BLM enters scoping period for land use plans

The Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday opened a 45-day public scoping period to gather comments to inform an environmental impact statement for planned revisions to the resource management plans for the Newcastle Field Office and Nebraska planning area.  

The proposed revision would replace the existing 23-year-old Newcastle RMP that guides the management of approximately 287,900 acres of public lands and 1.7 million acres of federal mineral estate managed by the BLM in Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties in Wyoming.

Through this process, BLM also plans to revise the 31-year-old Nebraska RMP, which includes 5100 surface acres and 223,900 acres of federal mineral estate managed by the BLM across the state of Nebraska. 

Four public meetings were held during May to provide early public involvement in the process. The BLM has scheduled an additional series of public meetings in the following locations to provide information and solicit feedback. 

Newcastle on August 1, 2023, from 5-7 p.m., Weston County Senior Center, 627 Pine St., Newcastle. 

Sundance on August 2, 2023, from 5-7 p.m., Crook County Courthouse – Community Room, 309 E. Cleveland St., Sundance. 

Virtual meeting via Zoom on August 3, 2023, from 5-7 p.m.

https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cfl7QshWSCmwbref8186tQ

Lusk on August 7, from 5-7 p.m., Niobrara County Fairgrounds, 4080 US-20, Lusk. 

Comments must be received by August 25. Comments may be submitted through the ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510 or mailed to the BLM High Plains District, ATTN: Kathleen Lacko, 2987 Prospector Dr., Casper, WY 82604. 

For questions, contact RMP project manager Kathleen Lacko at (307) 261-7536 or [email protected].