BLM releases management plan draft

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the draft of its plans to manage public lands in northeast Wyoming and the public now has a chance to comment.

The new resource management plan would replace the current, 23-year-old version now used by the Newcastle Field Office.

The Draft Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plan covers all the lands within the Newcastle Field Office's boundaries in Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties, and also the entire state of Nebraska.

While this may seem unbalanced, the decision was made to combine these two areas because the BLM manages considerably more land in Wyoming.

The decision area encompasses 287,900 acres of surface land and 1.7 acres of federal minerals in the Newcastle portion, but just 5100 of surface land and 223,000 acres of federal minerals in all of Nebraska.

The BLM is strongly encouraging the public to review and provide comments.

"The public is encouraged to provide comment on the draft documents, particularly concerning the proposed management alternatives, the analysis guiding management decisions, and any new information that would be helpful in developing a final plan," said Chad Krause, Newcastle Field Manager.

The draft was published in the Federal Register on Friday, opening a 90-day comment period.

The draft contains four alternatives to be considered. The first would see no action taken on current management practices.

"Under this alternative, the BLM would continue to manage the use of BLM-administered lands and resources under the existing [resource management plans]," states the draft. Including this alternative is a requirement of the planning process.

The second alternative would emphasize resource protection. According to the draft, it is, "The most proactive in promoting conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered and other special status species, as well as protecting other social and scientific values".

It would provide the most restrictions, including 2% of BLM lands in Wyoming being closed to off-highway vehicle use, 8% administered as unavailable for land use authorizations, 17% closed to salable minerals and all unavailable for livestock grazing.

There would be "limited opportunities" for mineral and energy development with major constraints on up to 25% of the available oil and gas leases in Wyoming to protect natural, cultural and scientific values. Recreation opportunities would be provided through two special recreation management areas and two extensive recreation management areas.

It would also enlarge the existing area of critical environmental concern in Wyoming and add a new one. These are defined as areas of public lands where special management attention is needed to protect and prevent damage to historic, cultural or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources or other natural systems.

The third alternative goes the opposite way, maximizing resource use. It would prioritize land for livestock grazing, mineral leasing and travel opportunities.

This alternative, "Provides for more flexibility in management of natural and cultural resources" and has the fewest restrictions in terms of closed areas and major constraints. All BLM land would be available for livestock grazing and would designate only one extensive recreation management area, no special recreation management areas and one area of critical environmental concern.

The final alternative would balance these two approaches. The document describes this approach as the "preferred alternative," which, "strives to balance natural and cultural resources with appropriate development scenarios."

Few areas would be closed to oil and gas leasing and major constraints would apply to only 11% of the Wyoming portion to protect natural, cultural and scientific values.

This alternative would provide recreation opportunities through one special recreation management area, four extensive recreation management areas and one backcountry conservation area in Wyoming; it would also follow the same plan for areas of critical environmental concern as the second alternative.

Comments can be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510, by emailing [email protected] or by mail to BLM Newcastle Field Office, ATTN: Newcastle RMP, 1101 Washington Blvd., WY 82701.

The BLM is also planning to host in-person and virtual public meetings during the 90 days and will announce these at least 15 days in advance through the BLM National NEPA Register, mailings and social media.