Date: April 25, 2005

CONTACT: Jamie Thompson, Public Affairs Officer, (775) 623-1500

BLM DEVELOPING A NEW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WINNEMUCCA FIELD OFFICE

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca Field Office has announced that a collaborative planning process has begun that will develop a new Resource Management Plan and associated Environmental Impact Statement for public lands it manages in northwest Nevada. The RMP would guide management actions on the public lands covered by the plan for approximately the next 15 to 20 years. Jeff Johnson, Planning Lead for the project, says that a Notice of Intent to develop the plan was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2005. This resource management plan will replace two outdated management framework (MFPs) plans originally developed in the 1980s. The new Resource Management Plan is necessary because the existing MFPs do not satisfactorily address new and emerging resource issues such as increasing recreation use, declining habitat conditions for sage-grouse, off-highway vehicle use, mining reclamation and closure, and changed human economic and social needs and expectations. In addition, there have been many changes in laws and regulations.

"We expect the process to take three to four years and intend to involve the public at every step," Johnson explained. "We will provide many opportunities for public involvement including attendance at public meetings, membership on subgroups of the Resource Advisory Council, and submission of written comments directly to BLM. The first such opportunity will be at a series of scoping meetings to be held May 2 through May 5. All meetings will be open houses held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as follows:

Winnemucca, Nev.-- Monday, May 2, Winnemucca Convention Ctr, 50 W Winnemucca Blvd;
Lovelock, Nev.-- Tuesday, May 3, Pershing County Community Ctr, 820 6th St;
Gerlach, Nev.-- Wednesday, May 4, Gerlach Community Ctr, 410 Cottonwood St;
Reno, Nev.-- Thursday, May 5, BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd.

Comments may be submitted at these meetings or in writing through Wednesday, May 25, 2005 to: Winnemucca RMP, c/o Jeff Johnson, 5100 E Winnemucca Blvd, Winnemucca NV 89445-2921. Alternative means of submitting comments include: Faxing to (775) 623-1503 (Attention: Winnemucca RMP); E-mailing to: comments@wformp.com ; or Completing the comment form on-line at www.nv.blm.gov/wformp . [During temporary shut downs of the web site for maintenance or security upgrades, please use alternate means of communication. We apologize for any inconvenience.]

“We hope to have good participation by the public at these meetings because the more active the public is in a planning process, the more comprehensive and responsive to public needs the plan turns out to be," said Johnson.
Additional information about the planning process is available by contacting Mr. Johnson at the Winnemucca BLM office at 775-623-1500.
 

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