U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Southern Nevada District Office
Southern Nevada District Office
| Contacts: | Kirsten Cannon | , 702-515-5057 | , k1cannon@blm.gov |
BLM Seeks Public Comment on Rock Climbing Fixed Anchors in Red Rock Wilderness Areas
Las Vegas --The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District, Red Rock/Sloan Field Office is seeking public comments to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives for use of rock climbing fixed anchors in wilderness areas within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. A Notice of Intent published in today’s Federal Register, opens a 45-day public scoping and comment period for the resource management plan amendment with an associated environmental assessment. The comment period will close on November 18.
The dates and locations of scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and the BLM website at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html.
Preliminary issues identified by the BLM and other stakeholders include:
- Protecting public health and safety
- Increasing demand for more recreation opportunities
- Addressing the appropriateness of fixed anchors in wilderness
- Compliance with BLM Manual 6340, Management of Designated Wilderness Areas
- Proximity of wilderness to major urban interface
- Protection of cultural and sensitive species
- Protection of visual and scenic objectives
Key planning criteria identified includes a focus on whether fixed anchors should be considered for climbing in wilderness areas; developing broad-based participation and collaboration with all interested publics; and focusing on resource values rather than the combination of uses that would give the greatest economic return.
The plan would amend the 2005 Red Rock Canyon Resource Management Plan and would only affect management of the BLM portions of the La Madre Mountain and Rainbow Mountain wilderness areas consisting of 48,340 acres. The policy for the U.S. Forest Service portions of these wilderness areas will be determined within the ongoing joint BLM/US Forest Service La Madre Mountain and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Plan.
Written comments may be submitted by mail or delivered to BLM, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89130, Attn: Nick Walendziak, by e-mail to: rrc_fixedanchors@blm.gov or by fax to: 702-363-6779 (Attn: Nick Walendziak).
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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.
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.
Southern Nevada District Office 4701 North Torrey Pines, Las Vegas, NV 89130