Pinedale Field Office
| Contacts: | Shelley Gregory | |||
| 307-315-0612 |
BLM Seeks Public Comment on Mesa Habitat Improvement Project Environmental Assessment
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office, in coordination with the Pinedale Anticline Project Office (PAPO), is seeking public input on the environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Mesa Habitat Improvement Project.
The EA analyzes the proposal to drill a water well and install associated well facilities along with a green space for wildlife in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA) approximately 13 miles south of Pinedale, Wyo.
In 2011, reclamation monitoring documented a high amount of grazing in reclaimed areas by both livestock and wildlife. The proposed water well and green space would draw grazing in the Mesa Common Allotment away from the PAPA Core Development Area, reduce grazing pressure on and improve the opportunity for successful reclamation of disturbed areas, and increase the potential for these areas to return to functioning wildlife habitat. In addition, the project is designed to enhance habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse and other wildlife species by providing a reliable water source and green space while mitigating potential aerial predation on sage-grouse.
The EA is available at www.wy.blm.gov/jio-papo/ and www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/pfo/mesa-waterwell.html.
The BLM is seeking constructive public comments to help identify potential issues, concerns, ideas, alternatives or mitigation not currently addressed in the EA. Mail or deliver written comments to Eric Decker, PAPO, 1625 W. Pine St., P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941; fax to 307-367-5329; or email to egdecker@blm.gov with “Mesa Habitat” in the subject line. Comments must be received by 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20.
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 may 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.
For more information, please contact Eric Decker at 307-367-5386.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Pinedale Field Office 1625 West Pine Street Pinedale WY 82941