More time to voice opinions — BLM extends comment period on draft plan

The Bureau of Land Management has extended the public comment period on draft Newcastle and Nebraska Resource Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statement, according to a press release from the agency dated Feb. 13.

As previously reported, the comment period was scheduled to close on Feb. 13, but the news release states that the comment period will now close on Monday, March 17. The public comment period was originally 90 days and was initiated in November 2024.

“The public is encouraged to provide input on the draft documents, particularly concerning the proposed management alternatives, the analysis guiding management decisions, and any new information that would be helpful in developing a final plan,” said Chad Krause, Newcastle field manager.

According to Tyson Finnicum, public affairs specialist for the BLM High Plains District, the reason the public comment period was extended is because the agency received two requests to do so.

“While we received only two requests to extend the comment period, the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) stage is a particularly important step in the planning process,” he said. “We want to provide folks enough time to review the documents and submit comments before the final EIS and proposed plans are developed.”

He noted that to date 70 comment letters have been received. Finnicum added that the BLM has started reviewing those comments and thus far, at first look, they don’t see any significant backlash.

“Some of the concerns that commenters have expressed — such as opposition to any new designations — were raised during scoping and led to modifications in the draft plan. Some commenters also expressed opposition to the disposal of public lands,” Finnicum said. “These comments will be considered and discussed further with cooperating agencies and the new administration before incorporation into the final EIS and proposed plans. All of the comments we receive, as well as responses to them, will be published on the project website alongside the final documents, which we expect to publish this summer.”

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 new draft plan 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,” a previous release dated Nov. 14, 2024, said.

Krause previously told the News Letter Journal that these two 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.

The BLM has held six different in-person and virtual meetings in both Wyoming and Nebraska in January. A recording of the virtual meetings can be viewed on the BLM’s project website, along with documents.

Comments can be submitted through the project website at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2013064/510. Comments can also be submitted by email to BLM_WY_Newcastle_Nebraska_RMP@blm.gov or by mail to BLM High Plains District Office, ATTN: Newcastle RMP, 2987 Prospector Dr., Casper, WY 82604 or BLM Newcastle Field Office, ATTN: Newcastle RMP, 1101 Washington Blvd., Newcastle, WY 82701.
Questions can be emailed to BLM_WY_Newcastle_Nebraska_RMP@blm.gov.