Public comment invited for U.S. Forest Service application for withdrawal extension to Halliday Fen Research Natural Area
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Colville, Washington - The Bureau of Land Management is announcing a 90-day public comment period on an application by the U.S. Forest Service for extension of the existing withdrawal at the Halliday Fen Research Natural Area in the Colville National Forest. The extension would be for an additional 20 years. This extension will allow the U.S. Forest Service to preserve unique and sensitive habitat for conservation and research purposes.
A notice of the USFS’s application for the withdrawal extension was published in today’s Federal Register.
The USFS is requesting an extension of the existing withdrawal established by Public Land Order No. 7614. The withdrawal covers 646.37 acres in Pend Oreille County. The area includes a marl fen, western redcedar, western hemlock forest, and habitat for a variety of rare plant and animal species. It is also within the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone to aid grizzly bear population and habitat health. Under an extension of the existing withdrawal, the land would remain withdrawn from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights.
The public may request a public meeting or submit comments concerning the application until December 28, 2023. Comments received by the BLM may be made publicly available, including personal identifying information. Please send comments to Luke Poff at lpoff@blm.gov or BLM Oregon-Washington State Office, Attn: Luke Poff (936.1), P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208.
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.