SE Wyoming News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) have called for an extension of the comment period on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The plan, affecting tens of millions of acres of land across ten western states, has raised concerns about its potential impact on various stakeholders.

"The BLM’s proposals will have wide-reaching impacts on farmers, ranchers and land owners across the west whose livelihoods depend on responsible management of our federal lands,” said Lummis.

Highlighting the importance of allowing stakeholders ample time to provide feedback, Lummis emphasized, “Our stakeholders deserve adequate time to voice their concerns and suggest commonsense changes to D.C. bureaucrats’ policies, which is why we are requesting at least a 180-day extension to ensure their voices are heard.”

In their letter addressed to BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning, Lummis and Newhouse expressed the need for an extended comment period to ensure thorough input from those affected by the proposed plan. The full letter can be found on the official Senate Western Caucus website.

The request for an extended comment period comes in response to the release of the Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement by the Bureau of Land Management last week. Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to review the Notice of Availability from the BLM for further details on the proposed plan.

As discussions continue regarding the potential implications of the BLM's draft plan, Lummis and Newhouse's call for an extension reflects a commitment to promoting transparency and incorporating diverse perspectives in the decision-making process.