| |
The Approved Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision for the BLM Tres Rios Field Office was issued on February 27, 2015. The multi-agency planning effort included extensive public participation to determine suitable uses in the planning area. This document provides overarching direction for management of 503,589 acres of BLM-administered public lands and 823,423 acres of BLM-administered subsurface mineral estate within the Tres Rios Field Office. The public lands in the planning area contribute about $94.6 million to the local economy each year supporting 3,061 jobs.
The comprehensive plan provides the BLM with up-to-date oil and gas leasing direction for public lands in the planning area including 132,713 acres with No Surface Occupancy, 35,948 acres with Controlled Surface Use stipulations and 343,440 acres requiring Timing Limitations. Additionally, there are 62,516 acres closed to oil and gas development. The Approved RMP also adopts the U.S. Forest Service, San Juan National Forest’s oil and gas leasing decisions outlined in their San Juan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan September 2013 ROD.
|
|
Additionally, the Approved RMP incorporates the Colorado Air Resource Protection Protocol, which identifies the components necessary for statewide air quality protection on BLM-authorized activities within the Tres Rios Field Office. Some measures include controlling venting of volatile organic compounds, implementing emission reduction conditions from uncontrolled emissions, using vapor recovery units and other practices recognized by air quality regulatory agencies.
The Approved RMP also continues to authorize livestock grazing on 420,175 acres of public lands. The Tres Rios Field Office will continue to maintain more than 100 active allotments serving 81 grazing permits (24,000 animal unit months) of forage for domestic cattle and sheep.
The ROD and Approved RMP modifies the Proposed Tres Rios Field Office Land and Resource Management Plan to include: seasonal closures to protect big game during critical winter months, aquatic ecosystems standards and guidelines, grazing allotment statuses, Wild and Scenic River suitability, a minor boundary change on Gypsum Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Silverton area allowable uses.
|
|
A plan amendment will soon follow the Record of Decision in order to consider proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern that were not fully analyzed in the Resource Management Plan. The Approved RMP also determines conservation measures for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse including but not limited to projects designed to mitigate or avoid the loss of habitat.
The Approved RMP for the Tres Rios Field Office is published separately from the San Juan National Forest ROD per BLM policy and regulation. The Approved RMP includes only the BLM section from its previous release in September 2013, which was combined with the San Juan National Forest. The Approved RMP applies only to public lands managed by the BLM.
Federal Register Notice of Availability |
|
