ST. GEORGE — The Bureau of Land Management is holding public meetings in October for the future management of approximately 1.87 million acres of public lands in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The comment period ends Nov. 9.
Paria River District Public Affairs Specialist David Hercher told St. George News that public input is critical. He said that substantive feedback on the draft resource management plan and associated environmental impact statement would help identify issues that could further affect the planning effort. Input could also affect the monument’s future and associated scientific uses, visitors and gateway communities.
“The challenges of increased visitation and its effects on resources, degradation of monument objects and associated values, loss of biodiversity, and climate change are all reasons why Americans should care about the future of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument,” Hercher said.
According to a news release, the Bureau of Land Management is wrapping up a 90-day public comment period for the draft resource management plan (RMP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Upon signing of the Record of Decision, the Approved RMP/EIS would replace the existing 2020 Record of Decision and Approved RMPs for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and 2020 Record of Decision and Approved RMP for the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area.
So far, the Bureau of Land Management has hosted one virtual public meeting and two in-person meetings. Additional meeting dates, times and locations are:
In-person open house on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S. West Temple St. in Salt Lake City.
In-person open house on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at the Panguitch Elementary School, 110 S. 100 West, in Panguitch.
Virtual meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, from 2-4 p.m. Ongoing registration is available here.
Hercher said the Bureau of Land Management will use the input received through public comment periods, coordination with cooperating agencies, and consultation with Tribal Nations governments.
Paria River District Manager Harry Barber said in a news release, “The resource management plan will be developed with maximum public involvement and be designed to ensure the long-term protection of monument objects.”
Hercher added that there are components the public can provide input on, which include:
- The draft resource management plan and associated environmental impact statement.
- Proposed target shooting closures, in accordance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.
- Proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).
Hercher wrote in an email to St. George News that the preferred alternative emphasizes protecting and maintaining intact and resilient landscapes using an area management approach to selectively allow for discretionary uses in appropriate settings.
He explained that recreational target shooting is a discretionary use that could be prohibited in the front country and primitive areas. Hercher said in the passage and outback areas, target shooting would be banned within 0.25 miles of residences, campgrounds, and developed recreation facilities.
Hercher added that areas of critical environmental concern designations highlight areas where special management attention is needed to protect important historical, cultural, and scenic values, fish, wildlife, or other natural resources.
He said that areas of critical environmental concern can also be designated to protect human life and safety from natural hazards. Also, areas of critical environmental concern can only be established during the land-use planning process by the Bureau of Land Management.
Hercher said that the proposed areas of critical environmental concern designations are analyzed in the draft environmental impact statement, available on the Bureau of Land Management ePlanning website.
“If analysis determines that special management is needed to protect a significant resource or natural value for which it was proposed, the areas of critical environmental concern designation will be carried forward through the record of decision,” Hercher said.
Bureau of Land Management staff encourages the public to review and comment on the proposed alternatives, which can be found in Chapter 2 of the draft environmental impact statement, pages 2-14 through 2-131 here.
Hercher added that a record of the decision will be issued after a 30-day protest period and a 60-day governor’s consistency review of the proposed resource management plan and final environmental impact statement.
Historically, in 1999, President Bill Clinton designated the region a national monument. In 2017, President Donald Trump cut the monument’s size in half. Then, in 2021, President Joe Biden restored the monument to its full size.
The instructions for submitting comments electronically online are available under the How to Get Involved Tab and at the BLM Paria River District Office.
Instructions for submitting comments electronically and the plan and associated documents are available at the BLM National NEPA Register and the BLM Paria River District Office. Comments may also be mailed to ATTN: GSENM RMP Project Manager, BLM Paria River District Office, 669 S Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah, 84741.
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