Search Results for keywords:"public lands"

The Department of the Interior is informing the public about its decision to adopt certain categorical exclusions (CXs) for environmental reviews from the Department of Energy and the National Telecommunications Information Administration. These CXs will be used by the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to streamline actions like setting up fences, roads, or communication towers without needing full environmental assessments if no special circumstances exist. This decision is aimed at improving efficiency in managing public and Tribal lands, while ensuring actions don't harm the environment. The adoption became effective on January 16, 2025.

The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are proposing to withdraw over 164,000 acres of land in the Upper Pecos River Watershed in New Mexico from being used under mining and leasing laws. This plan aims to protect the area's water quality, cultural resources, wildlife habitats, and recreational values. Public comments are being accepted before a decision is made, and a public meeting will take place in February 2025. During this time, the land may still be used for temporary activities approved by the authorities.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Ranegras Plains Energy Center project in La Paz County, Arizona. This project involves constructing a large-scale solar energy facility on public lands and requires a right-of-way grant for its development. The BLM outlines several project alternatives, including a preferred option that minimizes soil impacts. They are seeking public comments on the Draft EIS within 45 days of its announcement, and they plan to host a virtual public meeting to discuss the project further.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing new rules to protect natural resources and ensure public safety on lands managed by the Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction, and Kremmling Field Offices, as well as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado. These rules include regulations on camping, campfires, target shooting, and mechanized travel, with specific restrictions depending on the location to address concerns such as resource damage, wildlife disruption, and public safety. The rules will take effect on January 18, 2025, and exempt certain federal, state, or local officers acting within their official duties. Violating these rules could lead to fines and imprisonment.

The Bureau of Land Management, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is holding an online meeting of the Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) on March 2, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, and its agenda includes discussions on various issues related to public lands in Utah, such as resource management, travel planning, and updates on different programs. Attendees can make public comments during a designated period and can also send written comments to the provided addresses. More information about the meeting, including registration details, can be found on the Utah RAC webpage.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Coeur d'Alene Field Office in Idaho will start charging day-use fees at Mica Bay Boater Park, Killarney Lake Campground and Access, and Huckleberry Campground, starting July 10, 2025. These fees will help maintain the facilities and improve services as a result of increased visitor use and operating costs. The fees will begin at $5 per day for a group of up to 10 individuals or one vehicle, and are set to increase gradually over the next four years, reaching $10 per day by 2029. The proposal was reviewed and approved by the BLM Idaho Resource Advisory Council, and fee details will be posted on-site and online.

The Department of the Interior has issued an order that partially revokes 11 Public Land Orders affecting approximately 9.7 million acres of public lands in Alaska. The affected lands were previously reserved for study and classification but are no longer needed for those purposes. These lands will be open for public land use and mining claims starting February 18, 2021, following existing laws and regulations. The decision aligns with recommendations from the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Resource Management Plan, and previous Public Land Orders No. 6477 and 6559 will be superseded by this new order.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comments on its request to renew surveys and focus groups used to gather information from visitors and nearby community members of public lands. This information aids in planning decisions related to recreation services. The request has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The public can send comments or recommendations until January 9, 2025, and the collected data will support the BLM's visitor services planning for three more years.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a Record of Decision (ROD) for managing Greater Sage-Grouse habitats in Utah. Over a decade, the BLM has conducted planning and environmental impact analyses that they believe adequately address the conservation needs of the Sage-Grouse without requiring new land-use plans. The ROD, which confirms decisions made in 2019, is not open to appeals or protests. Interested parties can review the decision online or at the Utah BLM office.

The Department of the Interior has proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures to introduce a new categorical exclusion for geothermal resource exploration by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This change aims to make it easier and faster to approve exploration projects that typically do not have significant environmental impacts, thus supporting renewable energy development on public lands. Comments on this proposal are due by February 18, 2025. The BLM has reviewed past projects and determined that the new exclusion is justified because these activities have historically shown no significant environmental effects.