[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34495-34496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13310]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AA210-00-1610-01-2410]


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 (WO-210), 1849 C Street, NW., (LS-1050), 
Washington, D.C. 20240-0001; or from any BLM State Office or field 
office.
    Comments can be electronically sent to [email protected] or mailed 
to the Bureau of Land Management (WO-210), Attention: Ted Milesnick, 
1849 C Street NW., (LS-1050), Washington, DC, 20240-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ted Milesnick at (202) 452-7727, Ann 
Aldrich at (202) 452-7722, or Paul Politzer at (202) 452-0349.

    Dated: May 23, 2000.
Michael Mottice,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 00-13310 Filed 5-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P