BLM to hold public scoping meetings for the broposed 3-Bars Ecosystem and Landscape Restoration Project

SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE

BATTLE MOUNTAIN — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on issues that should be analyzed in the development of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed 3-Bars Ecosystem and Landscape Restoration Project in Eureka County, Nev. A Notice of Intent to prepare and EIS was published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2010, formally opening a 30-day public scoping period for the EIS.

In order to provide opportunities for public involvement, two public meetings will be hosted: February 22, 6:30- 9:30 p.m. at the Battle Mountain Civic Center, 625 South Broad St., Battle Mountain, and February 23, 6-9 p.m. at the Eureka Opera House, 31 South Main St., Eureka.  BLM and contractor representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions.

The project addresses restoration, protection and conservation practices of the 3-Bars ecosystem of central Nevada, which includes three major mountain ranges.  The region faces imminent loss of sage brush, bitterbrush and mountain mahogany-shrub habitats that are critical for wildlife species including sage grouse, pygmy rabbits and mule deer.  Also at risk are riparian wetlands critical for the restoration of Federally-listed threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and many other riparian-dependent species.

The proposed project covers 750,000 acres within the Roberts Mountain and 3-Bars areas in northern Eureka County.  Individual treatments could range from several acres to several thousand acres, depending on specific project and resource management goals. The individual treatments would occur on federal lands administered by the BLM Battle Mountain District, Mount Lewis field Office.

A link to the Federal Register Notice of Intent is available on-line at: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html.

Scoping comments are important as they help guide development of the draft EIS.  Comment forms will be available at each meeting.  Comments also may be submitted in writing to the Bureau of Land Management, Attn: 3-Bars Project Manager, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820, by fax (775) 635-4034 (attention: 3-Bars Project Manager), or e-mail: [email protected]. Comments from the scoping meetings must be received by March 11, 2010, no later than 4:30 p.m.

For more information, or to request copies of the scoping materials, contact Donovan Walker, (775) 635-4000.