Grand Staircase-Escalante grazing management plan; public comment opportunities

KANAB — Public comment is being requested by the Bureau of Land Management on the preliminary draft alternatives for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s Livestock Grazing Monument Management Plan Amendment and associated Environmental Impact Statement as the BLM develops draft documents to replace existing grazing management decisions.

The public is invited to meet with Grand Staircase-Escalante National National Monument staff, learn more about the preliminary draft alternatives, and provide written comments during three public open houses Dec. 2–4. All meetings will run from 5-8 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Dec. 2 – Utah State Capitol Building, 350 North State Street, Salt Lake City
  • Dec. 3 – BLM administrative complex, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab
  • Dec. 4 – Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main Street, Escalante

Comments on the preliminary draft alternatives may also be submitted in writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or by any of the following methods:

  • Mail
Bureau of Land Management
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
669 S. HWY 89-A
Kanab, Utah 84741
  • Fax to 435-644-1250

Please reference “GSENM Livestock Grazing Plan Amendment” when submitting comments.

The affected planning area includes all public lands in the GSENM and public lands for which GSENM has livestock grazing management responsibility. BLM lands within GSENM and additional lands within portions of the BLM’s Kanab Field Office and the Arizona Strip Field Office as well as lands managed by the National Park Service in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Small areas of additional state, municipal, and private lands also border or are contained within the planning area, but are not included in the decision area.

The preliminary draft alternatives were developed using public feedback received during the scoping process last winter, in close coordination with the state of Utah, Kane and Garfield counties, other federal agencies, and the best available science. The range of action alternatives will allow the BLM to reach a decision that will enable sustained use of the land through improved land health and science-based grazing management.

To be most helpful, comments should be submitted by close of business on Jan. 20, 2015. Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment — the minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wished to clarify the views he or she expressed 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.

Resources

  • For additional information, contact Matt Betenson at 435-644-1205
  • Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual
  • BLM website
  • BLM Twitter @BLMUtah

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Twitter: @STGnews

 

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2 Comments

  • Koolaid November 30, 2014 at 8:48 am

    Give it to Bundy. Wasn’t his family grazing on these lands before the rock formations migrated there?

  • Delong November 30, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Yes, and God told Bundy it’s his right to do what he wants, when he wants, and wherever he wants with no opposition.

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