Open Letter from Theo Stanley from The Jefferson Mining District
Coos Bay District
1300 Airport Lane
North Bend, OR 97459
District Manager
Patty Burke
On December 11, 2013 we attended a meeting in Coos Bay held by BLM regarding the Resource Management Plans for Western Oregon, "RMPWO" at the North Bend Library.
Four (4) items were listed in a meeting handout as items for discussion during the meeting.
* Support sustainable timber
* Provide for clean water and healthy fish
* Protect the habitat of wildlife like owls
* Maintain old-growth forests
An "independent?" company was facilitating this meeting. We were divided into two discussion groups for the meeting. It was very obvious from the start that there were many more areas of concern by the attendees than the four management plan segments scheduled for discussion.
Note:
NEPA requires "Consideration of Mankind".
The RMPWO requires coordination with other government entities as required by FLPMA.
FLPMA states that your agency (BLM) must seek out all agencies and entities of interest for coordination. This is to be done before Public comment periods. BLM did not comply with this requirement.
42 U.S. CODE § 4331 - CONGRESSIONAL DECLARATION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
(a) The Congress, recognizing the profound impact of man’s activity on the interrelations of all components of the natural environment, particularly the profound influences of population growth, high-density urbanization, industrial expansion, resource exploitation, and new and expanding technological advances and recognizing further the critical importance of restoring and maintaining environmental quality to the overall welfare and development of man, declares that it is the continuing policy of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State and local governments, and other concerned public and private organizations, to use all practicable means and measures, including financial and technical assistance, in a manner calculated to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.
(b) In order to carry out the policy set forth in this chapter, it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practicable means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy, to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs, and resources to the end that the Nation may--
43 CFR 1610.2 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
§ 1610.2 Public participation.
(a) The public shall be provided opportunities to meaningfully participate in and comment on the preparation of plans, amendments and related guidance and be given early notice of planning activities. Public involvement in the resource management planning process shall conform to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and associated implementing regulations.
The requirements of FLPMA/ NEPA for BLM project coordination with Jefferson Mining District have not been followed.
We do not accept the four elements of the RMPWO discussions as meeting coordination requirements. Any issues or plans regarding Locatable Minerals, Roads or Water can only be addressed by Jefferson Mining District and/or others through the proper FLPMA/ NEPA process, of coordination, including those areas covered in the RMPWO Plan.
Because of our by-chance attendance at this meeting, it must not be construed that Jefferson Mining District concurs with this plan or in any way considers the meeting a part of the coordination process.
Coordination requires the agency to meet with Jefferson Mining District or any other interested government before the Public meetings. To this date, contrary to law, the BLM has not
sought out or met with Jefferson Mining District or any other Mining District with respect to this congressionally mandated process to ensure this plan is consistent with law.
Respectfully,
Theo Stanley, Project Coordinator
Vaughn Rains, Project Coordinator
Jefferson Mining District
PO Box 307
Bandon, OR 97411
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