Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a land use plan and a resource management plan?
A: The terms land use plan and resource management plan are used interchangeably by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Through a land use planning process, the BLM develops resource management plans (RMPs) for public lands. In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1711-1712), these plans ensure that public lands are managed under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield. Land use plans and planning decisions are the basis for every on-the-ground action the BLM takes.
Q: What is an RMP?
A: An RMP is a blueprint explaining how the BLM will manage areas of public land over a period of time (generally 10-15 years). The BLM field offices or district offices prepare RMPs for the lands within their boundaries. The RMPs contain decisions that guide future management actions and subsequent site-specific implementation decisions. The RMPs establish goals and objectives for resource management (desired outcomes) and the measures needed to achieve these goals and objectives (management actions and allowable uses).
The development of an RMP emphasizes a collaborative approach in which local, state, and tribal governments, the public, user groups, and industry work with the BLM to identify an appropriate mix of uses and protections for the public lands. The RMPs are periodically evaluated to determine if management decisions contained within them are still current and adequate. Where changing conditions (such as the federal listing of a wildlife or plant species as threatened or endangered) and/or demands on the public lands have resulted in the need to update management decisions in an RMP, the BLM may either revise or amend the RMP to bring it into conformance with these changing conditions.
An RMP generally establishes the following:
Q: How is an RMP developed?
A: The BLM uses a continual process of evaluation, planning, implementation, and monitoring to ensure that land use plans and implementation decisions remain consistent and comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The BLM develops RMPs and makes decisions using the best information available and extensive public involvement. The RMPs may be revised or amended as the BLM acquires information and knowledge of new circumstances relevant to land and resource values, uses, and environmental concerns.
The specific steps in the development of an RMP include:
Q: What is NEPA?
A: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the basic national charter for evaluation of federal actions. The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make decisions that are based on an understanding of environmental consequences, and to mitigate actions that may have adverse environmental impacts. NEPA requires that environmental information is available to the public before decisions are made and before actions are taken.
NEPA mandates that federal agencies prepare a detailed statement of the effects of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. For the BLM, this includes site-specific implementation, as well as land use planning decisions. The BLM prepares EISs and environmental assessments (EAs) to meet its obligations under NEPA.
Q: What is an EIS?
A: An EIS (environmental impact statement) is a comprehensive public document that analyzes the impacts of a federal action that will have a significant effect on the human environment. Preparation of an EIS requires public scoping. Draft EISs must be made available for public review and comment; agencies must wait 30 days after publishing final EISs before making decisions. Generally, an EIS includes detailed discussions of the following: a statement of the purpose and need for the proposed action; a description of the affected environment; alternatives to the proposed action; and an analysis of environmental impacts and ways to mitigate such impacts.
The BLM’s land use plans require preparation of an EIS; RMPs and EISs are developed concurrently as part of the BLM planning process (see "How is an RMP Developed?").
Q: How can I be involved in the BLM planning process?
A: The development of an RMP emphasizes a collaborative approach, through which the BLM and the public work together to identify appropriate uses and/or protective measures within the BLM’s multiple use mandate governing the public lands. The BLM planning regulations provide opportunities for public involvement at specific points in the planning process. This includes participation in the identification of planning issues (scoping), reviewing and commenting on the draft RMP/draft EIS, and protesting decisions in the proposed RMP/final EIS.
Q: What is the difference between a land use plan and a resource management plan?
A: The terms land use plan and resource management plan are used interchangeably by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Through a land use planning process, the BLM develops resource management plans (RMPs) for public lands. In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1711-1712), these plans ensure that public lands are managed under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield. Land use plans and planning decisions are the basis for every on-the-ground action the BLM takes.
Q: What is an RMP?
A: An RMP is a blueprint explaining how the BLM will manage areas of public land over a period of time (generally 10-15 years). The BLM field offices or district offices prepare RMPs for the lands within their boundaries. The RMPs contain decisions that guide future management actions and subsequent site-specific implementation decisions. The RMPs establish goals and objectives for resource management (desired outcomes) and the measures needed to achieve these goals and objectives (management actions and allowable uses).
The development of an RMP emphasizes a collaborative approach in which local, state, and tribal governments, the public, user groups, and industry work with the BLM to identify an appropriate mix of uses and protections for the public lands. The RMPs are periodically evaluated to determine if management decisions contained within them are still current and adequate. Where changing conditions (such as the federal listing of a wildlife or plant species as threatened or endangered) and/or demands on the public lands have resulted in the need to update management decisions in an RMP, the BLM may either revise or amend the RMP to bring it into conformance with these changing conditions.
