Medford, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public input to inform a new land use plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The plan update would protect important biological, historic, and public resources, including the objects of scientific and historic interest identified in Presidential Proclamation 7318 and Presidential Proclamation 9564, which established and expanded the monument.

The new plan will support resilient landscapes in order to enhance resistance to large-scale disturbances and reduce fire risk to important monument objects and nearby communities. The Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on June 9 and is available here: federalregister.gov/d/2023-12311

“This new resource management planning process provides an opportunity to learn from our past planning efforts and ensure the 113,500 acres of public lands in the monument receive the proper protections,” said BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue. “The Presidential Proclamations provide a framework for managing the monument, and the public can help us determine the best way to implement them. Input at this stage will help inform the issues considered during the planning process and the decisions made in the final resource management plan.”

The comment period will provide the public with an important opportunity to help with the resource management planning process. The BLM welcomes public input to identify critical management concerns, which can help determine the scope of the environmental review, including issues for analysis and alternatives development. Future public meetings will also provide the public with an opportunity to speak with resource specialists and to submit written comments.

There will be three in person and one virtual scoping meetings. Members of the public will have an opportunity to ask meet with specialists to learn more about the planning effort. The dates and cities of the meetings are: 

• June 26, 2023 4-7 p.m. PT. Klamath Community College, Building 4, Commons. 7390 S. 6^th St, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
• June 28, 2023 4-7 p.m. Pinehurst School, 15337 Hwy 66, Ashland, OR 97520
• June 29, 2023 4-7 p.m. Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Cafeteria, 3101 McLoughlin Dr, Medford, OR 97504 
• July 10, 2023 6-7 p.m. Virtual Meeting. Register at: https://blm.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItc-mopzIiGZMgiNwtsnzbi4gZ99P_rtw 

Written comments may also be submitted through the following methods:  

• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2023675/510  
• Mail: ATTN: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Planning, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504 

The public can submit written comments concerning the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, identification of relevant information and studies, and nomination of areas of critical environmental concern. Comments must be received by August 8 or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 

For more information or questions, contact the CSNM RMP Team at (458) 246-8861 or blm_csnm_rmp@blm.gov

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.