BLM--MT, Density Disturbance Calculation Tool Support, Montana State Office

Background: The recently revised and amended Land Use Plans in MT state that if the BLM determines that the State of Montana has adopted a Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Program that contains comparable components to those found in the State of Wyoming⿿s Core Area Strategy including an all lands approach for calculating anthropogenic disturbances, a clear methodology for measuring the density of operations, and a fully operational density disturbance calculation tool, the 3% disturbance cap will be converted to a 5% cap for all sources of habitat alteration within a project analysis area.⿝ This is to recognize, as with the Wyoming core area strategy, the importance of the all lands/all disturbances strategy that Montana will institute for sage-grouse conservation.Objectives: The objective of the program is to provide a clear and consistent analysis and application of the disturbance caps independent of the location of the proposed disturbance. Public Benefit: The public benefit will be an ⿿all lands, all hands⿝ consistent approach to permitting activities in sage-grouse habitat regardless of land ownership. The analysis and application of the same disturbance caps outlined the Governors Executive Order and the BLM Land Use Plans will provide a consistent approach to projects on public lands, state lands, and private lands (where a state permit is needed) and thus will eliminate confusion and delays for project review in priority sage-grouse habitat.