BLM Holding Meetings for National Monument Draft Plan

The Bureau of Land Management released their Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Juan Islands National Monument (Monument) nearly a month ago. Members of the public have until Jan. 3 to provide written comments. The BLM encourages all interested members of the public to review the plan and participate in the upcoming open houses and workshops to learn about the planning process and how to submit comments:

• Nov 5 – 6:00-8:00 PM, Woodman Hall
  4102 Fisherman Bay Rd, Lopez Island
• Nov 6 – 6:00-8:00 PM, San Juan Island Grange
  152 1st St N, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
• Nov 7 – 6:00-8:00 PM, Orcas Island Library
  500 Rose St, Eastsound, Orcas Island
• Nov 8 – 6:00-8:00 PM, Squalicum Boathouse
  2600 N Harbor Loop Dr, Bellingham
• Nov 9 – 6:00-8:00 PM, Anacortes Library
  1220 10th St, Anacortes

This Draft RMP/EIS is available to review at https://go.usa.gov/xRphc and addresses a range of alternatives for the purposes of providing overarching goals and objectives for the management of the Monument to include the protection and restoration of historic and cultural resources, providing for recreation opportunities, and coordinating the management of these lands with local tribes and governmental organizations.

The Draft RMP/EIS presents a full spectrum of different management alternatives, and analyzes the environmental effects of the alternatives. Based on this analysis and comments the agency receives on the Draft RMP/EIS, the BLM will prepare a Proposed RMP/Final EIS with the assistance of cooperating agencies.

The public is encouraged to submit comments through the internet, email, or postal mail:

Website: https://go.usa.gov/xRphc
Email: [email protected]
Postal: San Juan Islands National Monument
BLM Lopez Island Office
PO Box 3
Lopez, WA 98261

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017. These activities supported more than 468,000 jobs.

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