BLM---Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Available for Public Comment

2/19/2014

Important BLM Hearings Scheduled on Sage Grouse
If you cannot attend the meetings, the draft Environmental Impact Statement is open for public comment through February 20, 2014.
Comments can be sent via email at: blm_or_gsg_planning_comments@blm.gov, or
mailed to:
BLM-Greater Sage-Grouse EIS
1220 SW 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97204

The full Oregon Sub-Regional Greater Sage-Grouse Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/EIS can be found at: http://www.blm.gov/or/energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php.

Sagebrush Ecosystem

National BLM > OR/WA > Energy > Wind Energy Development Challenges & Opportunities Map
http://www.blm.gov/or/energy/opportunity/sagebrush.php

The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Amendment/EIS is available for review and comment. The comment period will be open from Friday, November 22, 2013 through Thursday, February 20, 2014. The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS is accessible below but the files are large. For additional information, to access the document broken into smaller PDFs, or view associated maps, please visit here.

The public comment period ends Feb. 20, 2014. Comments may be submitted by the following methods:

MAIL: BLM - Greater Sage-Grouse DEIS
1220 SW Third Ave.
Portland, OR 97204

EMAIL: blm_or_so_gsg_planning_comments@blm.gov

The sagebrush ecosystem is home to unique plant and wildlife species, and is very important to the overall ecological health of eastern Oregon. Many birds and mammals depend on sagebrush ecosystems in the western United States for survival. In the last century, drastic changes caused by livestock grazing, conversion of lands to agriculture, the introduction of exotic plant species, and fire have resulted in alteration and fragmentation of sagebrush vegetative communities throughout the Intermountain West. The loss of sagebrush ecosystems are negatively affecting many of the more than 350 species of plants and animals that depend on sagebrush ecosystems for all or part of their existence including Greater Sage-Grouse as well as Pygmy Rabbit, Mule Deer, and Golden Eagles. Other examples of sagebrush dependent species include sage sparrow, ferruginous hawks, Brewer's sparrow, sage thrasher, sagebrush vole, and many botanical species.

BLM and Sage-Grouse Conservation In response to requests from state and local governments to facilitate ways to conserve Greater Sage-Grouse and protect its habitat, BLM scientists and managers met with state wildlife management officials July 16, 2011 to brief them on the agency’s National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. The meeting took place at the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The BLM strategy emphasizes a cooperative approach and provides a framework to advance efforts to implement timely conservation measures for sage-grouse and its habitat.

Comments and Feedback The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service are seeking comment on issues that should be addressed in evaluating Greater Sage-Grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 Western states. Comments for the Western Region may be sent to sagewest@blm.gov. General questions about the planning strategy should be directed to SageQuery@blm.gov. You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

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