CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Public comment is open for the third draft of the sage-grouse core area map, Governor Mark Gordon’s office announced via press release, Sept. 6.
Updates to the map were made by The Sage Grouse Implementation Team (SGIT) after considering previous public comments. The new deadline to submit public comments is 5 p.m. on Sept. 19.
The original sage-grouse core area protection strategy and map were developed in 2008, revised in 2015 and again in 2019. The core area map encompasses approximately 15 million acres of sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming.
For the past several months, SGIT has been updating the State of Wyoming’s sage-grouse core map and will present the map as part of the proposed Wyoming alternative for the Burau of Land Management to consider in their modified sage-grouse management plan.
“SGIT has done remarkable and commendable work throughout the summer and I encourage landowners, industry and the general public to review the updated draft map and provide public comment,” said Bob Budd, SGIT chairman. “External groups will likely attempt to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the sage-grouse as endangered or threatened. The efforts the State of Wyoming is making through this mapping process is vital to present evidence that a listing is not warranted.”
The revised map is available on the SGIT webpage. Written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. Sept. 19 through a Google form, email to bob.budd@wyo.gov or letters addressed to Bob Budd, Hathaway Building, Suite 161, 2300 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
Following the public comment period, SGIT will review the comments and make a recommendation to the Governor on a final map, says the press release. The Governor will formally submit the updated sage-grouse core area map as part of the Wyoming alternative to the Bureau of Land Management for their selection.
