Entries Tagged 'Public lands' ↓

The Bureau of Land Management’s Kremmling field office is seeking public comment on nine commercial recreation permit renewal applications.

The applicants include a commercial photography company and several companies that provide guided fishing and rafting trips on the Colorado River.

BLM is seeking public comment regarding each applicant’s safety history, conflicts that have been associated with the applicants or their employees while operating on public lands, or any other information that would be useful to the BLM as it considers the applications. BLM will accept comments through Dec. 30.

Federal fire officials will be holding a public meeting Dec. 10 at the Bureau of Land Management office in Silt about a proposed prescribed fire planned 14 miles south of Silt in Reservoir Gulch.

BLM and the White River National Forest and Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre national forests are working together on the proposed project, which is designed to reduce hazardous build-up of brush and other wildfire fuel, reduce the risk of fire to adjacent private property and improve ecosystem health.

The burn could take place as early as this spring if the right combination of weather conditions and moisture in the vegetation occurs. Fire officials hope to burn about 1,000 acres on BLM land and about 1,300 acres on national forest lands.

The federal government has decided to purchase thousands of acres within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, a decision that was praised yesterday by Gov. Bill Ritter (D). “Adding nearly 4,600 acres to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is a tremendous accomplishment that will allow us to protect one of Colorado’s most treasured natural, cultural and archeological areas now and in the future,” Ritter said in a statement.

The Bureau of Land Management in Meeker and the Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council are looking for people who want to join an advisory group for the White River field office, as it works on an amendment to its resource management plan.

Participants will serve as a subgroup under the Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council.

The council and BLM are seeking members with specific knowledge of the 2.6 million-acre White River field office in northwestern Colorado who can attend meetings in Meeker this fall, winter and spring. BLM is seeking applications until Oct. 30.

The subgroup will provide feedback to the council about the formulation of the field office’s resource management plan amendment, which is addressing an anticipated increase in oil and gas activity within the boundaries of the field office. This plan amendment will also include a protocol for resource management and monitoring.

The field office is expected to release a draft plan in January 2011.

The Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council is one of three advisory councils to the state office of BLM. Composed of 15 members appointed by the Interior Secretary, the council advises the BLM’s Grand Junction, White River, Little Snake, Kremmling and Glenwood Springs field offices.

The Bureau of Land Managment’s Uncompahgre field office is preparing to finalize rules for use of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and surrounding recreation areas.

The rules were developed by the Uncompahgre field office during the four-year planning process for the Gunnison Gorge resource management plan.

“These rules will help us prevent damage to nationally significant and sensitive natural areas, protect public health and safety, reduce user conflicts, and provide outstanding recreational opportunities for visitors to the area,” Karen Tucker, manager of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, said in a statement.

The rules address issues such as off-road vehicle use, hunting, shooting, camping, waste disposal and permit requirements.

BLM will accept public comments on the rules through Nov. 9.