawlins, Rock Springs, and
Worland BLM FOs should review their existing RMPs, the programmatic BE, and the FWS
inter-agency coordination memorandum. If you agree with this determination, please maintain
the official hard copy of your RMP within 30 days of the date of this Instruction Memorandum
(IM). Please also maintain the web-based copy of your RMP during the same timeframe. If you
believe this action may require an RMP amendment, please contact Ken Peacock, Wyoming
State Office, at (307) 775-6329.

If you have further questions regarding this IM, please contact Jeff Carroll at (307) 775-6090.
/s/ Robert A. Bennett
2 Attachments:
1 - Fish and Wildlife Service Memorandum (ES-61411/W.02/WY07FA0408) (24 pp.)
2 – BLM Wyoming “Final Statewide White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus) Biological
Evaluation” (23 May 2007) (60 pp.)