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DENVER, Colorado – The Bureau of Land Management marked a milestone today in the Administration’s effort to better align plans for managing Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on federal lands by publishing a draft environmental impact analysis of proposed changes to resource management plans in Colorado.

The BLM developed the proposed changes in collaboration with the Colorado Governor, state wildlife managers and other stakeholders to align federal and state plans. State agencies are at the forefront of efforts to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations, and the BLM is being a better neighbor by ensuring that State partners are being heard.

“We are committed to being a good neighbor and respect the state’s ability to manage wildlife, while recognizing the tremendous investments of effort into improving Greater Sage-Grouse populations over the last decade,” said Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt. “We look forward to receiving comments on the draft.”

“Today’s proposal by the Department of Interior makes the management plan for the sage grouse in our state stronger and more protective. It allows for a truly Colorado-specific approach for the population within our borders,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “We appreciate the department’s support of our input as we work together to preserve this western treasure.”  

The BLM seeks to improve management alignment in ways that will increase flexibility, maintain access to public resources, and promote conservation outcomes.  The proposed preferred Management Alignment alternative for BLM plans in Colorado would adjust restrictions on oil and gas leasing near sage-grouse leks and revise the language for waivers, exceptions and stipulations in leases to reflect the state’s authority over wildlife management, while clarifying the application of lek buffers.  In addition, the draft EIS proposes greater flexibility in adopting the state’s updates to habitat boundaries and would clarify respective roles for the state and the BLM-Colorado in determining the impacts of proposed actions and developing opportunities for offsite mitigation using state-led programs.

The proposed changes build on sage-grouse conservation plans adopted in 2015, using feedback from States and other partners that found during implementation that the plans did not respond to local needs.

“Here in Colorado, it’s important to recognize that we did not throw out the 2015 plans.  We built on them,” said acting BLM State Director Greg Shoop.  “Improved collaboration with the Governor and other partners will ensure that concerns particular to Colorado and local communities are integrated into management and conservation efforts on BLM-managed public lands.”

Two important changes have occurred since the 2015 plans were adopted: First, the BLM and the state have had two to three years to invest time and effort into improving sage-grouse habitat, and second, the BLM has received a great deal feedback from states and others about on-the-ground impacts and outcomes.

Because of that feedback, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke issued Secretarial Order 3353, Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and Coordination with Western States, which prompted the Departmental review of the 2015 plans.  He also tasked the BLM with implementing a strategy for Greater Sage-Grouse conservation that is done in partnership with local governments, and in a manner that allows both wildlife and local economies to thrive. 

As a result nearly every Governor who actively participated in the Sage-Grouse Task Force asked for changes to their plans.  Now the BLM is publishing six draft plans covering seven States.  The Notices of Availability will appear in Friday’s Federal Register.

The BLM is accepting comments on the entire Draft EIS, as well as the specific planning issues, the cumulative effects analysis, and Priority Habitat Management Area decisions through Aug. 2, 2018.  The most useful comments are specific and contain new information related to the proposed actions.  Comments may be submitted by mail:  BLM – Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; or online at https://goo.gl/kmLtwT.  

Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in any comments, please bear in mind that an entire comment — including personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time.  Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.  The BLM will not consider anonymous comments. 

The BLM will hold public meetings during the public comment period.  Announcements about these meetings will be made by news releases to the media and posting on the project website listed above.  The BLM expects to publish a final EIS and plan amendments by October 2018, once year after publishing the Notice of Intent to begin this planning effort.