Overview:
The BLM clearly listened to comments submitted by concerned citizens such as yourselves. The proposed plan includes new and expanded Areas of Critical Environmental Concern in the northern portion of the Field Office that are directly correlated with energy development closures in this region. WWA and other conservation organizations have been tirelessly fighting for stronger protections in these areas for decades. It is remarkable to see those carried forward in the proposed plan. The plan also matches 80% of the recommendations submitted by the Governor’s Taskforce. With a few exceptions, by and large WWA supports the recommendations submitted by the taskforce that have been implemented in the proposed plan. The plan also includes flexible, site-specific management for livestock grazing to better balance livestock and wildlife needs without upending the industry as would have happened under the draft plan. The BLM made significant concessions to the Trona industry in the proposed plan. One of the only sources of Trona (sodium ash) in the world is located within the Rock Springs Field Office, and it is a major economic driver for Rock Springs and surrounding communities.
Our biggest concerns with the plan are in regards to Lands with Wilderness characteristics, the removal of protections around Adobe Town, and a lack of more robust language on collaborating with Tribal Nations with maintained connections to these lands.
Map of Management 1997 to Present Map of Proposed RMP management:
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
Proposed RMP: 12 ACECs covering 936,193 acres (~650,000 more acres than current 1997 plan)
Previous 1996 RMP: 10 ACECs covering 286,454 acres
Proposed ACECs prioritize wildlife, ecological integrity, Tribal concerns, historical features, and scenic landscapes. These ACECs, if implemented, will institute more rigorous management including closures for mineral extraction, conventional & renewable energy development, transmission lines, pipelines, etc. We are most excited about new and expanded ACECs that encompass some of the area’s most special landscapes such as the Golden Triangle and much of the Northern Red Desert.
This is a huge leap forward for conservation. Under the RMP that has been in place since 1996, only 286,470 acres were designated as ACECS with limited protections. The new proposed plan includes not only ~600,000 more acres than were previously protected on the landscape, but also more robust, durable protections e.g. oil & gas closures. 900K is about 700K less than what was proposed in the draft. This shows the BLM listened to all stakeholders and did a marvelous job in finding a balanced approach to making sure the best of the best lands receive the protections they deserve while also making sure these wildlands remain working wildlands to support local communities.
Wild and Scenic Rivers
All 7 segments totaling 9.7 miles of the Sweetwater River that have been deemed eligible and suitable for Wild & Scenic River designation will continue to be managed to preserve these outstanding values.
This includes:
5.8 miles for their wild qualities,
0.5 miles as scenic, and
3.4 miles for their recreational values.
This is a continuation of how these segments have been managed under the 1996 RMP.
Wilderness Study Areas
There are no additional protections for WSAs in the proposed RMP. We are extremely disappointed to see the BLM remove language from the preferred alternative of the draft plan that would have directed the BLM to manage these landscapes for their wilderness values if released by congress with no further direction. Under the proposed RMP, these areas would return to multiple use management.
Lands with Wilderness Characteristics
The BLM has proposed to not manage any areas outside of WSAs identified as possessing wilderness characteristics for those wilderness values. We are extremely disappointed in this all or nothing approach. Lands with Wilderness Characteristics identified in the Field Office total about 63,000 acres and comprise less than 1% of lands within the planning area.
Other Highlights:
30% of the Field Office closed to new oil & gas leasing (compared with 15% under previous RMP)
Right-of-Way Exclusion Areas for Priority Landscapes: Right-of-Ways include utility-scale wind & solar developments, transmission lines, pipelines etc. There are robust exclusion and avoidance areas proposed for the most important and intact landscapes within the field office. This ensures that as we shift toward more renewable forms of energy they are sited appropriately in areas with the highest potential for renewable energy production while also safeguarding our highest priority wildlands.
Site-specific Grazing Management: prioritizes wildland health while also allowing livestock operations to continue across over 90% of the field office. Site-specific and case-by-case management actions are proposed for addressing conflicts between wildlife and landscape health and grazing operations. This type of detailed, location-specific management has proven to be most effective in mitigating livestock-wildlife-eco conflicts.
Responsible Recreation Access:
4 Special Recreation Management Areas smaller in size than 1996 RMP to prioritize more wildlands for ecological resources and focus recreation management where recreation demands are high.
All areas of the field office are open to casual recreation. Under the proposed plan, high use recreation areas have received Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) Status in order to prioritize those areas for funding and resources to provide recreation opportunities while also mitigating conflicts with widlife and other resources.
Congressionally Designated Trails Corridor: 5 miles to either side of congressionally designated historic and scenic trails. While we are pleased to see such robust corridors for these special trails, we are disappointed the BLM is proposing to allow energy development within these corridors. We believe these areas should have a no surface occupancy (NSO) and no surface disturbance stipulation to protect the historic and scenic viewsheds.
If you submitted comments during the draft comment period from Aug 2023 to Jan 2024, then you have standing to submit a protest between now and
September 23, 2024.
Comments