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Public Land and Resources; Planning, Programming, and Budgeting

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

  [Federal Register: May 30, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 34495-34496]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30my00-74]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AA210001610012410]


Public Land and Resources; Planning, Programming, and Budgeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notification of availability of Draft Land Use Planning Manual
and Handbook.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the
regulations at 43 CFR part 1600 require the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) to prepare Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to provide management
direction for the public lands. The objective of land use planning is
to ensure that BLM lands are managed under the principles of multiple
use and sustained yield (FLPMA, sec. 102 (a) (7)); in a manner that
will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological,
environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archaeological
values; that, where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain
public lands in their natural condition; that will provide food and
habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals; and that will
provide for outdoor recreation and human occupancy and use (FLPMA, sec.
102 (a) (8)); and in a manner that recognizes the Nation's need for
domestic sources of minerals, food, timber, and fiber from the public
lands (FLPMA, sec. 102 (a) (12)).
    The BLM's current guidance for the preparation of land use plans is
a manual that was prepared in the 1980s, shortly after the BLM
published its planning regulations in 1983. The BLM is developing new
guidance and is providing the public an opportunity to review the
proposed guidance and to provide input. The Planning Manual and
Handbook, when finalized, will provide direction in implementing the
requirements of FLPMA and the BLM planning regulations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to serving as BLM's primary tool
for determining resource protection and allocations in the management
of the public lands, RMPs provide the public a voice in BLM's land and
resource management programs. They establish goals and objectives for
resource management (i.e., desired future outcomes, based on standards
and guidelines and, new regulatory requirements), measures needed to
achieve them, and parameters for use. They identify lands which are
open or

[[Page 34496]]

available for certain uses, including any applicable restrictions, and
lands which are closed. Land use plans provide direction for the
management of BLM administered lands in accordance with the legal
mandates of FLPMA, BLM regulations, and the mission and goals of BLM's
Strategic Plan under the principles of multiple use and sustained
yield, and in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific,
scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric,
water resource and archaeological values.
    There are more complex demands being made of the public lands today
than when the BLM planning regulations and original guidance were
issued in the 1980s. There are also new circumstances, such as
increasing population growth near public lands in the West, and new
data, such as new information on the condition and trend of vegetation,
soil, and water resources that must be considered in BLM's land use
plans.
    The proposed planning guidance differs from existing guidance in
that it:
    1. Encourages planning on a variety of scales, including both
traditional RMPs at the local level and larger regional-level plans,
and combinations of these across different land ownerships and
jurisdictions;
    2. Encourages greater public participation throughout the planning
process and facilitates multi-jurisdictional planning;
    3. Clarifies the relationship between land use plans and
implementation plans;
    4. Provides the minimum procedural requirements for completing land
use plans and implementation plans;
    5. Clarifies the relationships between land use plan and NEPA
requirements;
    6. Addresses new requirements and approaches for managing public
lands or resources; and
    7. Addresses the consideration of new information and
circumstances, such as new listings of threatened and endangered
species, and new requirements and standards for the protection of air
and water quality.
    In recent years, the BLM has sought to engage and also participate
with other landowners and jurisdictions in developing land use plans
which address management of natural resource values and uses on a
watershed or ecosystem basis, rather than on a strictly jurisdictional
basis. The new planning guidance emphasizes the need to plan in
conjunction with local communities and stakeholders, and in partnership
with other planning jurisdictions. As the existing guidance did not
address the BLM's role in these types of multi-jurisdictional plans,
there is a need for the policy guidance provided in the planning manual
and handbook.
    The new guidance is also less process oriented, meaning there is
more flexibility in the planning process. Specifically, the new
planning guidance highlights the minimum requirements for planning,
rather than being prescriptive. It builds on field experience gained in
implementing the 1983 planning regulations (43 CFR 1600) and subsequent
manual guidance.
    This is internal guidance and no comment period is required.
However, in the interest of improving BLM's planning process, public
comments will be considered in development of the final version of the
planning guidance. A public record and summary of how comments were
addressed will be available at the BLM Washington Office for review
upon request. The final planning manual will not be protestable or
appealable.

DATES: Comments on the draft land use planning manual and handbook will
be accepted until July 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft land use planning manual and handbook
may be obtained from the Internet at www.blm.gov; from the BLM
Washington Office at the following address: BLM, Planning, Assessment
and Community Support Group (WO210), 1849 C Street, NW., (LS1050),
Washington, D.C. 202400001; or from any BLM State Office or field
office.
    Comments can be electronically sent to www.wo210blm.gov or mailed
to the Bureau of Land Management (WO210), Attention: Ted Milesnick,
1849 C Street NW., (LS1050), Washington, DC, 202400001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Milesnick at (202) 4527727, Ann
Aldrich at (202) 4527722, or Paul Politzer at (202) 4520349.

    Dated: May 23, 2000.
Michael Mottice,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 0013310 Filed 52600; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 431084P

 
 

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