BLM plans open houses for Monticello Draft Resource Management Plan
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host five open houses on the Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Monticello Field Office.
The purpose of these meetings is to provide information and answer questions. The RMP will guide future management of natural resources, activities, and uses on approximately 1.78 million acres of public lands in San Juan and Grand Counties.
The Draft RMP/EIS analyzes the impacts of five alternatives that address all aspects of BLM land and mineral management within the field office boundary, including travel, minerals, special designations, non-WSA lands with wilderness characteristics, recreation, and wildlife habitat. The open houses will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the following locations:
• January 8, Monticello, UT – Monticello High School, 164 S. 200 W.
• January 9, Moab, UT – Grand Center, 182 N. 500 W.
• January 10, Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Gardens, 300 Wakara Way
• January 16, Blanding, UT – Arts and Events Center, 715 W. 200 S.
• January 17, Montezuma Creek, UT – Montezuma Creek Elementary School, State Highway #262
Meeting attendees are invited to view a presentation and displays on the five alternatives, and submit their comments on the Draft RMP/EIS. BLM specialists will be available for questions.
“The meetings provide the public with a valuable opportunity to learn more about the alternatives presented in the Draft RMP/DEIS,” said Gary Torres, Monticello RMP Project Manager. “And although the Draft identifies a preferred alternative, no decision on the final plan will be made until all comments received from the public have been considered fully.”
Comments will be accepted through February 8, 2008 and can be submitted at the open house, emailed to UT_Monticello_RMP_Comments@blm.gov, submitted online at http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning.1.html/, or mailed to BLM Monticello Field Office, RMP Comments, PO Box 7, Monticello, UT 84535.
More information on the project is available from the Monticello Field Office at 435-587-1500 or on the BLM Web site listed above. An electronic version of the Draft RMP/EIS is also available on the Web site.