New Dates for Close of the Comment Periods on BLM Planning Efforts As A Result of the Federal Government Shutdown
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana/Dakotas announces the new date for the close of the comment period for several planning documents throughout the three states.
The BLM initially scheduled 90 days for comment on the North Dakota Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement, ending on December 26, 2013. Due to the lapse in appropriations and the resulting Federal government shutdown, the documents were not available on the BLM website from October 1 through October 16, 2013. Accordingly, the new date for the close of the comment period is now January 13, 2014.
Additional planning efforts that have new comment period deadlines are the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range Prescribed Fire Preliminary Environmental Assessment now closing on November 4, and the Golden Asset Mine Access Road Right-of-Way Application Environmental Assessment, closing on November 1. Also, comments on a proposed project planning effort in the Missouri River Foothills are now due by November 12.
Public involvement is an essential and required part of the planning process, and comments submitted by the new dates will be considered before the BLM makes a final decision.
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.