BLM scoping period begins

Do you graze livestock on federal land? Do you like to camp off the grid in areas that belong to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)?

Do you live near a chunk of BLM land that you would like to stay just how it is – or, alternatively, do you think better use could be made of it?

As the BLM ramps up the scoping period for revising its land management plan, Jeanne Whalen, consulting for the Crook County Commissioners, urges anyone who is currently impacted by BLM land in any way to consider making a comment.

“They want to hear from the people who are actually using the land,” says Whalen.

It’s not just a matter of speaking up if you have an issue with how BLM land in Crook County is currently managed. It’s just as important, she says, to make sure the BLM knows about the things that are working well exactly as they are.

As an example, she points to endangered species known to be present locally, such as the northern long-eared bat and sage grouse. During this process, the BLM might need to consider taking protection measures on a particular parcel of land that has been identified as habitat.

If the BLM is already aware that chunk of land is regularly used by the public for various reasons, Whalen says, this may impact their decision. If they aren’t aware…well, what’s the harm in shutting off access to land that nobody is using?

Just as much as this is an opportunity to suggest changes, Whalen says, it’s about ensuring that the BLM knows which of its lands have value to the community and why.

Tyson Finnicum at the BLM’s Newcastle Field Office echoes this sentiment.

“It’s important for us to hear from all sides about how they use public land, what they like and don’t like about how it is currently managed, and their view of what management should look like in the future,” he says.

“While we can expect to have learned some things over the past 20 years and expect some changes as a result, we also want to hear what’s working well for folks in the current plan.”

BLM land may not get quite as much airtime as federal and state forests and parks, but Crook County has many more BLM parcels than some might realize.

“People have always said Crook County doesn’t have much BLM land – but we do, we actually have more than Weston County,” Whalen says.

“If you look at the county map, in every township there’s a little yellow block of 40 acres. In practically every single township in our county there’s a little BLM land.”

Those little patches of BLM land might not seem impactful right now, but when they get in the way of a plan or project they can sometimes have an outsized effect. For example, the Sundance Chain Gang is currently trying to get permission to cross a small amount of BLM land with a new trail near White Ranch Park, Whalen says.

“It’s a big deal to get somebody up there to look at it to see if it’s an impact or not. Sometimes it may take years to get permission to be able to put a simple bike path on this land,” Whalen says.

Fire access is also a potential concern: the BLM is limited in its ability to fight fires. If your land is next to BLM land and a fire affects both parcels, what happens when the fire crew leaves and the landowner is tasked with keeping an eye on things?

“How do you do that if they really don’t have a fire crew or anything like that?” asks Whalen, who says she has reached out to various elements of the county’s firefighting response for advice on this issue.

“Some of these are completely surrounded by private land, so how does that work? BLM can’t really get in there and manage it to spray weed or cut trees without getting landowner permission,” she says.

“Those are the ones especially that the BLM would like to get rid of.”

Speaking of which, Whalen says, “They want to know what lands they should get rid of and which they should improve more for public access,” Whalen says.

But while disposing of some of the small, isolated parcels might be on the BLM’s agenda, that doesn’t mean they won’t be interested in opportunities to consolidate larger, more accessible parcels somewhere else.

“They’re definitely not going to shrink,” Whalen says, explaining that the federal government has laid out a “30x30” plan that would see 30% of the nation conserved by 2030.

Recreation is also a topic that Whalen would like to see members of the community share input on.

“There are no developed campgrounds on any BLM land, you just go there and camp,” Whalen says.

With no management, visitors can leave trash behind, leave fire pits unattended or drive four-wheelers and damage the land, all of which can impact nearby residents.

Attendees at previous meetings have brought up that more oversight of these places could be helpful, Whalen says. Whether or not a private entity could manage a campground on some of these sites is a question she’d like to see brought up again at future meetings.

Meanwhile, the BLM has around 140 grazing leases in Crook County – around double that they have in Weston County, Whalen says. Each of these leaseholders has been notified, and Whalen urges those people to also get involved.

“Are you happy with the way the grazing leases are going, or maybe you want to see something different to make the process easier,” she says. “This is the time to do it.”

Another potential topic of interest, Whalen continues, is cultural resources.

“Cultural resource protection is important,” Whalen says. “A buffalo jump or petroglyphs, stuff like that. There are some areas down in Weston that were brought up [at previous meetings]. They may expand those areas of protection on BLM land, not private.”

The upcoming meetings will offer an opportunity to pop in, speak to a BLM staff member and ask questions or share your comments or concerns.

The current revision to the resource management plan is the first time the BLM has made an update this century. It will be years before members have the opportunity to undo any decisions made now that affect how they access those lands.

“The Newcastle RMP revision will be a collaborative, community-based effort that includes ample opportunities for involvement,” says Finnicum.

“That’s why it’s important for folks to get involved, this is their chance to have a say in how their public lands and resources are managed for the next 20-plus years.”

The BLM Newcastle Field Office would like to stress that this resource management plan revision is not connected to the BLM Headquarters’ public lands rulemaking. These are two different projects with two different processed; the public meetings are for the resource management plan revision only. 

The next local public meeting is scheduled for August 2 between 5 and 7 p.m. in the community room of the Crook County Courthouse. If you are unable to make this event, a virtual meeting will be held the next day with the details available at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510.

This website link can also be utilized to submit comments on the revision. Alternatively, email [email protected] or mail to BLM, High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY, 82604.

The deadline for comments is August 10.

“This is the time to speak up – I can’t stress that enough,” Whalen says.