Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment and Record of Decision (October 2024)
Link to Federal Register Notice: October 22, 2024:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/22/2024-24336/notice-of-availability-of-the-record-of-decision-for-the-approved-resource-management-plan-amendment
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is pleased to announce that the RMPA/EIS is complete. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Big Game Habitat Conservation for Oil and Gas Management in Colorado Plan was signed on October 17, 2024. The Approved RMPA will provide management guidance for the BLM's oil and gas development to minimize negative impacts to big game high priority habitat (HPH) on BLM-administered surface land in Colorado and 15.94 million acres of big game HPH on split-estate Federal mineral estate. The Approved RMPA describes the actions and management
to guide future management surrounding the conservation of big game high
priority habitat (HPH) and oil and
gas management. The RMPA aligns BLM management of oil and gas
in big game HPH with the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC)
rules for oil and gas development in elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and bighorn
sheep HPH (Rule 1202.c, d; Rule 1203).
The Approved RMP Amendment changes the
following existing plans:
·
Eastern Colorado RMP
for the Royal Gorge Field Office (2024)
·
San Luis Resource Area
RMP (1991)
·
Gunnison Resource Area
RMP (1993)
·
Uncompahgre Field
Office RMP (2020)
·
Colorado River Valley
Field Office RMP (2015) and Roan Plateau Amendment (2016)
·
Grand Junction Field
Office RMP (2015)
·
Kremmling RMP (2015)
·
Little Snake RMP
(2011)
·
White River Field
Office RMP (1997)
·
Tres Rios Field Office
RMP (2015)
·
Canyons of the
Ancients National Monument RMP (2010)
·
Gunnison Gorge
National Conservation Area RMP (2004)
The approved plan and ROD are available on the Documents tab to the left of this page.
The Draft RMPA/EIS published on November 9, 2023, and the Proposed RMPA/Final EIS
published on July 19, 2024. The Proposed RMPA/Final EIS contained the Proposed Alternative,
impacts of the Proposed Alternative, a summary of comments received during the public review
period for the Draft RMPA/EIS, and BLM’s responses to the comments.
The Proposed RMPA/Final EIS was subject to a 30-day protest period that ended on August 19,
2024. The BLM received four protest letters, and the BLM Assistant Director reviewed all
protest issues for the proposed planning decisions. The Director concluded that the BLM
Colorado State Director followed the applicable laws, regulations, and policies, and considered
all relevant resource information and public input. The BLM Assistant Director dismissed the
protests, and that decision is the final decision of the US Department of the Interior.
The BLM greatly appreciates all those who contributed to this planning effort, particularly
members of the public, who provided important feedback; our cooperating agencies, which
included federal, state, and local governments; and Native American Tribes. The public interest
and involvement in this planning process ensured that the Approved RMPA will sustain the
health, diversity, and productivity of BLM-administered lands. Thank you for your interest in the
EIS.
Link to Press Release: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-approves-big-game-gunnison-sage-grouse-and-land-management-plans
Planning and
Decision Area
The
planning area includes all counties in Colorado and encompasses approximately
8.3 million acres of public land and approximately 27 million acres of Federal
mineral estate. The decision area includes all 8.3 million acres of
BLM-administered surface land (except where Federal minerals have been
withdrawn from mineral leasing) plus approximately 4.7 million acres of Federal
mineral split estate where the surface is owned by private owners, local
government, or the State.
Interactive Map: Please check out the
BLM's interactive map for this project, which includes current
layers for big game important habitat areas: BLM CO Big Game Habitat Conservation for Oil and Gas Management RMPA Public Web Map (arcgis.com)
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Questions?
Please contact [email protected] for any questions regarding this project.
