Comments will help shape future management of the national monument
SALT LAKE CITY—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is initiating a 90-day comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Monument Management Plans (MMPs) for the Indian Creek and Shash Jáa Units of the Bears Ears National Monument. A notice of availability will be published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2018, and the draft documents will be available for review on the BLM ePlanning website at https:goo.gl/uLrEae. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 15, 2018.
“We recognize that local communities and the public at large care deeply about the future of Bears Ears National Monument. We invite the public to review and comment on the proposed plans, and to consider how they would like to see this remarkable landscape managed now and for future generations,” said Utah State Director Ed Roberson.
On January 16, 2018, the BLM initiated planning to prepare MMPs for the Bears Ears National Monument Indian Creek Unit, and for the Shash Jáa Unit, which is co-managed with the Manti La-Sal National Forest. As part of that action, the BLM also announced that it would prepare an associated EIS. Since then, the BLM and the USFS have worked with cooperating agencies to develop draft management plans and a draft EIS reflecting input from many stakeholders and the public. The plans include a range of alternatives addressing management issues brought forward during scoping.
“We’ve been on the ground working with and listening to local communities, stakeholders, and the public,” said Canyon Country District Manager Lance Porter, “and we have identified a variety of options to meet the challenges of providing quality recreation experiences for visitors, facilitating uses like grazing or gathering firewood, and protecting the natural and cultural resources that we are entrusted to manage.” The four alternatives range from minimal change in management to an approach providing maximum management flexibility while protecting Monument objects and resource values. The BLM encourages comments on all alternatives and potential management actions, as the final management plans may include portions of any alternative.
To help the BLM properly consider and incorporate feedback, please include a reference to a specific page or section for your comment. Comments may be submitted the following ways:
● Email: blm_ut_monticello_monuments@blm.gov
● Mail: BLM, Canyon Country District Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532, Attention: Lance Porter
Please include your name and street address. Your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. You can request your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
The BLM will announce future meetings or other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailed notifications.
For further information concerning the land use planning process, please contact Lance Porter, District Manager at (435) 259-2100. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.