[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1694-1695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-192]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AA210-01-1610-01-2410]


Public Land and Resources; Planning, Programming and Budgeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management; Interior.

ACTION: Notification of availability of approved 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)

[[Page 1695]]

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 Planning Manual and Handbook 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, measures needed to achieve them, and parameters 
for use.
    The Land Use Planning Manual and Handbook replace earlier guidance 
which has been in place since the 1980s. The new guidance is necessary 
to address new circumstances affecting the management of public lands.
    The new planning guidance differs from the earlier 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 collaborative and 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.
    As part of the effort to update Manual and Handbook guidance for 
preparing land use plans, during June and July, 2000, the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) circulated a draft Land Use Planning Manual and 
Handbook for BLM and public review and comment. About 115 comments were 
received from agencies, State and local governments, organizations, 
companies, and the general public. Approximately 35 comments were 
received from BLM employees and offices.
    The goal of the review was to ensure the guidance (1) accurately 
reflects statutory and regulatory requirements, (2) facilitates the 
development of land use plans which meet resource use and protection 
needs, and ensures the involvement of other Federal agencies, tribes, 
State and local government, and the public, (3) provides an appropriate 
level of detail (i.e., sufficiently detailed to ensure conformance with 
specific planning requirements, yet provides a level of flexibility 
necessary to address various issues associated with individual planning 
efforts), and (4) is readily understandable and useable by BLM and the 
public.
    We have carefully considered the comments received and have revised 
the guidance in light of the goals listed above. A summary of the 
comments and how they were addressed will be available shortly on BLM's 
Internet homepage (www.blm.gov) or by request. Because the approved 
Manual and Handbook are internal guidance, they are not subject to 
protest or appeal.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the approved 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, DC 20240-0001; or from any BLM State Office or Field 
Office.

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

    Dated: December 22, 2000.
Henri R. Besson,
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 01-192 Filed 1-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P