BLM publishes RMP amendment for managing sage grouse

On Nov. 8, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Greater Sage Grouse Rangewide Planning Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

According to BLM, the document was prepared with the help of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), input from cooperating agencies and public comment, in response to the continued loss of sage grouse habitat, despite ongoing conservation practices and the BLM’s previous planning efforts. 

Greater sage grouse populations, which were once in the millions, now number fewer than 800,000, largely due to habitat loss caused by drought, wildfire and invasive species. 

Building on its draft RMP released in March, the agency considered amendments to 77 BLM RMPs across the Greater sage grouse’s western range to incorporate the newest available science; lessons learned; input from local, Tribal and federal partners and collaborative work with states, while accommodating for an ever-changing landscape and increasing implementation flexibility.

BLM claims the proposed RMP amendment and FEIS “balance a consistent West-wide management approach with unique policies in the individual states responsible for managing wildlife populations.” 

“Guided by the best available science, we are committed to the continued balance in our multi-use mandate for America’s public lands,” says DOI Secretary Deb Haaland in the Nov. 8 press release. “For too long, a false choice has been presented for land management aiming to pit development against conservation. This administration’s collaborative work has demonstrated we can do both successfully. Through collaborative work in local communities, developed over decades, we are presenting science-based and thoughtful proposals to protect the Greater sage grouse and its habitat.”  

Document details

According to the BLM, the agency considered nearly 38,000 comments from the public on the draft RMP, as well as information shared by state, local, Tribal and federal partners during more than 100 meeting held over the course of two years. 

“States also contributed data and scientific information to help frame direction on adaptive management and mitigation requirements and supported updates to the boundaries of habitat management areas,” the BLM notes. 

The new document includes the original six alternatives outlined in the draft RMP, with the addition of a seventh amendment – the Proposed RMP Amendment Alternative – which builds on the agency’s preferred draft alternative, Alternative Five. 

According to the draft RMP, Alternative Five “balances conservation with increased levels of site-specific allowances for public land uses, while aligning habitat management areas with new information and science.” 

The Proposed RMP Amendment Alternative increases sage grouse protections in Amendment Five, while still maintaining a balance of public land uses, according to the BLM. 

“The Proposed RMP Amendment Alternative incorporates management direction approaches from all of the alternatives analyzed in the draft RMP and EIS,” the BLM explains. “Specifically, priority habitat management areas (PMHAs) are identified as exclusion for solar and wind energy and no surface occupancy for fluid minerals. PMHAs remain an avoidance area for major rights of way, but the exceptions for allowing development are strengthened.”

“Since the changes in management were consistent across the range, the areas were less suited to being identified as proposed areas of environmental concern, which are generally tailored to different values and locations,” BLM continues. “These additional protections will provide the necessary protections for Greater sage grouse habitat, given anticipated development threats and negative impacts from climate change, all while ensuring an appropriate balance of public land uses.” 

Stakeholder disappointment

Despite the agency’s claim of considering stakeholder input, Gov. Mark Gordon released a statement voicing his disappointment in the lack of regard BLM has for Wyoming’s expertise in sage grouse management and conservation. 

“As expected, the sage grouse amendments’ final form did not take into account the state’s most substantial comments, which were informed by decades of expertise in Greater sage grouse management in Wyoming,” he says. “Three Wyoming governors have demonstrated their commitment to sage grouse over the past 16 years, and Wyoming is the stronghold of sage grouse in the West, with millions of acres of valuable sage grouse habitat. We have shown how to successfully manage this bird and do so in a way which allows for protection of core habitat, alongside responsible development.”

“It is unfortunate the BLM’s approach and plan altogether ignores Wyoming’s leadership, experience and knowledge with regard to management of both sage grouse populations and habitat,” he adds. “BLM’s planning efforts reflect extreme indifference to the primacy vested in Wyoming’s exclusive authority to manage sage grouse populations.”

Gordon further noted, as his team fully dissects the document and develops a response, priority will be placed in defending the state’s management authority of Greater sage grouse under an executive order.

“Additional layers of federal regulation on top of state management will hinder our ability to develop practical, workable solutions, without perceivably benefitting neither sage grouse nor its habitat,” Gordon continues. “I am hopeful, as we move into a new Trump administration, we can shape a functional record of decision in the New Year. Wyoming has been and remains committed to the long-term well-being and management of Greater sage grouse.”

The governor will lead state agencies through a protest response in addition to his consistency review, which are due on Dec. 16 and Jan. 7, 2025, respectively.

Protest period 

The publication of the proposed RMP amendment and FEIS in the Federal Register kicked off a 30-day public protest period, which will end on Dec. 16. 

Protests must be written and filed to the BLM Director via USPS mail to BLM Director, Attn: Protest Coordinator (HQ210), PO Box 151029, Lakewood, CO 80215 or overnight mail to BLM Director, Attn: Protest Coordinator (HQ210), Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 40, Lakewood, CO 80215. 

Protests can also be filed electronically at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016719/510.

After reviewing public protests and governors’ reviews for consistency with state and local plans, the BLM will issue a record of decision for each state where habitat management plans are being updated. 

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.