The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) scheduled two virtual public meetings to gather input on issues to consider while it evaluates the need to update range-wide management plans for sagebrush habitat adopted in 2015 and amended in 2019. The agency recently announced its intent to consider amending the plans, which guide management actions for protecting the long-term health of greater sage grouse populations in 10 Western states.

More than 70 resource management plans currently guide habitat conservation and restoration on 67 million acres of greater sage grouse habitat that the bureau manages. The BLM will examine new scientific information, including the effects of stressors — like climate change, invasive grasses, wildfire, and drought — to assess actions that may best support sagebrush habitat conservation and restoration on public lands to benefit sage grouse and surrounding communities.

The virtual public forums are scheduled for:

• Jan. 11: 1 – 2:30 p.m. MST. Register here: https://bit.ly/3zie9yU

• Jan. 24: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. MST. Register here: https://bit.ly/3JEHlVk

During the virtual public meetings, attendees can join by computer or phone. The meetings will start with a presentation by BLM staff, followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of the BLM. For security purposes, registration is required. To listen and view the meeting via Zoom, listen to the meeting by telephone, or provide verbal public comment during the meeting by Zoom or telephone, you must register.

Written public input can be submitted on the BLM website, https://go.usa.gov/xeMMd. 

For further information, contact Patricia Deibert, acting national sage grouse coordinator. She can be reached via email: BLM_HQ_GRSG_Planning@blm.gov; mail: 440 W. 200 S. Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101; or telephone: 307-757-3709. Public input on planning issues will be accepted until Feb. 7, 2022. A related effort to evaluate the proposed withdrawal of public and Forest System lands in sagebrush focal areas from mineral location and entry is already underway. However, it is not within the scope of the public meetings.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment (including your personal identifying information) may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 

More information regarding the virtual meetings is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xeMMd. The meetings will be recorded and posted at this web address.