BLM meetings to seek input on Cedar land management plan

Amy Joi O'Donoghue

A host of public land planning options for 2.1 million acres in Beaver, Iron and part of Washington counties is under consideration as the Bureau of Land Management launches a management strategy for the area.

Three meetings designed to solicit input from cities, impacted counties, Native American Indian tribes and the general public are set for December.

At issue is the federal agency's intent to create a new "Resource Management Plan" to replace existing plans that guide varied uses.

Those uses can include management of rights-of-way for renewable energy, development of geothermal wind and solar power, and the evaluation of potential new areas of "critical environmental concern."

Also on the table are "wild and scenic river" recommendations, off-highway vehicle designations and management of wild horses and burros.

The meetings, presented in open house format, will provide basic information to the public and include BLM representatives who will answer questions and solicit feedback.

Gina Ginouves, BLM planner, said input is critical to the formation of the management plans because they have not been updated for more than 20 years.

"They are really old and some significant things are changing," she said, adding that the impacted acreage does not have any areas of "critical environmental concern," and there are likely to nominations that if accepted, could impact future acceptable uses.

"It would curtail those certain uses that would conflict with what we are trying to protect."

The open houses are anticipated to draw the attention of anyone who off-roads in those areas — either for recreational purposes with an ATV or for rural transportation necessitated through farming or ranching.

"For instance, our default for cross country travel, the whole area is open, unless we designate it as an otherwise and that will change," she said. "It will be limited to existing routes — or if people want some cross country travel areas, to drive across the open land, they need to let us know where they want them. It's important that we get that information so we can make informed decisions."

All meetings are set from 5 to 8 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

•  Dec. 7 — Cedar City's Festival Hall Convention Center, Room 7, 96 N. Main.
•  Dec. 8 — Beaver Library meeting room, 55 W. Center.
•  Dec. 9 — Salt Lake City library, Conference Room 4, 210 E. 400 South.

The public scoping period for the new plan began in September, with comments being accepted through Dec. 27.

Written comments can be submitted at the meetings or by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . E-mailers should put the "Resource Management Plan Cedar City Field Office/Associated Environmental Impact Statement in the subject line. Comments can also be mailed to the planning project manager, BLM Cedar City Office, 176 E. DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT, 84721. For more information about the meetings or the process, call 435-865-3011.

--

Source: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700086633/BLM-meetings-to-seek-input-on-Cedar-land-management-plan.html

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites