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About The Baker County press. (Baker City, Ore.) 2014-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2017)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017 THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9 Local & Entertainment Bebe’s word search Fuel breaks proposed to protect Sage-grouse The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to develop a network of strategic fuel breaks along existing roads on public lands in south- west Idaho and southeast Oregon to conserve and protect sage-grouse habitat and improve fi refi ghter capabilities. In order to assess the pros and cons of construct- ing the fuel break system, the BLM plans to begin an environmental impact statement for the Tri-State Fuel Break Project. To start this process, the BLM is seeking public input on potential issues related to the proposal. The primary threat to sagebrush-steppe habitat in the Great Basin has been identifi ed as large fi res, longer fi re seasons, and increasing fi re frequency which has also led to the spread of cheatgrass and other invasive plants. Fuel breaks work by cre- ating corridors of reduced fuels. Designed around existing roads, these cor- ridors inhibit fi res by either slowing their progress or stopping them outright. Improved roads enable fi refi ghters to get to new fi res faster. It all adds up to bet- ter success at stopping wildfi res before they grow into the high-intensity mega-fi res that damage sagebrush communities. The proposed fuel breaks would affect a small per- centage of the 3.6 million- acre project area, whereas a single large wildfi re can potentially alter hundreds of thousands of acres of sage-grouse habitat in a single burning period. A Notice of Intent published in today’s Fed- eral Register details the proposed action, identifi es some preliminary issues and begins a 30-day com- ment period. To allow adequate time for the public to review the materials and provide constructive comments during the holiday season, the comment period will be extended to 60 days and will end on Feb. 3, 2017. Public comments on issues to be analyzed in the EIS as well as possible al- ternatives are welcome and may be submitted by any of the following methods: Email: blm_id_tristate@ blm.gov Fax: 208-384-3489 Surface mail: 3948 South Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705 The BLM will host public scoping meetings for this project in January, with specifi c dates and locations to be announced shortly through local media, newspapers, social media outlets, and BLM websites (Idaho, http:// www.blm.gov/idaho and Oregon, https://www.blm. gov/oregon-washington). These websites also pro- vide details and documents about the proposed project. The Littles’ crossword puzzle Across The Baker County Press Subscribe Today! Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Email address: Phone: E-Only $29.95/yr. Print (Delivery) $39.95/yr. Print (Mail) $49.95/yr. Inside Baker City City Limits Only Outside Baker City City Limits Only 1. Make check payable to: Black Lyon Publishing, LLC 2. Mail the check with this completed form to: PO Box 567, Baker City, Ore. 97814 To pay by credit card, please visit www.Th eBakerCountyPress.com 1- Analyze a metallic compound; 6- Pond organism; 10- E or G, e.g.; 14- Conductor Zubin; 15- Blend; 16- Irish island group; 17- Not developed; 19- Damon of “Good Will Hunting”; 20- Rescue; 21- Bailiwick; 22- Desert bloomers; 23- Give ___ rest!; 24- Mother of a reign- ing sovereign; 26- Usual; 28- Cling; 29- Avarice; 30- Lays down the lawn; 33- Moral guidance; 38- Formicary resi- dents; 39- Tennis champ Chris; 42- Achieve; 47- Dealer in cloth; 48- Relaxed; 52- St. crosser; 53- Beef; 54- Pet plant; 55- New Haven stu- dents; 56- ___ buco; 57- Delicacy; 59- Decomposes; 60- Waste allowance; 61- We’re off ___ the Wizard; 62- Latin being; 63- Blood fl uids; 64- Luges; Down 1- Causing laughter; 2- Elected legislator; 3- Noisy celebration; 4- Look ___, I’m San- dra Dee; 5- Jabber; 6- Love, Italian-style; 7- Embankment; 8- Harvest; 9- Use an abacus; 10- Super Bowl III MVP; 11- Mountain spinach; 12- Shred; 13- Whole; 18- Actor Julia; 22- Atlantic food fi sh; 24- Muslim judge; 25- Sail support; 27- Kind of school; 30- Fall from grace; 31- Halloween mo.; 32- ___ Kapital; 34- Temple; 35- Able was ___...; 36- Eggs; 37- Sherpas, e.g.; 40- Updated; 41- Locks; 42- “Earth in the Bal- ance” author; 43- Some sculptures; 44- Turns; 45- Place side by side; 46- Fury; 47- Darn!; 49- Frighten; 50- Less outgoing; 51- Utah’s ___ Moun- tains; 55- Hydroxyl com- pound; 57- Skid row woe; 58- T.G.I.F. part;