Mesa County submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management on January 31, 2022, regarding the Notice of Intent to Amend Land Use Plans Regarding Greater Sage Grouse Conservation and Prepare Associated Impact Statements.
The letter states:
"Mesa County received an invitation to participate in the Bureau of Land Management's ("BLM") planning process to Amend Land Use Plans Regarding Greater Sage Grouse Conservation and Prepare Associated Impact Statements as published in the Notice of Intent on November 22, 2021.
Mesa County has appreciated its role as a Cooperating and Coordinating Agency in a number of BLM planning processes, including the Northwest Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS') and contains area previously identified as general habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse. Further, Mesa County adopted the Mesa County Resource Management Plan on November 17, 2020.
Mesa County hereby formally requests Cooperating Agency status for the upcoming development of the new Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Plan Amendments in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, Section 202(c)(9), which states:
(9) to the extent consistent with the laws governing the administration of the public lands, coordinate the land use inventory, planning, and management activities of or for such lands with the land use planning and management programs of other Federal departments and agencies and of the States and local governments within which the lands are located, including, but not limited to, the statewide outdoor recreation plans developed under chapter 2003 of title 54, United States Code [Pub. L. No. 113‐287, 2014] and of or for Indian tribes by, among other things, considering the policies of approved State and tribal land resource management programs. In implementing this directive, the Secretary shall, to the extent [he or she] finds practical, keep apprised of State, local, and tribal land use plans; assure that consideration is given to those State, local, and tribal plans that are germane in the development of land use plans for public lands; assist in resolving, to the extent practical, inconsistencies between Federal and non‐Federal Government plans, and shall provide for meaningful public involvement of State and local government officials, both elected and appointed, in the development of land use programs, land use regulations, and land use decisions for public lands, including early public notice of proposed decisions which may have a significant impact on non‐Federal lands. Such officials in each State are authorized to furnish advice to the Secretary with respect to the development and revision of land use plans, land use guidelines, land use rules, and land use regulations for the public lands within such State and with respect to such other land use matters as may be referred to them by [the Secretary]. Land use plans of the Secretary under this section shall be consistent with State and local plans to the maximum extent [the Secretary] finds consistent with Federal law and the purposes of this Act.
Thank you for your consideration of the above request. We look forward to participating in this process and coordinating with the BLM in the development of the revised Resource Management Plan."