BLM Begins Scoping for Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy

As part of a national strategy to evaluate greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans, the Bureau of Land Management’s Dillon Field Office is asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in an environmental impact statement and land use plan amendment.

A scoping open house will be held Jan. 12, 2012, at the National Guard Armory in Dillon from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Members of the public can drop into the open house at any time between those hours. The armory is located at 1050 Montana Hwy. 41.

The Dillon meeting is one of 26 being held across the Western Region. Public Affairs Specialist for the BLM David Abrams says the meetings allow attendees the opportunity to review posters and other informational materials, talk with project team members, and submit comments on the project.

Based on ongoing threats to the greater sage-grouse and its habitat throughout the West, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2015 deadline for making a decision whether to list the species under the Endangered Species Act, the BLM will be incorporating consistent objectives and conservation measures into relevant resource management plans by September 2014.

For those unable to attend the scoping meeting, scoping comments may be submitted by a variety of methods. More information on how to submit comments can be found at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/prog/wildlife/mtdksplanning.html

The scoping period began Dec. 9, 2011 and ends Feb. 7, 2012.

For more information on the scoping process and greater sage-grouse habitat conservation measures, visit the BLM’s greater sage-grouse website at http://www.blm.gov/sagegrouse.