As part of ongoing efforts to combat the spread of invasive and noxious weeds that threaten the health and productivity of millions of acres of public lands, the Bureau of Land Management released the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) that examines the use of three new herbicides that are safer for the environment and human health than those previously used. The Final PEIS will be available for public review through May 6, 2016. A Record of Decision will be issued following the 30-day review period.
The Final PEIS assesses three alternative approaches to the use of aminopyralid (known by the trade name Milestone), fluroxypyr (Vista), and rimsulfuron (Matrix) as well as a “No Action” alternative that considers the continued use of 18 previously approved herbicides. The Final PEIS details the expected impacts and benefits from the BLM’s use of herbicides and provides analysis to determine which herbicides should be approved for use. The Final PEIS addresses public comments on the draft PEIS by providing comment responses and changes to the analysis or supporting documentation, where appropriate.
The Final PEIS addresses a wide range of issues, including the effect of the herbicides on the health of humans, vegetation, fish, wildlife, livestock, and wild horses and burros. It also looks at water quality and Native American use of resources and evaluates the cumulative impact of use of the new and other herbicides by the BLM and other landowners in the Western U.S.
The Notice of Availability of Final Vegetation Treatments Using Aminopyralid, Fluroxypyr, and Rimsulfuron on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is accessible at blm.gov/3vkd.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.
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