January 14, 2025

Comment Period Ended BLM Vale District is reviewing received comments.

December 26, 2024

        Pertinent spatial datasets (Geographic Information Systems [GIS] format) that were used in the analysis have been added under the Louse Canyon GMA EIS "Website", "Maps" section to the left.  More information in that section is provided for members of the public with access to GIS software.

December 10, 2024

The Public Meeting presentation has been uploaded. The final slide has information on how to participate during the public comment period, which ends Monday, January 13, 2025.

November 29, 2024

 The BLM Vale District is seeking public comment on the Louse Canyon Geographic Management Area (LCGMA) Rangeland Health Management Actions Draft Environmental Impact Statement to make informed decisions on the best livestock management and restoration actions that would allow the district to make progress toward meeting Oregon/Washington (OR/WA) Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management (Standards and Guidelines) in the LCGMA.

The products of the EIS analysis and eventual decision will be:

a.       Renewed grazing permits for the Ambrose-Maher, Anderson, Campbell, Louse Canyon Community, and Star Valley Community allotments in Oregon as well as the Quinn River and         Little Owyhee Allotments in Nevada.

b.       Provide final Determinations of causal factors where Standards and Guidelines are not being achieved and implement actions to address those factors.

c.       Address upland and habitat rehabilitation and restoration needs in the project area

The Louse Canyon Geographic Management Area Draft EIS analyzes a range of alternatives for potential management actions to meet or make progress toward attainment of OR/WA Standards and Guidelines. Alternatives consider livestock grazing practices, implementation of rangeland restoration actions, and rangeland improvement projects.

Comments on the Draft EIS may be made directly on this webpage by selecting "Participate Now" to the left.  The public may also make comments via email to the project site: [email protected], or by hardcopy letter to:

    Vale District BLM

    Attention: LCGMA

    100 Oregon Street

    Vale, Oregon 97198

Comments may be made on the Draft EIS documents provided under "Participate Now" to the left.  Comments on the Draft EIS may also be made via email to [email protected], or regular mail to the Vale BLM District Office (attention “LCGMA”). Comments made on the eplanning project page or via email must be received by the BLM by the close of the comment period (January 13th, 2025); written hardcopy comments must be postmarked by January 13, 2025.

Contact project lead Michele McDaniel in the Vale District Office should you have questions at (541) 473-3144.

Previous Milestones

Scoping
The Malheur Field Office, Vale District Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recently issued a Notice of Intent to begin a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Louse Canyon Geographical Management Area (LCGMA) Rangeland Health Management Actions. This DEIS will address findings from the 2018 Rangeland Health Assessment and Standards of Rangeland Health Evaluation (RHA/E) (https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/106452/510 ) and will analyze alternative livestock management and restoration actions that would allow the District to make progress toward meeting Oregon/Washington (OR/WA) Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management (Standards and Guidelines) as specified through 43 CFR 4180. Appropriate management actions need to be analyzed to ensure that significant progress would be made when the action is taken.

The Scoping Document, on the documents page, describes potential actions the BLM is considering for analysis. The BLM welcomes and is actively seeking your comments and issues related to alternatives development and analysis of management actions that lead to the attainment of the Standards and Guidelines within the LCGMA. Your comments will also assist in developing alternatives by identifying issues that should be addressed as part of the analysis process. I invite and encourage your participation in the 30-day scoping period, as your input is informative in the future management of the public lands within the LCGMA.  Please provide any additional information for consideration regarding issues for the LCGMA project area using the address listed in the letterhead or via at:

Email: [email protected]
Mail or Hand Delivery:  Louse Canyon GMA DEIS Scoping Comments Attn: Malheur Field Manager  100 Oregon St.  Vale, OR  97918

If you are interested in meeting with members of the IDT regarding this project, please let us know.   Scoping comments and issues pertaining to the effects of this EIS should be submitted by October 15, 2019.

A project emailing address is available: [email protected]
For questions please contact: