Associated Press
WINTHROP — Federal land managers want to hear from the public about a proposal to protect a large swath of federal land in Washington’s Methow Valley from future mining for 20 years.
The plan would make about 340,000 acres of forest lands in Okanogan County off-limits to new mining and mineral development for two decades while Congress considers legislation to permanently protect that area.
In September, the U.S. Forest Service recommended what’s called a 20-year mineral withdrawal to protect ecological and recreational resources in the Methow Valley.
The agency forwarded its environmental assessment and recommendation to the Bureau of Land Management, which will make a recommendation to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior for a final decision.
BLM has scheduled a public meeting Nov. 13 in Winthrop. Officials also are taking written comments through Nov. 13.
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