The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has extended the public comment period on the agency’s plan to withdraw 10 million acres of public lands in six western states from potential mineral extraction to protect habitat for the greater sage grouse.
The comment period will last about three additional weeks to Jan. 15, with public meetings scheduled in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming in December.
One meeting is scheduled to be held in Elko at the Elko Conference Center on December 16.
The BLM is seeking comments ahead of creating an Environmental Impact Statement before making a final decision on whether to withdraw the public lands for 20 years.
Some aspects federal authorities want to analyze include the economic effects of withdrawing the lands, wilderness characteristics, American Indian resources, mineral resources and recreation.