An RMP generally establishes the following:
1) Land areas for limited, restricted or exclusive use; designations, such as areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs); and transfers from BLM administration;
2) Allowable resource uses and related levels of production or use to be maintained;
3) Resource condition goals and objectives to be attained;
4) Program constraints and general management practices needed to achieve the above items;
5) Need for an area to be covered by more detailed and specific plans;
6) Support actions, including such measures as resource protection, access development, realty action, cadastral survey, etc., as necessary to achieve the above;
7) General implementation sequences, where carrying out a planned action is dependent upon prior accomplishment of another planned action; and
8) Intervals and standards for monitoring and evaluating the plan to determine the effectiveness of the plan and the need for amendment or revision.
2) Allowable resource uses and related levels of production or use to be maintained;
3) Resource condition goals and objectives to be attained;
4) Program constraints and general management practices needed to achieve the above items;
5) Need for an area to be covered by more detailed and specific plans;
6) Support actions, including such measures as resource protection, access development, realty action, cadastral survey, etc., as necessary to achieve the above;
7) General implementation sequences, where carrying out a planned action is dependent upon prior accomplishment of another planned action; and
8) Intervals and standards for monitoring and evaluating the plan to determine the effectiveness of the plan and the need for amendment or revision.
Q: How is an RMP developed?
A: The BLM uses a continual process of evaluation, planning, implementation, and monitoring to ensure that land use plans and implementation decisions remain consistent and comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The BLM develops RMPs and makes decisions using the best information available and extensive public involvement. The RMPs may be revised or amended as the BLM acquires information and knowledge of new circumstances relevant to land and resource values, uses, and environmental concerns.
The specific steps in the development of an RMP include:
1) Issue a Notice of Intent to prepare the RMP
2) Conduct scoping (a public process to assist in the identification of planning issues)
3) Analyze the management situation
4) Develop alternatives to address planning issues
5) Analyze the effects of the alternatives
6) Select a preferred alternative
7) Prepare a draft RMP/draft environmental impact statement (EIS)
8) Provide a 90-day public comment period
9) Prepare a proposed RMP/final EIS based on comments received
10) Provide a 30-day public protest period upon publication of the proposed RMP/final EIS
11) Approve the RMP through a record of decision once the protests have been resolved
12) Implement, monitor, and evaluate plan decisions
2) Conduct scoping (a public process to assist in the identification of planning issues)
3) Analyze the management situation
4) Develop alternatives to address planning issues
5) Analyze the effects of the alternatives
6) Select a preferred alternative
7) Prepare a draft RMP/draft environmental impact statement (EIS)
8) Provide a 90-day public comment period
9) Prepare a proposed RMP/final EIS based on comments received
10) Provide a 30-day public protest period upon publication of the proposed RMP/final EIS
11) Approve the RMP through a record of decision once the protests have been resolved
12) Implement, monitor, and evaluate plan decisions
Q: What is NEPA?
A: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is the basic national charter for evaluation of federal actions. The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make decisions that are based on an understanding of environmental consequences, and to mitigate actions that may have adverse environmental impacts. NEPA requires that environmental information is available to the public before decisions are made and before actions are taken.
NEPA mandates that federal agencies prepare a detailed statement of the effects of major federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. For the BLM, this includes site-specific implementation, as well as land use planning decisions. The BLM prepares EISs and environmental assessments (EAs) to meet its obligations under NEPA.
Q: What is an EIS?
A: An EIS (environmental impact statement) is a comprehensive public document that analyzes the impacts of a federal action that will have a significant effect on the human environment. Preparation of an EIS requires public scoping. Draft EISs must be made available for public review and comment; agencies must wait 30 days after publishing final EISs before making decisions. Generally, an EIS includes detailed discussions of the following: a statement of the purpose and need for the proposed action; a description of the affected environment; alternatives to the proposed action; and an analysis of environmental impacts and ways to mitigate such impacts.
The BLM’s land use plans require preparation of an EIS; RMPs and EISs are developed concurrently as part of the BLM planning process (see "How is an RMP Developed?").
Q: How can I be involved in the BLM planning process?
A: The development of an RMP emphasizes a collaborative approach, through which the BLM and the public work together to identify appropriate uses and/or protective measures within the BLM’s multiple use mandate governing the public lands. The BLM planning regulations provide opportunities for public involvement at specific points in the planning process. This includes participation in the identification of planning issues (scoping), reviewing and commenting on the draft RMP/draft EIS, and protesting decisions in the proposed RMP/final EIS.