Last year the BLM posted land health assessments for five vacant allotments to a new project folder with little if any fanfare.
Last week a preliminary environmental assessment appeared along with several appendices.
Western Horse Watchers was unable to find an announcement in the BLM news releases or requests for public input seeking comments.
Under Alternative 1, the Proposed Action, the allotments would be merged into one and the agency would issue a ten-year grazing permit.
The original allotments would become pastures.
The parcels do not appear in the Vacant Allotment Finder.
Section 1.2 indicates that grazing applications have already been received.
The new allotment would overlap the Garfield Flat, Marietta and Montgomery Pass HMAs.
There are no authorized AUMs for livestock in Marietta, which is managed principally for burros.
Grazing could not occur in the HMA until the agency updates the land-use plans to reduce the AML and allocate forage to livestock?
Comments on the EA will be accepted through July 22.
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