July 27, 2023 3:40 a.m.
The Bureau of Land Management invites public comment on a proposed twenty-year withdrawal to protect up to 163.62 acres across Olalla-Thompson Creek Day Use Area and Island Creek and Iron Mountain recreation areas south of Camas Valley and west of Riddle in Douglas County from mining.
A BLM release said the proposed withdrawal includes 21.2 acres of public lands with non-Federal mineral interest and 38.5 acres of non-Federal lands if acquired by the United States.
The proposed withdrawal would prevent potential impacts from new mining subject to valid existing rights, and protect current and future site improvements for recreational opportunities including picnicking, hiking, swimming, wildlife watching, recreational gold panning and disbursed recreation. Potential oil, gas and geothermal development is not impacted.
A Notice of Proposed Withdrawal was published Tuesday in the Federal Register. That temporarily protects the lands for up to two years from location or entry under the United States mining laws and initiates a ninety-day public comment period.
The Federal Register notice is available in PDF format in a link: 2023-15684.pdf (govinfo.gov)
The public may submit comments and requests for a public meeting on the proposed withdrawal until October 23rd at this email: lpoff@blm.gov.