BLM sets Havre meeting for Wednesday

The Bureau of Land Management is holding a meeting in Havre Wednesday to hear comments on its draft management plan for BLM land in northern Montana from Valley through Glacier counties, including plans to improve habitat for the greater sage grouse in the region, oil and gas development and recreation in the region.

The Havre meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Hill County Electric Hospitality Room at 2121 U.S. Highway 2 Northwest west of Havre.

The draft plan is available online at the bureau's "HiLine RMP Website" at http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/malta_field_office/rmp.html%20for%20more%20information.

According to the web page, the West HiLine Resource Management Plan was completed in 1988 and the Judith-Valley-Philips Resource Management Plan was completed in 1994.

The draft plan addresses changes in the region since those plans were completed, including increased interest in energy development, increased demand for recreational use of public lands and increased concern for preserving air quality and the natural environment.

The plan also would address U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concerns over the habitat of the greater sage grouse, which the agency has considered listing as threatened or endangered since publishing findings in 2010.

The intent is to incorporate into the management plan objectives and strategies to improve greater sage grouse habitat and could reduce the need to list the species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, the draft plan says.

The web page says public comment on the draft plan will be accepted if received by the bureau or postmarked by, June 20. People must include their name and return mailing address in your written or electronic messages.

Public comments can be emailed to [email protected], faxed to 406-233-3650

or mailed or hand-delivered to the BLM Havre Field Office, 3990 Highway 2 West, Havre, MT 59501.