Notice of Intent To Amend the White River, Glenwood Springs, and Grand Junction Resource Management Plans To Revoke Oil Shale Withdrawals on Public Lands

Riepilogo

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to prepare an Environmental Assessment and amend three Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to revoke withdrawals placed on BLM administered lands for the purpose of protecting the oil shale resource. The three RMPs are the White River RMP, Glenwood Springs RMP, and Grand Junction RMP; all in Colorado. Section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), requires that BLM continually review existing withdrawals to determine if they are still needed for their original purpose. This proposed revocation only pertains to oil shale lands withdrawn under Executive Order 5327 dated April 15, 1930, as amended, and Public Land Order 4522 dated September 13, 1968, as amended, and involves approximately 600,000 acres in Colorado. These oil shale withdrawals are no longer needed because existing regulations, policies and land use decisions provide adequate protection and conservation of oil shale resources. The oil shale withdrawals proposed for revocation are within the jurisdictional boundaries of the White River BLM Field Office, Glenwood Springs BLM Field Office, and Grand Junction BLM Field Offi