BLM Schedules Public Input Scoping Sessions on Combined Price-san Rafael Management Plan

By Sun Advocate

The United States Bureau of Land Management has initiated the process to develop a combined plan for the Price River and San Rafael Swell.
The Price resource management plan will involve approximately 2,500,000 acres of surface estate and 2,800,000 acres of mineral estate land.
Regionally referred to as the San Rafael Swell and Price River areas, the combined plan will include all of Carbon and Emery counties. As part of the project, a supporting environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared.
Throughout the EIS and planning process, the BLM indicates that local residents will have opportunities to participate and offer comments on the project.
As the BLM proceeds with the effort, the agency will conduct open houses,issue mailings, offer tours of the planning area and provide briefings on progress.
The Price BLM field office has scheduled six open houses/scoping meetings to solicit public comment and allow Carbon-Emery residents the opportunity to become involved in the development of the management plan and environmental impact statement.
Public scoping meetings are scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. at the following locations:
•Jan. 15, This is the Place State Park, Salt Lake City.
•Jan. 16, Moab Ramada Inn.
•Jan. 17, Grand Vista Hotel, Grand Junction, Colo.
•Jan. 29, Green River City Hall.
•Jan. 30, San Rafael museum, Castle Dale.
•Jan. 31, Price Holiday Inn conference room.
The meetings will allow attendees to discuss issues with resource specialists during the two-hour scoping sessions. Issue identification will take place in facilitated, small-group discussions.
Individuals in Carbon County who wish to participate should be on time and anticipate spending the entire evening.
Additional questions relating to the scoping meetings may be directed to assistant Price field office manager Floyd Johnson at 636-3600.
Issues addressed in the RMP and discussed at public scoping workshops will include air quality, cultural resources, soil and water, vegetation, lands and realty, resources, wildlife habitat and fisheries management.
In addition, topics for discussion will include geographical systems and geospatial data, fluid mineral resources, coal resources, recreation, visual resources, special management, designations and hazardous materials.