1/6/2025: The Record of Decision (ROD) for the GSENM Approved RMP was approved and signed on January 6, 2025. It can be viewed in the documents tab or you can visit the GSENM RMP webpage to learn more about the plan. The Protest Resolution Report can be viewed on the BLM's website. The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the ROD/Approved RMP will be published in the Federal Register on Monday, January 13, 2025. 

8/30/2024: The Bureau of Land Management created a webpage providing another method to learn about the proposed plan and this planning process. The website can be found on the BLM's website.

8/29/2024: The Bureau of Land Management today released its proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A Notice of Availability will publish in tomorrow's (8/30/24) Federal Register. This opens a 60-day Governor of Utah consistency review and a 30-day protest period which closes September 30, 2024. Instructions for filing a protest are available at the BLM Filing a Plan Protest website.

11/1/2023: The BLM held the last public engagement meeting in virtually on 10/25/2023. A copy of the video recording, audio recording, transcript and closed captions have been posted in the documents section on ePlanning. Written public comments must be received by November 9, 2023 (comment form available in the Documents tab).

9/22/2023: The BLM held the second (first in person) public engagement meeting in Escalante, UT on 9/20/2023. A copy of the posters and brochure has been posted in the documents section on ePlanning. See below for the remaining upcoming meeting dates and locations.

9/11/23: The BLM held the first public engagement meeting virtually on 9/6/2023. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation along with recordings of the meeting has been posted in the documents section on ePlanning. See below for the upcoming meeting dates and locations.

9/8/23: BLM announces additional public meeting for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument draft resources management plan, environmental impact statement. (Press Release)

The remaining public meeting schedule is as follows:

• In-person open house on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. MT at the Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 W Main St, Escalante, UT 84726.
  
• In-person open house on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. MT at the Kanab Center, 20 N 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741.
• In-person open house on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. MT at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S West Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT 84101.
• In-person open house on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. MT at the Panguitch Elementary School, 110 S 100 W, Panguitch, UT 84759.
• Virtual meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, from 2-4 p.m. MT Register at https://bit.ly/3DQAOFA.

08/11/23: Federal Register: Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah

The Bureau of Land Management today published a Notice of Availability and opened a 90-day public comment period for the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which would replace the existing 2020 Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and 2020 Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area. The draft RMP and EIS includes consideration for proposed areas of critical environmental concern and recreational target shooting closures.

The BLM is seeking public review and comments from interested and affected parties concerning the draft Environmental Impact Statement. Multiple opportunities are available for interested stakeholders or members of the public to learn about the planning process, submit comments, and ask questions. The public can review a hard copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement at the Paria River District Office (address below).

The BLM invites members of the public to attend virtual public engagement meetings via the Zoom web platform. Participants must register in order to attend. Upon registration, an email containing a unique link to join the meeting will be provided. Virtual public scoping meetings are scheduled on the following dates:

• Sept. 6, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. MT. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Register here: https://bit.ly/3OMpm3Y.
• Oct. 25, 2023, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. MT. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Register here: https://bit.ly/3DQAOFA.

Additionally, the BLM invites members of the public to attend in-person public engagement meetings on the following dates:

• Sept. 20, 2023, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 W Main St, Escalante, UT 84726
• Oct. 4, 2023, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Kanab Center, Ballroom A, 20 N 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
• Oct. 18, 2023, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Panguitch Elementary School Gymnasium, 110 S 100 W, Panguitch, UT 84759

Questions related to the virtual public engagement meetings can be directed to the Project Manager, Scott Whitesides, at 801-539-4054 or [email protected].

Please visit the Documents tab to access and download the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. For persons unable to download the digital materials on this website, a hard copy of the documents will be available for review at the Paria River District Office (address below).

How to Submit Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS- Written public comments must be received by November 9, 2023 (comment form available in the Documents tab). The most useful public comments provide specific and relevant information that inform the issues or alternatives to be analyzed, or that could influence the scope of issues or range of alternatives considered. Written comments may be submitted via one of the methods listed below:

• Mail: ATTN: GSENM RMP Project Manager, BLM Paria River District, 669 S Highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741
• ePlanning: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020343/510  

Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment — including personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

07/29/22: The Notice of Intent for the Draft Grand Staircase-Escalante Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2022 at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/07/29/2022-16296/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-a-resource-management-plan-for-the-grand-staircase-escalante-national.

The BLM is seeking public scoping comments from interested and affected parties concerning the scope of the analysis, and identification of relevant information, studies, and analyses. Multiple opportunities are available for interested stakeholders or members of the public to learn about the planning process, submit public scoping comments, and ask questions. The public can also request hard copy informational materials.

The BLM invites members of the public to attend virtual public meetings via the Zoom web platform. Participants must register in order to attend. Upon registration, an email containing a unique link to join the meeting will be provided. Virtual public scoping meetings are scheduled on the following dates:

•  Aug. 17, 2022, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. MT. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Register here: https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pnVO1ZBsR3ioUH-Cuu9rug.
•      Aug. 30, 2022, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. MT. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Register here: https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aJBSSu7uRbOO6poLbsABmg.

Additionally, the BLM invites members of the public to attend in-person public scoping meetings on the following dates:

•       Aug. 24, 2022, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Escalante Showhouse, 50 W Main St, Escalante, UT 84726
•       Aug. 31, 2022, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Kanab Center, Ballroom C, 20 N 100 E, Kanab, UT 84741
•       Sept. 7, 2022, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. MT, Panguitch Elementary School Gymnasium, 110 S 100 W, Panguitch, UT 84759

Questions related to the virtual public scoping meetings can be directed to the Project Manager, Scott Whitesides, at 801-539-4054 or [email protected].

Please visit the Documents tab to access and download scoping informational materials. For persons unable to download the digital materials on this website, hard-copies of the packet will be available for pick up at the Paria River District Office (address below).

How to Submit Public Scoping Comments - Written public scoping comments must be received by September 27, 2022 (comment form available in the Documents tab). The most useful public scoping comments provide specific and relevant information that inform the issues or alternatives to be analyzed, or that could influence the scope of issues or range of alternatives considered. Written comments may be submitted via one of the methods listed below:

·         Mail: ATTN: GSENM RMP Project Manager, BLM Paria River District, 669 S Highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741

·         ePlanning: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020343/510  

Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment — including personal identifying information — may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.