CHAPTER 5:

CONSULTATION AND 

COORDINATION
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Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Table of Contents

TOC-i

Chapter 5

Consultation and Coordination

Table of Contents

5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................5-1

5.2 Consultation with the Tribes.............................................................................................................5-2

5.2.1 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes............................................................................................................5-2

5.2.2 Shoshone-Paiute Tribes................................................................................................................5-2

5.3 Coordination with Federal Government Agencies .........................................................................5-3

5.4 Coordination with State and Local Government Agencies ...........................................................5-4

5.5 Additional Collaboration Efforts.......................................................................................................5-5

5.5.1 Newsletters....................................................................................................................................5-5

5.5.2 Website .........................................................................................................................................5-5

5.5.3 Scoping .........................................................................................................................................5-5

5.5.4 Public Meetings.............................................................................................................................5-6

5.5.5 Briefings and Presentations ..........................................................................................................5-6

5.6 Public Comments of the Draft RMP/EIS...........................................................................................5-8

5.7 List of Preparers...............................................................................................................................5-10

List of Tables

Table 5-1. State and Local Government Agencies Invited to Establish Cooperating Agency Status for the 

Jarbidge RMP ...............................................................................................................................5-4

Table 5-2. Open House Scoping Meeting Schedule and Attendance .......................................................5-5

Table 5-3. Draft RMP/EIS Open House Schedule and Attendance ..........................................................5-8

Table 5-4. Public Comment Summary. ......................................................................................................5-9

Table 5-5. List of Preparers......................................................................................................................5-10
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Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Introduction

5-1

5.1 INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning processes for the Jarbidge Resource Management 

Plan (RMP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were conducted in accordance with the requirements 

of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 

regulations, and Department of the Interior (DOI) and BLM policies and regulations. NEPA and the 

associated regulatory/policy framework require Federal agencies to involve interested publics in their 

decision-making processes. Title II, Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

(FLPMA) directs BLM to coordinate planning efforts with American Indian Tribes, other Federal agencies, 

and State and local governments as part of its land use planning process. This chapter documents the 

collaborative approach undertaken by BLM throughout the development of the Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS

and Proposed RMP/Final EIS.
Chapter 5: Consultation with the Tribes Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

5-2

5.2 CONSULTATION WITH THE TRIBES

5.2.1 Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Formal government-to-government consultation with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes is conducted through 

the Fort Hall Business Council and is coordinated with the Shoshone-Bannock environmental staff. A brief 

introduction to the Jarbidge RMP was given to the Fort Hall Business Council on April 27, 2006. A 

presentation on the Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS was given to tribal environmental staff on June 26, 2008. A 

presentation on the Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS was given to tribal environmental staff on August 

22, 2011.

5.2.2 Shoshone-Paiute Tribes

Consultation on the Jarbidge RMP with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes is conducted through the Twin Falls 

District’s established government-to-government consultation process, the Wings and Roots Native 

American Campfire. The Jarbidge RMP was briefly discussed at Wings and Roots meetings between 

December 2005 and September 2006. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribal Staff toured the southern portion of 

the planning area with Jarbidge Field Office staff on August 10, 2006. Consultation with the ShoshonePaiute Tribes for the Jarbidge RMP/EIS began in October 2006 and continued on a monthly basis 

throughout the planning process.
Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Coordination with Federal Government Agencies

5-3

5.3 COORDINATION WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 

AGENCIES

The following Federal government agencies were invited to participate in the RMP planning process as 

cooperating agencies:

• Mountain Home Air Force Base;

• National Park Service – Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument;

• Natural Resources Conservation Service;

• US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) – Boise, ID and Reno, NV; and

• US Geological Survey – Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center and Water Resources 

Division.

The National Park Service-Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument accepted the BLM’s invitation, 

finalized a Memorandum of Understanding to formally establish the relationship and participated as a 

member of the Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team). The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the 

FWS, both Boise and Reno, formally declined the invitation to become a cooperating agency.

Members of the ID Team and the Twin Falls District managers conducted briefings and presentations on 

the Jarbidge RMP to a variety of Federal government agencies. These presentations and meetings 

included:

• Mountain Home Air Force Base (annually),

• FWS Bull Trout Recovery Team (various),

• FWS (various), and

• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Jarbidge Ranger District (September 2007).
Chapter 5: Coordination with State and Local Government Agencies Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

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5.4 COORDINATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL 

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

A number of State and local government agencies were invited to participate in the RMP planning 

process as cooperating agencies (Table 5-1). 

