Public Meetings on Plans for Western Oregon Forests
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon is initiating a resource management plan (RMP) revision which will provide goals, objectives, and direction for the management of approximately 2.6 million acres of BLM-administered lands in western Oregon. The BLM will be hosting public meetings throughout western Oregon to get feedback on the number of plan revisions that should be prepared, the geographic areas that the plan revisions should cover, the direction the plan revisions should take and the issues that they should address. The BLM is interested in a diversity of viewpoints and welcomes suggestions for new and innovative approaches to managing western Oregon forests. Public meetings will be held at the following locations: May 16 BLM Medford District Office 3040 Biddle Rd. Medford, Oregon 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. May 17 BLM Grants Pass Interagency Office 2164 NE Spalding Ave. Grants Pass, Oregon 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. May 23 Shilo Inn Clear Lake Room 2500 Almond St. Klamath Falls, Oregon 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. May 24 BLM Salem District Office 1717 Fabry Rd. SE Salem, Oregon 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. May 29 Springfield Public Library 225 5th Street Springfield, Oregon 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 30 Coos Bay Public Library 525 Anderson Coos Bay, Oregon 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. May 31 BLM Roseburg District Office 777 NW Garden Valley Blvd. Roseburg, Oregon 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. June 5 Robert Duncan Plaza Building 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 333 SW First Ave -- 1st Floor Lobby Portland, Oregon The revisions to the existing RMPs will determine how the BLM will manage BLM-administered lands in western Oregon to further the recovery of threatened and endangered species, to provide clean water, to restore fire adapted ecosystems, to produce a sustained yield of timber products, and provide for recreation opportunities. The BLM is preparing new RMPs in order to address: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recovery plan and proposed critical habitat designations for the Northern Spotted Owl; new scientific information related to forest health and resiliency; and the socio-economic needs of western Oregon communities. The BLM would like to work with the public to identify areas where there is agreement on natural resource management approaches and work on potential solutions for those areas where there is disagreement. The BLM is open to a broad spectrum of ideas. Feedback from the public on the following questions will help identify the appropriate side-boards for this planning effort: ? What is the appropriate scale and scope of the plan? ? What new or innovative ideas should the BLM consider in this planning process? ? How can the BLM provide habitat for fish and wildlife and contribute to the recovery Endangered Species Act listed species? ? How should the BLM manage forests to protect property and ensure our forests are fire resilient? ? How should BLM-administered lands be managed to contribute to clean water and safe drinking water? ? What types of recreation opportunities should there be more of or less of on BLM lands? ? How can BLM lands contribute to local economies and support local communities? Comments may be submitted until July 5, 2012, via the following methods: website: blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon email: BLM_OR_RMPs_WesternOregon @ blm.gov fax: (503) 808-6333 mail: P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208
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.