RECORD OF DECISION/APPROVED RMP AMENDMENT RELEASED OCTOBER 17, 2024

The Bureau of Land Management has officially released the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus).  Gunnison sage-grouse is federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §1531-1544). The Approved RMP Amendment provides a framework to conserve and enhance habitat for the Gunnison sage-grouse in all BLM land use plans with occupied and unoccupied habitat across the current eight populations in southwest Colorado and southeast Utah and, as applicable, aligns with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2020 Final Recovery Plan.

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THE PROPOSED RMP AMENDMENT/FINAL EIS WAS SUBJECT TO A 30-DAY PROTEST PERIOD THAT ENDED ON AUGUST 5, 2024. 

The BLM received 5 unique protest submissions. The BLM Director reviewed all valid protest issues for the proposed planning decisions. The Director concluded that the BLM Colorado and Utah State Directors followed the applicable laws, regulations, and policies, and considered all relevant resource information and public input. The BLM Director dismissed the protests, and that decision is the final decision of the U.S. Department of the Interior. A copy of the protest resolution report is available at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR DRAFT RMP AMENDMENT/EIS CLOSED FEBRUARY 6, 2024

The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft Environmental Impact Statement was available for public review and comment through February 6, 2024. Visit the Documents page to review the document. Public comment periods offer the opportunity for you, the public, to be involved in the BLM’s decision-making process and to offer your thoughts on the content of the Draft EIS.

The analysis in the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS considers management objectives, conservation measures, minimization, avoidance, and mitigation criteria, timing limitations, and land use allocations for resources including energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, vegetation management, and other program areas within occupied and unoccupied GUSG habitat areas and potential linkage-connectivity areas. The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS analyzes five alternatives, including a no action alternative.

OPEN HOUSE & ZOOM PUBLIC MEETINGS

Thank you for attending the in-person meetings on Tuesday December 5 and Wednesday December 6, 2023 and virtually via Zoom on December 12, 2023.

>>View a recording of the December 12 Virtual Public Meeting on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aULu9iw44uc<<

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PROVIDING SUBSTANTIVE INPUT

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