Consultation with Native American tribes is part of the NEPA process and a requirement of FLPMA. The BLM invited Native American tribes to be cooperating agencies as part of the RMP revision and three tribes attended cooperator meetings. On October 10, 2008, the BLM sent letters to the following 11 tribes inviting them to be part of the planning process through consultation and public scoping meetings:

The consultation letters invited Native American tribes to comment on interests or concerns related to management in the Planning Area and asked tribes to identify any places of traditional religious or cultural importance within the Planning Area. An example consultation letter between the Native American tribes and the BLM is included in Appendix E.

Following the scoping process, the BLM sent a letter to each of the above tribes requesting specific information to help identify areas of special concern for the tribes and presenting the opportunity for meetings or field trips with tribal representatives. BLM representatives followed these letters with telephone calls to each tribe. In letters and during the follow-up calls, the BLM stressed its desire for the tribes to review and comment on this Draft RMP and Draft EIS. On December 17, 2008 the BLM met with tribal representatives in Rapid City, South Dakota to discuss the RMP revision. Additional inquiries were made of interested tribes who might desire face to face opportunities to discuss RMP issues. In January 2010, Field Managers and staff met with the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Historic Preservation Officer to discuss the Tribe’s interest in RMP topics. Government-to-government consultation with the tribes will continue throughout the RMP process.