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BLM EA for a desert airstrip draws thousands of protests; committee hears travel-management reassessment plans
Summary
The committee was briefed on BLM action to designate a remote airstrip (Kegnold) and an associated EA that has drawn thousands of protest letters; BLM staff also previewed travel-management reassessments that could redesignate miles in the San Rafael Desert and Swell.
Speaker 3, an agency official speaking for land-management staff, told the committee the BLM released an environmental assessment (EA) to designate an airstrip near 5 Hole Arch (referred to in meeting as Kegnold/Kegno). Speaker 3 said the EA has triggered a large number of public protests and form letters (he reported roughly 6,000 protest submissions) and that the decision is currently in an appeal/protest period.
Public comment and potential outcomes: Speaker 3 said they have received many protests and that the process could proceed through administrative appeal or litigation; he characterized the issue as uncertain and said the office is reviewing submissions. He also said the BLM has been directed to publish decisions and, separately, to complete amendments in其 RMPA process (resource management plan amendments) later in a published cycle.
Travel-management reassessment: Speaker 3 also announced the BLM will post reassessments of the San Rafael Desert and San Rafael Swell travel-management decisions and publish an interactive map with proposed route redesignations. He said proposed changes would redesignate roughly 20 additional miles in the desert and about 220 miles in the swell, with public posting and comment periods to follow.
Why it matters: Committee members noted the potential local impacts — both on recreation access and on local businesses that rely on users — and the need for coordinated public messaging. Several participants asked how to submit comments and whether local stakeholders had been notified; BLM staff said the postings would be available on the agency ePlanning site and explained the difference between redesignating previously evaluated routes and adding new ones.
Next steps: BLM staff invited committee members to view the interactive map and provide input during the public process. The committee agreed to coordinate messaging to ensure local businesses and user groups understand which routes remain open during the reassessment period.
