Notice of Availability of the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah
This notice announces a 30-day protest period to the BLM on the Proposed RMP beginning on the date of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in the Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays. Protests must be postmarked or electronically submitted on the BLM's ePlanning site during the 30-day protest period.
The planning area is located in San Juan County, Utah, and encompasses approximately 1.36 million acres of federal land administered by the BLM and USDA Forest Service.
The USDA Forest Service will adopt the BLM's administrative review protest procedures, as provided by the Forest Service Planning Rule at 36 CFR 219.59(a).
The purpose and need for the BENM RMP is aligned with the purpose and need to amend the plan direction and management allocation for BENM in the Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). The proposed programmatic amendment incorporates the proposed BENM RMP and updated land management allocation of the BENM boundary area into the Manti-La Sal LRMP. The scope of the USDA Forest Service amendment is based on the objects identified in Proclamation 10285, and the scale applies to National Forest System (NFS) lands within the BENM boundary area.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.