BLM Announces 30-day public protest period on land use plan amendment and land sale in Johnson County
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BUFFALO, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management Buffalo Field Office is announcing a 30-day public protest period on an environmental assessment analyzing a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment to dispose of a 1.13-acre parcel of public land in Johnson County. The disposal would occur through a direct sale resolving an inadvertent trespass. The RMP amendment would add the parcel to the 2015 Buffalo Approved RMP’s “Lands Identified for Disposal Through Exchange or Sale” list (Appendix R) which is necessary to comply with BLM policy.
The public protest period runs for 30-days starting today with all protests being received no later than May 7, 2021. The proposed Land Use Amendment and land disposal information is posted on the BLM’s ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1504398/510.
Pursuant to BLM’s planning regulations any person who participated in the planning process for this Proposed RMPA and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the planning decision may protest approval of the planning decision contained therein.
Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP Amendment may be found online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan-protest. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth below, or submitted electronically through the BLM ePlanning project website. The BLM encourages submission of protests using ePlanning rather than by mail.
Mailed protests must be in writing and sent to one of the following addresses:
Regular Mail: Overnight Delivery:
Director (210) Director (210)
Attn: Protest Coordinator Attn: Protest Coordinator
P.O. Box 261117 2850 Youngfield Street
Lakewood, CO 80226 Lakewood, CO 80226
In approximately 1960, a community member inadvertently established a home site on BLM-administered lands. The site includes a home, partial basement, deck, lawn, driveway, utilities, and other features associated with maintaining a home. Given the location, the ownership of the surrounding lands and the presence of improvements, the BLM is considering offering the parcel to the current resident through a non-competitive direct sale at not less than the appraised fair market value.
The BLM determined that this was an inadvertent action by the individuals and that the direct sale would not change the historical use or affect other public uses.
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.