Bureau of Land Management seeks public input on National Guard training expansion
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BOISE, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Guard Bureau have announced they are seeking public scoping comments on a proposal by the Idaho Army National Guard to expand military training onto about 20 square miles of public land west of Mountain Home and adjacent to the existing Orchard Combat Training Center.
The proposal’s purpose is to meet Department of Defense training requirements, ensure troop combat readiness and offset loss of training areas due to increases in native shrublands within the Orchard Combat Training Center. Portions of this proposed area are managed by the BLM, including the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.
The Simco Training Area Environmental Assessment will analyze possible impacts from proposed heavy maneuver training between March and November, construction and maintenance of 12.7 miles of dirt roadways, infrastructure development and engineering practice areas. The proposal does not include live fire exercises.
“The BLM and Idaho Army National Guard have a history of collaborative management of the adjacent Orchard Combat Training Center,” said Amanda Hoffman, Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area manager. “This scoping period provides the public an opportunity to identify issues the BLM will consider as we develop our analysis of the proposal.”
Detailed information on the proposal can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xsbJZ (case sensitive).
This public scoping period will run from March 5 to April 5, 2021. Comments will be accepted through the following means:
Email: BLM_ID_FourRiversOffice@blm.gov
Fax: 208-384-3326
Surface mail: BLM Four Rivers Field Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705
The BLM and Idaho Army National Guard will host two virtual public scoping meetings jointly via Zoom on March 17, the first at 2-3 p.m. and the second at 6-7 p.m. Meetings will include a presentation of the project proposal with an opportunity for the public to submit questions to specialists. Preregistration is required before receiving the virtual meeting links and can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xsbJZ (case sensitive).
The purpose of the scoping period is to obtain public input on relevant issues that may influence the BLM’s analysis. The BLM invites comments that would be useful in refining or identifying new issues, identifying possible alternatives or identifying actions that may have a cumulative effect on the proposed action.
Those who provide comments are advised that before including their personal identifying information (address, email, phone number) they should be aware that the entire comment – including their personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While those commenting can ask in their comments to withhold this information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so.
For more information, contact the BLM Four Rivers Field Office at 208-384-3300.
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Photo of tanks training at the Orchard Combat Training Center. Photo provided by the Idaho Army National Guard.
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.