Comment opportunity for BLM land management plan

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced that an open house public meeting will take place on November 2 in Lusk to solicit early public involvement in the revision of the Newcastle Resource Management Plan (RMP).

This process will ultimately create an updated version of the document that defines how the BLM approaches management of everything from livestock grazing and fire management to air quality and minerals on the lands it governs within northeast Wyoming.

It’s the first time since 1999 that the Resource Management Plan (RMP) for Crook, Weston and Niobrara counties has been revisited. At this time, the RMP revision is in the pre-formal stages, but the BLM is already soliciting public input and has been holding open house meetings to do so.

The meeting will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds located at 4080 U.S. Highway 20 in Lusk, beginning with a brief presentation at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, the comment period has been extended a second time, after originally being pushed back by 45 days based on feedback from the public at a meeting in Newcastle. The public will now be able to submit initial comments until November 28.

The new RMP will update and amend the allocation decisions made in the 1990s regarding BLM lands in this area. “Allocation decisions” refers to the process of deciding what the BLM will allow or be open to in a certain area and, conversely, what will be restricted and disallowed in that area.

This includes uses ranging from oil and gas leasing to recreation, and also whether the BLM is willing to dispose of certain parcels or whether a parcel needs to be protected for culture or wildlife.

At this time, the public has been invited to help the BLM identify issues or concerns that should be addressed during the planning process. Comments received will be used to help set parameters and scope for the project. 

Submit written comments at the meeting or by mail at ATTN: NFO RMP Project Manager, BLM Newcastle Field Office, 1101 Washington Blvd., Newcastle, WY 82701 or via the ePlanning project page at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510.

Contact project manager Kathleen Lacko at [email protected] with questions.