BLM seeks public input on 540-acre acquisition by city of Redmond for wastewater treatment, wetlands complex
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday it is seeking public input on the city of Redmond’s request to acquire an over 540-acre parcel of public land to accommodate expanding the city’s wastewater treatment facility and associated wetlands complex.
The Upper Deschutes Resource Management plan would have to be amended for the BLM to convey the parcel under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act and segregate the lands from all other forms of appropriation except for conveyance.
The city is proposing the expansion to support the projected long-term growth of the community. The City of Redmond submitted a Recreation and Public Purposes Act application to request the acquisition.
Under the Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan, the requested 541.5-acre parcel is within the Steamboat Rock Special Recreation Management Area.
The area contains five miles of trails designated for Class I and III off-highway vehicles that would be removed from use if the land is conveyed to the city; however, 38 miles of trails would remain within the Steamboat Rock Special Recreation Management Area, and the field office will consider adding in additional miles of motorized trail nearby to compensate for this loss. Furthermore, if the wetland complex is constructed, additional non-motorized (walking/hiking) trails will be developed.
A 30-day public scoping period started Wednesday and ends October 18 for the potential Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan amendment. A 45-day public comment also started the same day and ends Nov. 2 for the proposal to segregate the 541.5-acre parcel from other forms of appropriation and classify it for conveyance.
People are invited to provide comments on the proposal during the public scoping and comment periods. Comments will help identify alternatives, refine the proposal, and identify issues. The BLM will conduct an environmental assessment of the city’s proposal to disclose potential environmental consequences.
Written comments will be accepted at the address below or can be emailed to blm_or_pr_lands@blm.gov. Those interested in submitting a comment over the phone can call Ferris Couture at (541) 416-6711.
Deschutes Field Office
Lisa Clark
3050 NE Third Street 491
Prineville, OR 97754
All comments, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available. People can ask to withhold personal identifying information from public review; however, it cannot be guaranteed.
Project information, including the planning criteria, can be accessed through the BLM's ePlanning website.
For additional information, contact Ferris Couture, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, at (541) 416-6711 or by email at fcouture@blm.gov.
