BLM releases proposed visual resource plan amendments in southcentral Wyoming
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
RAWLINS, Wyo. –Today, the BLM released a proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment that identifies how visual resources should be managed on public lands in southcentral Wyoming. The proposed RMP Amendment and EA support the administration’s goal to manage public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission. This also begins a 30-day public protest period that will close on January 10, 2018.
In 2011, the Rawlins Field Office completed a Visual Resource Inventory to establish scenic quality, sensitivity levels and distance zone baselines. The BLM then used the VRI to develop a range of alternatives in its environmental analysis for the proposed RMP amendments, which will help determine how certain areas should be managed when it comes to visual resource impacts.
The environmental analysis also reviewed five nominated Areas of Critical Environmental Concern for relevance, importance and whether or not they meet the appropriate criteria. Of the five nominated, only a portion of the Proposed Ferris Dunes ACEC met the required ACEC criteria. This portion of the Ferris Dunes ACEC is being analyzed as part of the existing Blowout Penstemon ACEC proposed expansion.
Protests must be submitted in writing by January 10, 2018 to:
Regular Mail:
Director (210)
Attention: Protest Coordinator WO-210
P.O. Box 71383
Washington D.C. 20021-1383
Overnight Mail:
Director (210)
Attention: Protest Coordinator WO-210
20 M Street SE, Room 2134LM
Washington, D.C. 2003
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Further information is available at https://go.usa.gov/xn9pD or contact Jennifer Fleuret at (307) 775-6329 or jfleuret@blm.gov.
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.