June 29, 2023 |
Photo – Revised Sage Grouse Map – Courtesy WY Game and Fish Dept.
Governor Mark Gordon has extended the public comment period to seek additional comments on the state’s age-grouse core area map revisions. The new deadline is 5 p.m. July 28.
The revisions were proposed by the Sage-Grouse Implementation Team.
As was anticipated, this round of reviewing the core area maps has sparked significant public interest. In response, Gov. Gordon and SGIT will hold additional meetings with landowners and other stakeholders to outline, explain, take comments, and discuss the proposed changes to the map.
The proposed changes put forward by the SGIT were a result of the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to revise the 2019 Greater sage-grouse plans.
The next SGIT meeting will take place at 9 a.m. July 6 at the Lander Community and Convention Center. The group’s chairman, Bob Budd, said, “No decisions regarding additions or deletions to the current map will be made at the July 6 meeting.” The session is simply to explain the process and answer questions from the public.
The Governor’s Office and SGIT will hold additional informational meetings to talk to landowners and stakeholders before the public comment period closes on July 28. No details were provided on the additional meetings in the announcement from the governor’s office.
After the SGIT presents its final map, the Governor will make a final decision.
Information on the SGIT process can be found here: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Habitat/Sage-Grouse-Management/Sage-Grouse-Implementation-Team
