County natural resource plan sent back for revisions
“We need to be more direct and clear with the message for the average reader who wants to find out what the heck the people of Albany County value.”
Albany County is in the process of drafting a Natural Resource Management Plan — a document dictating the county’s wishes and interests when it comes to the federal land within its borders.
But county commissioners sent the plan’s drafters back to the drawing board last month, saying the plan was not ready for public comment and requesting revisions. Critics on and off the commission said the plan is both too long and lacking in specificity.
“While it’s a solid start, the draft has many shortcomings that I attribute to the consultants for their lack of original research, and using a template and not focusing on Albany County specifically,” Commissioner Sue Ibarra said during the commission’s March 23 meeting.
So the commission postponed its discussion of the plan to this month. Once the commission accepts the plan, it will allow for a 30-day comment period.
Albany County’s Draft Natural Resource Management Plan was developed by a local steering committee with help from Y2 Consultants. It’s viewable in its current form as part of the commission’s agenda.
Bree Burton, a range scientist with Y2 Consultants, said natural resource management plans are vital for local communities.
“(It’s) a document and a path for the county to have discussions on natural resource topics with the federal agencies,” Burton told commissioners during the March meeting, “Having a natural resource management plan lays out local policy and ensures that the county can utilize these federal statutes and make sure the county’s voice is heard and considered when these natural resource decisions are being made.”
The document is meant to outline the county’s land management interests and to help the county “communicate and coordinate” with federal agencies, according to Albany County’s draft plan.
“These plans establish policy regarding the use and management of federal lands in local governments’ jurisdiction and can influence the development and implementation of federal policies, programs, and decision-making that affect local communities,” the draft plan states. “NRMPs are intended to help protect the local citizens’ use of, and access to, federally administered lands and resources and to ensure the socioeconomic well-being, culture, and customs of a local community are adequately considered in federal decisions.”
The plan does not impact private lands and does not involve zoning.
“It seems that the values or priorities of the people of Albany County right now with the use of our public lands include recreation, agriculture, wildlife, clean air, clean water, and renewable energy, '' said Mike Massie, a member of Albany County’s steering committee.
Although these topics are what Massie believes county residents would like to see represented in the final rendition of the plan, he said he does not think that the document currently communicates such clearly.
“I think we need to do more work here on the ground, talking with various organizations and people to make it more specific, especially with regard to the goals and objectives listed throughout the plan,” Massie said. “Also I’ve heard from some folks that the document is too big. We need to be more direct and clear with the message for the average reader who wants to find out what the heck the people of Albany County value.”
Ibarra said she didn’t blame the steering committee for the draft plan’s fault, instead assigning blame to Y2 Consultants for not focusing on the specific needs of Albany County.
Commission Chair Pete Gosar agreed and said consideration of the plan, and therefore the start of a public comment period, should be delayed.
“I think we should adjust the timeline,” Gosar said. “I don’t believe that timeline is going to work. I don’t think you could work day and night between now and then … and have it done and ready by May. We need a different document, we need a more accessible document, a more ‘Albany County’ document before we turn it out to public comment.”
The new timeline for the public comment period — as well as other stages towards completion of the final document — are yet to be set.