BLM extends Grand Junction RMP comment period, schedules additional public meeting on travel management
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management has extended the public comment period on its Draft Grand Junction Resource Management Plan until June 24, 2013 and has scheduled an additional community meeting to discuss the RMP’s travel management alternatives.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people want to review this draft in detail so that they can provide us with specific, effective comments,” said BLM Grand Junction Field Manager Katie Stevens. “This feedback will be critical to the success of this long-range planning effort, and we want to make sure the public has ample opportunity to be involved.”
When finalized, the plan will provide a framework to guide subsequent management decisions for the next several decades on more than 1 million surface acres and 1.2 million acres of subsurface mineral estate in Mesa and Garfield counties, with small amounts in Montrose and Rio Blanco counties. BLM released the draft plan for public review on Jan. 14, 2013.
BLM is extending the public comment period on the draft an additional 60 days in response to requests from the Mesa County Commission and others.
BLM has scheduled the additional community meeting April 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main St. in Grand Junction, to facilitate a broader community discussion about its draft travel management plan. Written comments will be accepted at the meeting.
“Since we made the draft plan available in January, we have heard a lot of good questions about our alternatives for managing roads and trails in particular,” Stevens said. “We are holding this additional opportunity to continue to discuss the alternatives with the public and help answer questions.”
More than 500 people attended the five public open houses BLM held in January and February to kick-off the public review and comment period of the draft.
“We genuinely appreciate this high level of interest within the community about how public lands will be managed in the Grand Junction Field Office,” Stevens said.
Following the close of the public comment period, BLM will use the comments it receives to help develop the Proposed RMP and Travel Management Plan, which are currently expected to be completed in winter of 2014.
For additional information including how to provide comments or to view a copy of the Draft RMP, including the draft travel management plan, visit http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo/rmp/rmp.html.
Before including address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comments, be advised that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
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.