BLM to hold public hearings on sage-grouse in four

The Bureau of Land Management has announced it will hold public hearings this November in four states — Idaho, California, Oregon, and Colorado — as part of its gathering of public comment regarding the agency’s decision to reopen 98 federal land use plans that were put in place in 2015 to protect the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). These plans were used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to warrant not listing the species under the Endangered Species Act in 2015. A review team established by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in August recommended significant changes to the plans.

The public hearings are scheduled for:

• Idaho: Nov. 2 in Twin Falls; Nov. 6 in Idaho Falls; Nov. 7 in Marsing
• California: Nov. 3 in Alturas
• Oregon: Nov. 7 in Burns
• Colorado: Nov. 9 in Craig

Anyone wishing to submit written public comment may do so to blm_sagegrouseplanning@blm.gov until Nov.  27, 2017