Engaging People In The BLM Western Oregon Plan Revisions Process

The Western Oregon Plan Revisions process has sought to engage citizens and stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process in a meaningful way.

The BLM maintained an e-mail and postal mailing list of interested individuals, groups, organizations, agencies, and elected officials.

August 10, 2007 through January 11, 2008 was the formal public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The BLM met with organizations, groups, and other interested parties to discuss the alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS and collection public comments. A series of public open houses and workshops was held:

• Schedule -- Western Oregon Plan Revisions Meetings Held (PDF)
• Comments received from the public

Background of Public Involvement Activities to Date

Formal cooperators

At the outset of the process, the BLM signed memorandums of understanding with cooperating state and federal agencies and most of the affected counties in western Oregon. Representatives from these formal cooperators meet periodically with the BLM planning staff and occasionally with the BLM Steering Committee.

More about Formal Cooperators >>>

Information has been provided to interested publics through a variety of printed documents

• An Analysis of the Management Situation
• The Proposed Planning Criteria and State Director Guidance (PDF)
• A Public Involvement Assessment - Engaging People in the BLM Western Oregon Plan Revisions Process (PDF)
• A Scoping Report (PDF)
• Periodic Newsletters
• Draft EIS

Direct contact with the public has occurred through:

• Numerous personal contacts and meetings: Service clubs, Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, Beyond Big Timber conference, Association of O&C Counties, Association of Oregon Counties, Douglas Timber Operators, special interest groups, etc.
• Public scoping meetings (September & October 2005)
• Public meetings in each BLM district to discuss proposed alternatives (March 2006)
• Newspaper Editorial Board and Key Stakeholder meetings with State Director (September 2005)
• Formal public workshops and open houses (PDF) (September - November 2007)
• Numerous one-on-one meetings and briefings with County Commissioners, civic groups, industry groups, and special interest groups.
• Postal and e-mail mailing lists have been maintained and periodic updates on the process have been sent to thousands of addresses.

Development of Web-Based Tools

Public involvement efforts were aided by a contract through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution. The Institute contracted with a private communication partnership, Daylight Decisions, to develop an interactive web site that allowed users to navigate the draft EIS and GIS-based maps of the planning area leaving detailed electronic comments tied to the document or locations on a map. The site also served as an information resource providing background information and detailed GIS mapping tools for displaying site-specific information about stand conditions and alternative land use allocations.