A full spectrum of public lands issues – oil and gas leasing; public lands grazing; the creation of a West Hermosa Wilderness; Wild and Scenic Rivers; and more – will go before the public next week. A community meeting on the San Juan Public Lands Center’s draft Revised Land Management Plan is scheduled for Wed., Jan. 23.

If adopted, the draft will guide management of the region’s 2.4 million acres of Bureau of Land Management and National Forest lands and replace a plan that has been in place since 1983. There is widespread agreement that the plan is hopelessly outdated.

Since 1983, recreation and oil and gas development have boomed and fuels reduction has largely replaced traditional logging.

A series of public meetings on the draft will be held throughout the region. The Durango meeting is set for Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center. Meetings are also set for Cortez, Silverton, Pagosa Springs and Rico.

In addition, public comments on the draft plan will be accepted through March 12, and can be submitted at http://ocs.fortlewis.edu/forestPlan, where the entire plan is also available for review. Comments can also be faxed to (916) 456-6724 or mailed to: San Juan Plan Revision, P.O. Box 162909, Sacramento, CA 95816-2909.

– Will Sands