Table 5-1. State and Local Government Agencies Invited to Establish Cooperating Agency Status 

for the Jarbidge RMP

State Agencies Local Agencies

Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Elko County Board of Commissioners

Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Elmore County Board of Commissioners

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) Owyhee County Commissioners

Idaho Department of Transportation (IDT) Twin Falls County Commissioners

Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR)

Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation

Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)

Idaho State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

The IDFG, IDL, IDPR, ISDA, the Elko County Board of Commissioners, and the Twin Falls County 

Commissioners accepted the invitation and finalized Memorandums of Understanding to formally 

establish the relationship. Representatives from IDFG, IDL, IDPR, and ISDA participated as members of 

the Jarbidge RMP Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team). The Owyhee County Commissioners participated in 

the Jarbidge RMP through their existing coordination agreement with the Twin Falls District. The IDT, 

IDWR, and SHPO formally declined the invitation to become a cooperating agency. Both the Idaho 

Governor's Office of Species Conservation and Elmore County Board of Commissioners did not respond 

to the invitation.

Members of the ID Team and the Twin Falls District managers conducted briefings and presentations on 

the Jarbidge RMP to a variety of State and local government agencies. These presentations and 

meetings include:

• Owyhee County Commissioners (monthly);

• Nevada Division of Wildlife (April 2006);

• Elko County Board of Commissioners (August 2006, August 2007, September 2007, and October 

2010); and

• Twin Falls County Commissioners (December 2006, July 2007, and October, 2010).
Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Additional Collaboration Efforts

Newsletters

5-5

5.5 ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION EFFORTS

5.5.1 Newsletters

At the beginning of the Jarbidge RMP process, a mailing list was generated of individuals likely to be 

interested in the Jarbidge RMP. ID Team members compiled a mailing list for the RMP, including 

individuals and organizations on other BLM mailing lists; Jarbidge Field Office permit and lease holders; 

Tribes; Federal, State, and local government agencies; mailing list requests; and other individuals or 

organizations thought to be interested in the Jarbidge planning effort.

A newsletter was mailed in May 2006 with a reply card individuals could use to remain on the mailing list. 

Additional newsletters were mailed in September 2006, January 2007, and March 2007.

5.5.2 Website

First, an e-mail address and website for the RMP were created when the Notice of Intent to prepare the 

Jarbidge RMP was published. The website was developed to communicate information about the 

Jarbidge RMP. This website, located at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/jarbidge-rmprevision.html, contained the following informational pages:

• Why is this Plan being Prepared,

• Planning Process,

• How to get Involved and Comment,

• Public Meetings,

• News & Newsletters,

• Federal Register Notices,

• Planning Documents, and

• Photos.

5.5.3 Scoping

Scoping is the term used to describe the early and open process for identifying the issues to be 

addressed in the planning process. A Notice of Intent to prepare the Jarbidge RMP was published in the 

Federal Register on January 10, 2006. This notice served as the beginning of BLM’s formal scoping 

process for the RMP.

Open house scoping meetings were held in Twin Falls, Buhl, Glenns Ferry, and Three Creek, Idaho (ID), 

in May 2006. Fifty-six individuals participated in these meetings (Table 5-2). The open house format was 

used to encourage two-way dialogue and discussions about issues to be addressed in the plan, concerns 

about the process, the planning criteria, and the development of the range of alternatives to be analyzed 

in the Draft RMP/EIS. At each open house, at least five members of the Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team)

plus at least one manager from the Twin Falls District were available to answer questions from the public. 

Maps and posters were displayed around the room to facilitate discussion between the BLM staff and the 

public. Some attendees submitted written comments at the open houses. In addition, following each open 

house, ID Team members documented the issues and concerns they discussed with various publics.

Table 5-2. Open House Scoping Meeting Schedule and Attendance

Location Date Number of Attendees

Twin Falls, ID May 16, 2006 18

Buhl, ID May 18, 2006 9

Glenns Ferry, ID May 23, 2006 17

Three Creek, ID May 24, 2006 12

Several methods were used to advertise the open house meetings and the scoping period for the 

Jarbidge RMP. The RMP website provided information regarding the open houses and instructions for 
Chapter 5: Additional Collaboration Efforts Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Public Meetings

5-6

submitting scoping comments. A one-page mailing was sent to the RMP mailing list on April 28, 2006, 

that informed recipients of the open house schedule and how to submit comments. These same parties 

were sent the Jarbidge RMP Newsletter on May 12, 2006. This newsletter provided more information 

about the planning process, public participation in the RMP, and the open house schedule; it also 

contained a postage-paid reply card that could be returned as a request to remain on the mailing list and 

be used to provide scoping comments1

. Copies of the newsletter were distributed to attendees at 

meetings and briefings and were also available to the public at the Jarbidge, Shoshone, and Burley Field 

Offices.

