State and federal land management planning
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) applies to “every major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment” (42 U.S.C. § 4332(1)(C)). NEPA requires that agencies undertake an environmental analysis to determine whether a federal action has the potential to cause significant environmental effects. If a proposed major federal action is determined to significantly affect the quality of the human environment, Federal agencies are required to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),a more detailed and rigorous than the requirements for an Environmental Assessment (EA).
Land and species management plans
Mesa County projects with Cooperating Agency involvement
Project Name: 2021 Greater Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendments
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-WO-2300-2022-0001-RMP-EIS
Project Type: RMP Amendment - Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA Status: In Progress - PRMP - Protest and Resolution
Lead Office: WO-230
Summary: This plan seeks to amend 77 Resource Management Plans across a ten state area (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming). All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the BLM's 2021 Greater Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendments are available on the BLM's eplanning website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is a Cooperating Agency per Memorandum of Understanding.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Project Name: Uncompahgre Field Office RMP Amendment
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2023-0032-RMP-EIS
Project Type: RMP Amendment - Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA Status: In Progress - Analysis & Document Preparation
Lead Office: Uncompahgre Field Office
Summary: The BLM is initiating an RMP amendment for the Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) as part of settlement agreements that resolved litigation to the 2020 UFO Approved RMP. Per the settlement agreements, the BLM will consider decisions on oil and gas leasing, ACECs, and lands with wilderness characteristics. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the BLM's Uncompahgre Field Office RMP Amendment are available on the BLM's eplanning website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is a Cooperating Agency per Memorandum of Understanding.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Not related to the Dolores Canyons National Monument or National Conservation Area discussion.
Project Name: Dolores Travel Management Plan
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-UT-Y010-2024-0029-EA
Project Type: Environmental Assessment
NEPA Status: In Progress - Analysis & Document Preparation
Lead Office: Moab Field Office
Summary: The BLM Moab Field Office is proposing to evaluate and designate routes with the Dolores Travel Management Area to develop an OHV travel route network. The Dolores Travel Management Plan would designate a comprehensive travel network of motorized routes and trails by evaluating each routes purpose and need. The Bureau of Land Management's Dolores River Travel Management Plan in eastern Utah is a standalone action that is unrelated to the on-going discussion about protection of the Dolores River Canyon area in eastern Colorado. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the BLM's Dolores Travel Management Plan are available on the BLM's eplanning website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is a Cooperating Agency per Memorandum of Understanding.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Project Name: Manti- La Sal Forest Plan Revision
Project Type: Forest Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement
NEPA Status: In Progress - Pending Final EIS
Lead Office: Manti- La Sal National Forest
Summary: Forest plans are legally required documents that establish broad, long-range, general management direction to maintain or achieve desired conditions. Together, desired conditions and objectives describe what actions Forest Service managers intend to implement across the Manti-La Sal landscape while still providing sustainable usage by individuals and communities. As forest and community needs change, forest plans should be amended or revised to respond to these changes and incorporate the latest scientific knowledge and understanding of land management. The current forest plan was completed in 1986. All documents, including previous plans and mapping data related to the USFS's Manti- La Sal Forest Plan Revision are available on the USFS Forest Plan Revision website.
Engagement Level: Mesa County is reviewing and providing comments.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us
Other active land management projects
This comment period has been reopened. Comments must be submitted by 11:59pm eastern time on May 19, 2025.
Docket No. FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the monarch butterfly ( Danaus plexippus), as a threatened species and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act (a “4(d) rule”). They also propose to designate approximately 4,395 acres (1,778 hectares) in Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura Counties, California, critical habitat for the monarch butterfly under the Act. Included in the listing it an economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the monarch butterfly.
For additional information on lor to provide comments, visit the Federal Register listing. Information about the Monarch Butterfly, including its range, is available on the US Fish and Wildlife Service's ECOS website.
CO December 2025 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale
DOI-BLM-CO-0000-2025-0002-EA
Parcels specific to this sale may also be viewed on the BLM Colorado Interactive Map. (Open the Layer List menu and check the box next to Oil and Gas Lease Sale- 2025 Quarter 4)
For additional information on leasing in Colorado, visit the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. All regulations specific to oil and gas activities Colorado are available online.
Make your voice heard
While we encourage residents to engage with state and federal agencies by submitting questions and comments and attending meetings we also welcome comments, maps and data, historical information and anything that you feel would strengthen comments by the Board of County Commissioners. We appreciate your help in ensuring Mesa County's voice is heard in these processes.
Interested in providing feedback to Mesa County? Please email us at rmp@mesacounty.us.
*Please note, comments sent to Mesa County will not be forwarded to the planning agency, nor will comments submitted to the County give you legal standing in the federal or state planning process. You must submit comments as directed in each planning process for legal standing.
For tips on participating and submitting substantive comments, check out these resources:
Here are some more places that you can stay up-to-date on federal actions