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Consistent with the unprecedented effort to conserve the greater sage-grouse and its habitat, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a public process to consider a proposal in September to withdraw lands determined to be crucial to the survival of the species from location and entry under the 1872 Mining Law, subject to valid existing rights.

Publication of notice of the proposed withdrawal in the Federal Register on September 24, 2015, temporarily closes the lands to establishment of new mining claims on approximately 252,160 acres of public lands in Wyoming for a period of up to two years. The notice also initiates a 90-day comment period as part of a larger public, transparent process that will allow the Secretary of the Interior to collect information and to decide whether to withdraw these areas from the location of new mining claims for up to 20 years. An interactive map of the areas included in the proposed withdrawal is available at www.blm.gov/sagegrouse.

“The BLM’s multiple-use and sustained yield mission requires us to find a balance between the full range of resources, including the conservation of crucial wildlife habitat and resource uses. These principles have driven the development of the agency’s overall greater sage-grouse conservation strategy, and led to this proposal,” BLM Wyoming Acting State Director Mary Jo Rugwell said. “The BLM’s land use plans were a key element in the Fish and Wildlife Service’ s determination that the greater sage-grouse no longer needs the protections of the Endangered Species Act. The future of the bird depends on the successful implementation of these plans.”

“We look forward to hearing from members of the public during this comment period,” added Rugwell.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) identified habitat disturbance and fragmentation caused by certain hardrock mining operations as a threat to sage-grouse habitat. As a result, the BLM and the USFS land use plan amendments and revisions finalized last week recommend that the Secretary of the Interior exercise her authority under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to safeguard the most important landscapes identified by the FWS within Priority Habitat Management Areas — identified as Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) — by reducing the threat posed by certain future hardrock mining operations through what is known as a “withdrawal.”

During the temporary segregation period of up to two years, the agencies will undertake environmental analyses to determine if the lands should be formally withdrawn to protect sage-grouse habitat from adverse effects of future locatable exploration and mining. This process will invite participation by the public, tribes, environmental groups, industry, state and local government, as well as other stakeholders.

Information will be sought from the states, stakeholders and others on mineral potential, including rare earths, as well as the importance of these areas as sagebrush habitat. These efforts will be undertaken under the leadership of the BLM in cooperation with the USFS and in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. At the end of the process, a decision on the proposal may be made.

Neither the segregation for up to two years, nor any subsequent withdrawal, would prohibit ongoing or future mineral exploration or extraction operations on valid pre-existing mining claims. Neither the segregation nor the proposed withdrawal would prohibit any other authorized uses on these lands. Under FLPMA, the Secretary may withdraw these lands for a maximum of 20 years, and may extend the period in the future.

Public meetings in connection with the proposed withdrawal will be held at the Mystic Ranger District, 8221 South Hwy 16, Rapid City, South Dakota 67702 on October 27, 2015 at 6 p.m. and at the Sundance Community Center, Basement of the Crook County Courthouse, 309 Cleveland St., Sundance, Wyoming 82729 on October 28, 2015 at 6 p.m. The USFS will publish a notice of the time and place in a least one newspaper of general circulation no less than 30 days before the scheduled dates of the meetings.

Written comments must be received by December 23, 2015. Comments should be addressed to the BLM Director, 1849 C Street NW (WO-200), Washington, DC 20240 or electronically to sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov .