Property owned by BLM where the CNCC shooting range is (above) could be sold to the college, clearing up inadvertent unauthorized use of public lands. | JAMES ROBERTS COURTESY PHOTO
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to sell 3.73 acres of public lands in Rio Blanco County to Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) to resolve inadvertent, unauthorized use of public lands. CNCC previously leased this parcel of public land for the operation of a shooting range. The lease expired in 2006 and the shooting range is operating without a lease.
The White River Field Office (WRFO) intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to amend the 1997 White River Resource Management Plan. The EA would evaluate the appropriateness of identifying the parcel containing CNCC’s shooting range for disposal, making the land available for direct sale to CNCC.
“This facility serves local communities by providing a resource for law enforcement education and training at CNCC, along with local police, sheriffs, and Federal agencies for qualifying their law enforcement personnel,” said Bill Mills, Field Manager for WRFO. “Considering this small adjustment to our Resource Management Plan will allow for the continued use and management of CNCC’s shooting range, while resolving an ongoing land use issue.”
The Federal Register notice gives the public 45 days to comment on the scope of analysis and identification of relevant information involving the proposed plan amendment identified in the planning criteria and disposal action. A description and map of the parcel is available online at: https://go.usa.gov/x79BM. Written comments may be mailed to: Bill Mills, Field Manager, BLM, White River Field Office, 220 East Market Street, Meeker, CO 81641 or emailed to: [email protected].
Before including address, phone number, email address, or any other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
HOPEWEST PRESS RELEASE | Special to the Herald Times
