On March 28, the BLM published their draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and plan amendments for sage grouse conservation and management. This EIS is approximately 2,428 pages long and encompasses six alternatives of varying degree of “conservation and management.”

While the document is an improvement upon previous work, I remain very concerned about the continued evolution of a systemic expansion of limiting public access to public lands.

While I admit to having a sensitivity based on the recent Rock Springs BLM Resource Management Plan (which we still anxiously await their path forward), I want to ensure we are proactively engaged and protecting our values, especially based on the significance of this proposal.

Let me explain:z “This planning process is considering amendments to 76 BLM RMPs, and to amend management of up to 69 million acres greater sage-grouse habitat management areas in portions of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. All actions analyzed in the Draft RMPA/EIS would apply only to lands managed by the BLM.” - Vol. 1 Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement.

The BLM is focusing on the following range-wide management actions:

• Disturbance caps

Fluid mineral development and leasing objective

• Fluid mineral leasing waivers, exceptions and modifications

• Renewable energy development and associated transmission

• Minimizing threats from predation

• Livestock grazing

• Wild horse and burro management

• Areas of critical environmental concern

• Adaptive management

This planning process considers six alternatives. These alternatives have been derived from scoping, interagency coordination, and internal discussions.

The abstract states that Alternative 5 is the agency’s preferred alternative, but states that identifying that as a preference “does not indicate any decision or commitments from the BLM.”

It goes on to state that major planning actions addressed include habitat management, area boundaries, disturbance caps, habitat objectives, adaptive management, mitigation, energy and minerals, renewable energy, livestock grazing, wild horses and burros and minimizing threats from predation.

According to a March 15 WyoFile story, of the six proposed alternatives put forth in the BLM’s sage grouse management plan revision, the agency’s preferred option includes designating 8.6 million federal acres in Wyoming as “priority habitat” and another 8.9 million acres as “general habitat.” A priority habitat designation is applied to “public lands that have the highest value for sustaining sage-grouse populations,” and come with restrictions to reflect those land values, whereas a general habitat designation provides for conservation measures with fewer restrictions.”

The possibility of further restrictions to our access to public lands has implications, is real and has the potential to be more restrictive than what we have seen with the previously proposed Rock Springs BLM Resource Management Plan.

Please get involved through attending the upcoming BLM public meeting on Monday, April 22, from 5-7 p.m. at White Mountain Library, 2935 Sweetwater Dr., Rock Springs.

If you cannot attend, please comment electronically through the project website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016719/570.

As a member of the House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee and as a Representative, I will work tirelessly to keep you informed and fight to protect the interests, values, and our way of life. “Wyoming is what America was.”