WASHINGTON – Thursday (Aug,. 8), the BLM announced its intent to develop a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) to engage the public and to help inform the Bureau’s implementation of the Public Lands Rule, which provides regulations that will guide balanced management of America’s public lands now and for the future.
The FAC will allow the BLM to continue working with and hearing from a range of experts and the public to support successful implementation of the rule, according to a release. The FAC will represent a broad and diverse range of stakeholders and interests, and will help inform outreach and engagement, advise on best management practices, and participate in the development of agency guidance to support implementation. This will build on the work of BLM’s Resource Advisory Councils, which provide valuable feedback on BLM initiatives, regulatory proposals, and policy changes.
In the coming weeks, the BLM will publish a call for nominations and a charter for the committee in the Federal Register.
Also, the BLM released a set of initial guidance documents to support clear and consistent implementation of the rule across the Bureau’s 12 state and 175 field offices. The guidance documents, which cover topics from land health assessments to restoration and mitigation leasing, provide direction to BLM field personnel and inform the public on how the rule will work in the field. As we continue implementing the rule, the guidance may be updated to accommodate the BLM’s experience, new information or input from the public.
“The Public Lands Rule provides essential tools that will help the Bureau improve and conserve the health of the lands we’ve been entrusted with for present and future generations,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “With this guidance and the announcement of our advisory committee, we are showing our work, demonstrating how this rule will look in practice and asking the public to help inform our implementation so we can make good on our obligation to protect and conserve the health of our public lands.”
The Public Lands Rule, finalized in April, helps ensure conservation is a key component of 21st century public lands management, helping BLM protect the best and healthiest lands and waters, restore those that need it, and make informed management and development decisions based on the best available science and data, including Indigenous Knowledge. You can learn more about the rule here.
The guidance documents released today provide policy direction to managers on the ground to support rule implementation. BLM guidance documents, including Instruction Memoranda (IM), Information Bulletins (IB), and Manuals, help provide policy direction while the BLM continues to hear from and work with stakeholders and partners to determine best practices and additional guidance that may be necessary in the future. These documents can be modified and updated as new information or best practices become available.
The guidance documents released today include:
- Restoration Prioritization & Planning IM
- Watershed Condition Assessment IM
- Land Health Standards IM
- Restoration and Mitigation Leasing IM
- Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Manual
- Inventory & Monitoring of Ecological Resources Manual
- Land Use Planning Requirements IB
All materials are available on BLM’s website.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
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