BLM cancels 10
million acre Sagebrush Focal Area Withdrawal Proposal
“Based on a recent analysis and review of data available that showed that
future mining is not a significant threat to sage grouse habitat, the Bureau of
Land Management has canceled its Sagebrush Focal Area withdrawal application
and the Department’s proposed withdrawal of 10 million acres of federal lands
from location and entry under the mining law in Greater Sage-grouse habitat in
six Western States. The BLM also
terminated the associated environmental analysis process.
The recommendation to withdraw nearly 10 million acres from
location and entry under the mining law was one of many land use restrictions
proposed for a new management area designated as the Sagebrush Focal Area
(SFA). However, that recommendation was unreasonable in light of the data
available. In particular, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2005 “Not
Warranted” decision, the 2010 “Warranted But Precluded” Decision and the 2015
“Not Warranted” decision all showed that mining—including locatable mining—was
not a significant threat to sage-grouse.”
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) identified habitat
disturbance and fragmentation caused by certain hardrock mining operations as a
threat to sage-grouse habitat. As a result, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land use plans recommend that the Secretary of
the Interior exercise her authority under the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA) to safeguard the most important landscapes identified by
the FWS within Priority Habitat Management Areas – identified as Sagebrush
Focal Areas – by withdrawing them from the operation of the hardrock mining
law.”
“The greater sage-grouse, an iconic species of the sagebrush
steppe ecosystem, currently occupies an estimated 56% of its historic range.
Greater sage-grouse populations have been declining for more than 40 years. In
2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that, due to loss of
habitat and lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms, listing the greater
sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act was warranted but precluded by
other priorities.”
“MINING
Threat: Surface
mining and adjacent facilities within greater sage-grouse habitat results in
the direct loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation, and indirect impacts from
disturbance (noise, dust, etc.).
Report Guidance: Avoid new mining activities and any
associated facilities within occupied habitats, including seasonal habitats;
avoid leasing in greater sage-grouse habitat until other suitable habitats can
be restored; reclamation plans should focus on restoring habitats to healthy
sagebrush ecosystems, including evidence of greater sage-grouse use; and
abandoned mine land reclamation should focus on restoring areas to healthy
sagebrush ecosystems where possible.
Land Management Plan Amendment Direction: Do not authorize
new mineral material development or disposal or apply certain restrictions.
Permit free-use permits and the expansion of existing active pits. New underground
coal leases will include a lease stipulation prohibiting the location of
surface facilities in priority habitat management areas. The Forest Service
will recommend to the Secretary of the Interior that sagebrush focal areas not
already withdrawn as designated Wilderness from mineral entry be withdrawn.”
