The Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction with other agencies within the Department of the Interior, will waive recreation-related fees for visitors to public lands on four occasions in 2017.
The agency is delaying for 60 days the effective date of a rule that will require online filing of permits for oil and gas drilling.
The open houses will help the BLM gather input on its proposal to withdraw a subset of lands that are sage-grouse strongholds from future mining claims.
The awards recognize those programs created to foster sustainable development, which encourages environmental health, social responsibility, and economic security.