BLM seeks public input

Two draft resource management plans released

Two draft plans years in the making are now available for public input, according to a release from the Bureau of Land Management dated Nov. 14.

The News Letter Journal first reported in late 2022 that the BLM had begun revising the 1999 Newcastle Resource Management Plan, a document that guides the management of the 287,900 surface acres and 1.7 million acres of mineral estate in Niobrara, Weston and Crook counties. The plans would also guide the management of 5,100 acres of public lands and 223,900 acres of federal mineral estate across Nebraska.

“The draft plans would replace the 23-year-old Newcastle Field Office RMP and 31-year-old Nebraska RMP. A formal evaluation of the existing management plans indicated the need for updates, as resource conditions and use trends have changed,” the release says.

According to Chad Krause, Newcastle Field Office manager, these plans are important because they provide a blueprint for the BLM’s decision-making for at least the next 20 years.

“It’s important that we put everything on the table during the planning process, whether that’s new data or alternatives to management decisions, and that we fully consider the potential consequences that those decisions may have on both the environment and our communities,” he said in an email.

Now that the draft has been released, the BLM is asking for public input.

“Public comment is crucial to developing a resource management plan that is not only durable from an environmental standpoint but also reflects the values and needs of the community,” Krause said. “The feedback we receive during the 90-day public comment period will be considered as we develop a final proposed plan.”

To date, he said the BLM has received some general opposition to any new areas of critical environmental concern from cooperators, interest groups and some members of the public.

According to Krause, in the Notice of Intent, “we identified two areas of critical environmental concern (ACEC) for consideration; a new ACEC in Crook County that would protect sensitive cultural resources, and an expansion of the existing Whoopup Canyon ACEC outside of Newcastle.”

“In response to this feedback and based off of academic studies and tribal input, we refined the boundary of the new ACEC in the preferred alternative to encompass a small footprint,” Krause said.

Anyone and everyone has an interest in the plan, according to Krause, whether you work, play or simply have an interest in what happens on public lands.

“Chapter 2 of Volume 1 of the draft plan includes a description of alternatives. There, people can find those resource areas that interest them – recreation, wildlife, or fluid
minerals for example — and review the alternatives considered for those resources,” he said. “While Alternative D, the balanced alternative, is the preferred alternative in the draft plan, we invite people to review and comment on all management alternatives, as well as the potential impacts of each alternative, which can be found in Chapter 3.”

The 90-day comment period will close on Feb. 13. Comments may be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register, in person during public meetings, via email to BLM_WY_Newcastle_Nebraska_RMP@blm.gov or by mail to the following BLM offices.

BLM Newcastle Field Office, ATTN: Newcastle RMP, 1101 Washington Blvd., WY 82701.

BLM High Plains District, ATTN: Newcastle RMP, 2987 Prospector Dr., Casper, WY 82604.

The BLM also plans to host in-person for virtual public meetings during the comment period.

“Meeting dates, times, and locations will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the BLM National NEPA Register, public notices, social media posts, and mailings,” the release says.

For questions, contact BLM project manager Kathleen Lacko at (307) 261-7536 or BLM_WY_Newcastle_Nebraska_RMP@blm.gov.