SOUTH DAKOTA – BLM Releases South Dakota Draft Management Plan for Public Review
SOUTH DAKOTA – BLM Releases South Dakota Draft Management Plan for Public Review
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released today its Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) describing different alternatives for managing public lands within the South Dakota Field Office. This action kicks off a 90-day public comment period for interested publics to submit comments to the BLM. The public comment period will end September 11, 2013.
The South Dakota Draft RMP/EIS describes a range of alternatives (including a draft preferred alternative) for managing all of the BLM-administered surface (274,239 acres) and mineral estate (1.7 million acres) managed by the South Dakota Field Office in 37 counties. A limited number of paper copies of the draft document are available from BLM’s South Dakota Field Office, 310 Roundup Street in Belle Fourche. The draft document can also viewed online at http://blm.gov/m1kd.
The South Dakota draft plan also addresses the conservation needs of the Greater Sage-Grouse as part of the joint BLM – U.S. Forest Service national effort to sustain the species and its habitat through multiple land management plans across 10 western states.
As part of the review and comment process, The BLM has scheduled public meetings in an open house format throughout the area to answer questions and gather comments concerning the Draft.
Open-house Format Public Meetings
| Community | Location | Day | Date | Time |
| Belle Fourche | Belle Fourche Rec. Center 1111 National St. |
Monday | July 8 | 4-6 p.m. |
| Sturgis | Sturgis Community Center 1401 Lazelle |
Tuesday | July 9 | 4-6 p.m. |
| Rapid City | Best Western Ramkota 2111 N. Lacross |
Thursday | July 11 | 4-6 p.m. |
| Buffalo | Buffalo Rec. Center Hodge Street |
Friday | July 19 | 4-6 p.m. |
| Pierre | Governors Inn 700 W. Sioux Ave. |
Tuesday | July 23 | 4-6 p.m. |
Each meeting will include introductions, a brief BLM presentation, and an opportunity to talk individually with various BLM resource specialists. Public comment forms will be provided during the meetings for members of the public to submit written comments, which are considered in finalizing the document.
The public may submit written comments related to the South Dakota DRMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
Email: BLM_MT_South_Dakota_RMP@blm.gov
Fax: (605)892-7015
Mail or hand-delivery: “South Dakota RMP Comments,” 315 Roundup Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
For more information, contact Planning Specialist Mitch Iverson at (605) 892-7000. For the latest BLM news and updates, visit us on the web at: www.blm.gov/mt and on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/BLMMontana.
Thanks in advance and, as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107
