Pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, enacted in 1976, the Bureau of Land Management is required to develop comprehensive land use plans for the public lands. These land use plans are the basis for all future BLM decisions regarding uses of the public lands, including oil and gas development, livestock grazing, and recreation. The land use plans also describe the actions BLM itself will take to protect wildlife and wildlife habitat.

BLM's process for developing its land use plans provides several opportunities for public participation. These include submitting written comments to the agency, attending meetings or workshops, and formally protesting final plans that provide inadequate protection for wildlife values and other natural resources. We encourage you to participate actively in BLM’s land use planning process. The agency should hear your concerns about its management of the lands it holds in trust for you and for future generations of Americans.

BLM's land use plans are called Resource Management Plans (RMPs). RMPs are developed for all public lands, including Resource Areas, National Monuments, and National Conservation Areas. Once developed, all management on the public lands must conform to the RMP. If a proposed action does not conform to the RMP, it is prohibited unless BLM formally amends the RMP to authorize the action.

In developing its RMPs, BLM must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA requires BLM to evaluate and disclose the potential environmental impacts of all actions authorized under an RMP. BLM will do this by preparing and releasing for public review an environmental impact statement (EIS).

Scoping. BLM begins its planning process by publishing in the Federal Register and in local newspapers a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare or revise an RMP. The NOI will invite the public to write to the BLM and identify issues that should be considered during the planning process, such as adequate protection for wildlife and other natural resources. This phase of BLM’s land use planning process is called "scoping." Its primary purpose is to solicit public input regarding the major resource issues facing the planning area.

Once BLM has identified the issues to be resolved during the planning process, it begins compiling necessary and relevant information. Although the public is not invited to participate in this data collection, you can still submit information that BLM is obligated to consider. For example, if you have assembled data on lands that you think are deserving of special management because of their wildlife values, you can ask BLM to designate these lands as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).

Based upon the information gathered, BLM then prepares a reasonable range of alternatives for management of the public lands within the planning area. These alternatives are designed to address the issues raised during scoping and to comply with applicable laws and BLM policy guidance. One alternative must be the so-called "no action" alternative. The no action alternative maintains the current management direction; it does not mean that there will be no use of the lands in the planning area. One alternative is often a "pro-development" alternative. This alternative normally opens nearly all lands to oil and gas development, mining, livestock grazing, logging and road construction. One alternative is often identified as the "conservation" alternative. This alternative will reduce the amount of land open to development or impose conditions on the manner in which lands can be developed in order to preserve wildlife or recreation values. BLM will also identify its "preferred" alternative for management of the public lands in the planning area. The public can also propose its own management alternative for consideration by the agency.

Release of the Draft EIS. BLM will then examine the potential environmental impacts of each of the alternatives. The agency will publish a draft EIS and a proposed RMP. BLM will issue a notice in the Federal Register and local newspapers stating that the draft documents are available and inviting the public to comment. The public will have at least 90 days to review and comment on the draft EIS and the RMP. BLM often holds meetings or workshops for the public as well. This is a critical stage for public participation in BLM’s land use planning process. Failure to comment at this stage may mean that you will be unable to challenge any provisions of the final RMP.

Release of the Final EIS and RMP. After analyzing the comments it receives from the public, BLM will determine whether any changes are necessary in either the EIS or the RMP. Once any revisions are completed, BLM approves and publishes a Proposed Final EIS and RMP through a notice in the Federal Register. The public has 30 days to review the documents before they become effective. During that period, you can file a protest to the Director of the Bureau of Land Management in Washington, D.C. If you feel that the management direction of the final RMP will compromise wildlife values or the final EIS fails to address the full impacts of the oil and gas development or other activities authorized under the final RMP, you should submit a written protest.

Once all protests have been resolved, BLM will issue its final approval of an RMP for the planning area in a Record of Decision (ROD). The RMP becomes effective only after the ROD is released.

Current BLM Planning Activities. In February 2002, BLM identified 21 Time Sensitive Plans (TSPs). These RMPs were selected for fast-track revisions primarily in order to authorize additional energy resource development within the planning areas. Fourteen of these RMPs are in the Rocky Mountain West. Most of them remain unfinished. There is still time for you to make a difference in how your public lands are managed. The National Wildlife Federation has proposed management alternatives for many of these areas, including the Red Desert in Wyoming and the Roan Plateau Planning Area in Colorado, that provide for protection of crucial wildlife areas as well as sustainable and responsible oil and gas development. For information on the status of BLM’s planning activities in your state, click on the following links:

Colorado

Wyoming

New Mexico:

• Nothing at the moment.

Montana:

• Nothing at the moment.