A press release on the open houses and scoping process was sent to contacts from the Twin Falls 

District Media Distribution List the week of May 8, 2006; two newspapers printed stories and one radio 

station aired a story based on the press release. The local CBS affiliate, KMVT, produced a short 

segment on the Jarbidge RMP that aired during the evening newscasts on May 15, 2006. Print ads were 

also placed in six newspapers prior to the open houses.

5.5.4 Public Meetings

In addition to the public meetings held for scoping, a Community Economic Profile workshop was held in 

Glenns Ferry, ID, in September 2006 to present and get feedback on the findings of an economic analysis 

of the area by Dr. Richard Gardner; 14 people from a variety of agencies and organizations attended this 

workshop. A Data Fair was held in Twin Falls, ID, in January 2007 to give the public an opportunity to 

review the data used to develop the Jarbidge RMP. More than 75 people representing a wide array of 

Federal, State, and local government agencies, as well as the general public, attended to view the data 

and information used in developing the Jarbidge Draft RMP/EIS and talk with resource specialists.

The Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) hosted workshops about the Jarbidge RMP in 

April 2007. Workshops were planned to discuss alternative development, vegetation and livestock 

grazing, transportation, and areas for special designation or management. The workshop on vegetation 

and livestock grazing had 27 attendees, and 17 people attended the workshop on transportation. Due to a 

lack of interest, workshops on alternative development and areas for special designation or management 

were cancelled.

5.5.5 Briefings and Presentations

Members of the ID Team and the Twin Falls District managers conducted briefings and presentations on 

the Jarbidge RMP for a variety of groups. Many of these presentations were provided at regularly 

scheduled coordination meetings, and others were given at the group’s request. These presentations and 

meetings included:

• Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (quarterly);

• Idaho Congressional Briefing (quarterly);

• “71” Livestock Association (bi-annually);

• Jarbidge Sage-Grouse Local Working Group (various);

• Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee (May 2006);

• The Wilderness Society (June 2006);

• Idaho ATV Association Inc., Southern Idaho Desert Racing Association, Treasure Valley Trail 

Machine Association (July 2006);

• Buhl Kiwanis (July 2006);

• Twin Falls Monarch Lions Club (July 2006);

• Mid-Snake Resource Conservation and Development Council (July 2006);

• Mayors, Administrators, and City Councils Organization (July 2006);

• Twin Falls County Fair (August 30 through September 4, 2006);

 1 To avoid sending unwanted mail, those who had not participated in scoping either by submitting comments, 

attending an open house or briefing, or requesting to remain on the mailing list were removed from the mailing list. 

Organizations, government agencies, and holders of permits or leases in the Jarbidge Field Office remained on the 

list regardless of their level of participation.
Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Additional Collaboration Efforts

Briefings and Presentations

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• Twin Falls Rotary Club (February 2007);

• Three Creek Good Road District (March 2007);

• Twin Falls Optimist Club (April 2007);

• Idaho Conservation League, The Wilderness Society, Idaho Rivers United (June 2007);

• Castleford Men’s Club (July 2007);

• Magic Valley ATV Riders, Inc. (February 2008);

• Twin Falls Monarch Lions Club (September 2010);

• Magic Valley ATV Riders (October 2010); and

• The Wilderness Society and Idaho Conservation League (February 2011).

In addition, BLM staff engaged in regular coordination with representatives of the Plaintiffs and 

Intervenors Western Watersheds Project v. Ellis et al. (Case No. CV-04-181-S-BLW) (D. Idaho). BLM 

mangers and staff have also been in regular contact with program leads from the Idaho BLM State Office 

as well as the Idaho BLM State Leadership.
Chapter 5: Public Comments of the Draft RMP/EIS Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

5-8

5.6 PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT RMP/EIS

The Draft RMP/EIS was published and released in September 2010. On September 3, 2010, the US 

Environmental Protection Agency and the BLM published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, 

which notified the public of the availability of the Draft RMP/EIS and solicited written public comments 

during the 90-calendar-day review period that ended on December 2, 2010.

