Colorado Public Lands Council

Since 1968, the Public Lands Council (PLC) has actively represented the cattle and sheep producers who hold public lands grazing permits. PLC advocates for these western ranchers who preserve our nation’s natural resources, while providing vital food and fiber to the nation and the world. PLC seeks to educate and inform policy decision-makers about public lands ranching to ensure the success and longevity of the industry in the United States. 

Colorado Public Lands Council works on behalf of federal lands grazers in Colorado and our bordering states. Thank you to those who continue to support PLC through your voluntary annual assessment! This assessment is based on the animal unit month (AUM) numbers provided by the BLM and USFS. The assessments collected annually by Colorado PLC are used in Washington, D.C. and Colorado to ensure public lands grazing continues for generations to come.

**2023 annual assessments were sent in the fall of 2023, as well as a fall 2023 newsletter. The 2024 assessments will not be sent again until this fall. Please check your mailbox for an updated spring 2024 newsletter and the 2023 annual assessment if CO PLC did not yet receive your 2023 assessment payment. **

BLM and Forest Service Collaboration
CO PLC has earned a trust-based relationship with agencies that allows us to address annual and ongoing improvements that benefit permittees and administration of grazing allotments. Meetings are held with regional, state, and local agency staff multiple times per year. In addition, CO PLC is the ONLY organization in Colorado, and one of a handful nationally, that hold MOUs that empower the organization to represent permittees on monitoring, dispute resolutions, and cost-share programming. 

Planning Processes

There are multiple comment periods recently closed, currently open or highly anticipated in the next few months. See below for links to agency resources to stay updated on ongoing planning processes. 

Bureau of Land Management 

• Greater Sage-grouse ePlanning site
• Big Game ePlanning site
• Uncompahgre RMPA ePlanning site
• Gunnison Sage-grouse ePlanning site
• Colorado River Valley Field Office and Grand Junction Field Office Supplemental EIS
  
• Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
  

• Wolf Creek Reservoir
  

• Public Lands Rule | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)

U.S. Forest Service

• Old Growth Forests Proposal
  
  

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• National Wildlife Refuge System - Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health
• Endangered Species Act - Silverspot Butterfly Protections

National Public Lands Council Update - Anticipated Regulatory Action

• USFWS Section 10 Take Permits - Final rule expected soon.
• USFWS Wildlife Refuge System BIDEH Rule - Comments on proposed rule closed.
• BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule - Final rule expected March.
• BLM Revised Sage Grouse Plans - Comments on the draft RMPA/EIS through June 13 and on proposed ACECs through May 14. Click here for more information. 
• BLM Westwide Solar Plan - Comments on proposed rule due April 18.
• USFWS Migratory Bird Treaty Act Take Permits - Final rule expected April.
• USFWS ESA Critical Habitat - Final rule expected April.
• USFWS ESA Section 7 Consultation - Final rule expected April.
• USFWS ESA Blanket 4(d) Rule - Final rule expected April.

Explore Further - Greater Sage Grouse Planning
The Biden Administration’s sage grouse plans are now out. For quick access, click here for the chapter that lays out the six alternatives in the DEIS. Click here to access all the other related RMPA, EIS, and ACEC documents or click the e-planning site linked above. Although PLC requested a significant extension of the comment period, they are working under the assumption that comments on the RMPA/DEIS are due on June 13.

• Draft EIS Public Meetings: The BLM is holding eleven (11) in-person open-house and two (2) virtual public meetings to provide information on the BLM’s current greater sage-grouse planning effort. All these meetings will include a presentation on the planning effort and opportunities for questions about the planning effort and the Draft RMPA/Draft EIS. The meetings are scheduled for the following days, times and locations (times for the in-person meetings are based on the time zone in which the city is located):
• Tuesday, April 9 – Virtual meeting – 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Mountain Time Zone Zoom registration link: https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vPkfsSS9RcuPR-a6NOFD7A (Note that both virtual meetings use the same link; attendees can select and register for one or both meetings.)
• Wednesday, April 17 – Craig (CO) – 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Address: Colorado Northwestern Community College Library, 2801 W. 9th St., Craig CO 81625
• Thursday, April 18 – Cheyenne (WY) – 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Address: Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne WY 82009
• Monday, April 22 – Rock Springs (WY) – 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Address: White Mountain Library, 2935 Sweetwater Dr., Rock Springs WY 82901
• Thursday, April 25 – Virtual meeting – 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Mountain Time Zone Zoom registration link: https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vPkfsSS9RcuPR-a6NOFD7A (Note that both virtual meetings use the same link; attendees can select and register for one or both meetings.)

Stay tuned to check this page for updated resources and information related to the Colorado Public Lands Council.