BLM Extends Public Comment Period for Western Oregon Plans

Press Release from the BLM Oct 2, 2007

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it would extend the public comment period for the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for future management of 2.5 million acres of public lands in Western Oregon.

“The western Oregon planning process is a big job, and we want to make sure that the public and our partners have ample time to give this exceptional document the focus it deserves,” said Oregon/Washington State Director Ed Shepard. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding about what this document means, and we want to take some extra time to ensure that the public is fully aware of the potential benefits that can be had through this planning effort,” continued Shepard.

The comment period for the draft EIS was originally scheduled for 90 days beginning on August 10, 2007. Recognizing the unique nature of this planning effort and diverse range of issues that the public may need to consider, the BLM has decided to extend the public comment period for an additional 30 days, for a total of 120 days. The public comment period for the EIS will now close on Monday, December 10, 2007.

“This is a substantial planning effort and I want to make sure that Oregonians have ample time to participate in this process. From our web-based public comment tools to the large number of public meetings during the comment period, there’s many different opportunities for the public to get in to the planning document as much or as little as they want,” said Dick Prather, Western Oregon Plan Revisions Project Manager.

Comments and suggestions from the public along with ideas from cooperating agencies will be used by the BLM to craft proposed resource management plans that will be analyzed in a final EIS next year. Copies of the document can be reviewed in many libraries and BLM offices in western Oregon. Paper documents and electronic documents on Compact Disk are available from the BLM as well. The complete document and background information is also available on the web at:

http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/wopr

Comments must now be received or postmarked before December 10, 2007. Comments can be submitted electronically from the web site or mailed to:

Western Oregon Plan Revisions
P.O. BOX 2965
Portland, OR 97208

Throughout the public comment period the BLM will also be holding a series of open houses and workshops in western Oregon. Additional information about these upcoming meetings can be found at:

http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/wopr/files/calendar.pdf