The BLM issued a press release on September 3, 2010 which announced the availability of the Draft 

RMP/EIS and that five open houses would be held. The BLM also provided in the press release 

instructions on how access electronic, CD-ROM or hard copies of the document, and how to submit public 

comments. On that same day, the Draft RMP/EIS was available for downloading from the Idaho BLM 

Web site at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/planning/jarbidge_resource.html. The BLM distributed paper 

and CD-ROM copies of the Draft RMP/EIS to approximately 620 parties, including elected officials, 

regulatory agencies, and members of the public. The BLM accommodated additional requests for paper 

or electronic copies of the Draft RMP/EIS after the initial distribution.

Open houses were held in Glenns Ferry, ID, Twin Falls, ID, Three Creek, ID, Boise, ID, and Elko, NV

during the 90-day public review period. Each open house featured displays, maps, handouts, and 

interdisciplinary team resource specialists who provided information and answered questions. A total of 

91 people attended the open houses (Table 5-3).

Table 5-3. Draft RMP/EIS Open House Schedule and Attendance

Location Date Number of Attendees

Glenns Ferry, ID September 21, 2010 6

Twin Falls, ID September 22, 2010 28

Three Creek, ID September 23, 2010 22

Boise, ID September 28, 2010 25

Elko, NV October 6, 2010 10

On October 22, 2010, the BLM issued a press release announcing that the public comment period on the 

Draft RMP/EIS would be extended an additional 60 days. On December 1, 2010, the US Environmental 

Protection Agency and the BLM published a Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period in the Federal 

Register, which notified the public that the comment period for the Draft RMP/EIS was extended until 

January 31, 2011.

The comment period closed on January 31, 2011. All written comments sent before 12:00 AM on 

February 1, 2011 were accepted as official comments. These included those sent by US mail postmarked 

on January 31, 2011, and e-mail messages and facsimiles sent on January 31, 2011, regardless of when 

they were received. Some comments were duplicated with an electronic mail message and a letter 

submitted via US mail. Identical comments from the same party were considered only once.

The BLM received more than 28,000 letters, faxes, and emails from individuals, organizations, industry 

associations, and state and local agencies. Most of the letters (27,715 of them) were form letters.

The Jarbidge RMP Interdisciplinary team reviewed every letter, fax, and email and identified both 

substantive and non-substantive comments during the content analysis process. Every comment was 

read and considered. Some comments were combined with similar comments, while other comments 

were modified slightly for clarity.

A total of 1,100 comments were responded to by the BLM (Appendix P contains these comments and the 

BLM’s responses). Each comment was categorized into one of the 51 categories. Table 5.4 displays a 

summary of categories receiving the most public comments.
Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: Public Comments of the Draft RMP/EIS

5-9

Table 5-4. Public Comment Summary.

Category Number of Comments

Wildlife 103

Livestock Grazing 94

Special Status Wildlife 75

Energy Development 88

Upland Vegetation 86

Land Tenure/Land Use Authorizations 51

Wildland Fire Management 51

Wild Horses 51

Recreation 51
Chapter 5: List of Preparers Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

5-10

5.7 LIST OF PREPARERS

Table 5-5 contains a list of the individuals who participated in the preparation of the Jarbidge RMP/EIS.

Table 5-5. List of Preparers

Name Title Education/Experience Document

Core Team

Heidi Whitlach 

Supervisory Natural 

Resource Specialist 

(RMP Project Manager)

BS Forest Management

MS Forest Resources Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Aimee D.K. Betts

Supervisory Natural 

Resource Specialist 

(RMP Project Manager)

BS Biology and History

PhD Ecosystem Science Draft RMP/EIS

Michael (Mike) Aoi Fire Planner BS Computer Science Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Lisa Claxton Realty Specialist BS Technology of 

Agricultural Science Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Kenneth (Ken) Crane Supervisory Rangeland 

Management Specialist

BS Range Management 

MS Range Management

Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Kelly Fischer Natural Resource Specialist 

(Writer/Editor)

BS Range and Forest 

Management Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Katharine (Kate) 

Forster Fisheries Biologist BS Fisheries Proposed RMP/Final EIS & Draft RMP/EIS

Michael Haney Wildlife Biologist BS Wildlife Biology 

MS Wildlife Biology Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Julienne (Julie) Hilty Botanist

BS Biology 

MS Plant Ecology and 

Soil Science

Draft RMP/EIS

James (Jim) Klott Wildlife Biologist BS Wildlife Resources 

MS Zoology

Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Amanda Nisula Writer/Editor BA Political Science

MPA Draft RMP/EIS

Arnold (Arnie) Pike Supervisory Rangeland 

Management Specialist BS Range Management Draft RMP/EIS

Ivon (Bonnie) Ross GIS Specialist 15 years’ experience Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Jeffrey (Jeff) Ross Archaeologist BA Anthropology Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Thomas Stewart Botanist

BS Wildlife and 

Wildlands Conservation

MS Wildlife and 

Wildlands Conservation

Proposed RMP/Final EIS

William (Max) Yingst Outdoor Recreation Planner BA General Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Support Team

Daniel (Dan) 

Armichardy Fisheries Biologist BS Fish and Wildlife MS Biology Draft RMP/EIS

John Ash Natural Resource Specialist

BS Biology/Chemistry/ 

Forestry

MS Range and Soils

Draft RMP/EIS

William (Brandon) 

Brown Fire Use Specialist BS Zoology Draft RMP/EIS
Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS Chapter 5: List of Preparers

5-11

Name Title Education/Experience Document

Support Team

Richard (Rich) Bupp Recreation Technician

AAS Water Resource 

Management

BS Agricultural Systems 

Management

Draft RMP/EIS

Kimberly Cook Administrative Assistant AA Liberal Arts Draft RMP/EIS

Forrest Griggs Geologist BS Geology Draft RMP/EIS

Rachael Gardner Administrative Assistant AA Liberal Arts

AA Business Proposed RMP/Final EIS

Sheri Hagwood Botanist BS Botany

MS Botany Draft RMP/EIS

Jennifer Mata Fire Ecologist BS Range Management/ 

Vegetation Ecology Draft RMP/EIS

Nicole Oke Administrative Assistant BA Communication Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Christina Paulos Administrative Assistant Draft RMP/EIS

Fred Pence Realty Specialist BS Geography and 

Industrial Technology Draft RMP/EIS

Cassondra (Cassie) 

Skinner GIS Specialist BS Biology Draft RMP/EIS

Daniel (Dan) Strickler Rangeland Management 

Specialist

BS Rangeland 

Resources

BS Crop and Soil 

Science

Draft RMP/EIS

Heather Tiel-Nelson Public Affairs Specialist BS Communications Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Cooperating Agency Representative

Jeff Cook

Outdoor Recreation Analyst, 

Idaho Department of Parks 

and Recreation

BS Wildland Recreation 

Management Draft RMP/EIS

Erik Kriwox Senior Resource Specialist, 

Idaho Department of Lands

BS Agricultural Science 

and Technology Draft RMP/EIS

Mike McDonald

Environmental Staff 

Biologist, Idaho Department 

of Fish and Game

BS Biology

MS Biology Draft RMP/EIS

Kevin Wright

Rangeland Management 

Specialist, Idaho State 

Department of Agriculture

BS Wildlife and Range 

Management

MPA

Draft RMP/EIS

Mike Wissenbach

Environmental Protection 

Specialist, Hagerman Fossil 

Beds National Monument

BS Forestry

MS Forest Resources Draft RMP/EIS

Social and Economic Analysis

Henry Eichman Economist, USFS TEAMS 

Enterprise

BA Biology

MS Agricultural and 

Resource Economics

Proposed RMP/Final EIS 

& Draft RMP/EIS

Mariah Evans Associate Professor, 

University of Nevada-Reno PhD Sociology Draft RMP/EIS

Richard L. Gardner Economist, Bootstrap 

Solutions

BS Resource 

Development

MS Natural Resource 

Economics

PhD Natural Resource 

Economics

Draft RMP/EIS
Chapter 5: List of Preparers Jarbidge Proposed RMP/Final EIS

5-12

Name Title Education/Experience Document

Social and Economic Analysis

Thomas Harris

Professor, Department 

Chair, State Specialist, 

University of Nevada-Reno

BBA Economics and 

Finance

MS Agricultural 

Economics

PhD Agricultural 

Economics

Draft RMP/EIS

John V. Martin Economist, Martin 

Economics

BS Agricultural and 

Natural Resource 

Economics

MS Agricultural Business 

Management

Draft RMP/EIS

Paul R. Zelus Sociologist, Zelus 

Associates

BA Classical Languages

MA Sociology

PhD Organizational 

Sociology

Draft RMP/EIS