Landscape Considerations in BLM Resource Management Planning S upporting Text Rio Grande Organ Mountains-Desert del Norte National PeaksMonument, National Monument, New Mexico NM 1
Overview Landscape and relevant policy BLM s land use planning process What is Planning 2.0? New Mexico planning update 2
Landscape an interacting mosaic of ecosystems and human systems characterized by a set of common management concerns.not defined by the size of the area, but by the interacting elements that are relevant and meaningful in a management context. ultimate objective is to integrate the management of resources across spatial and temporal scales and, where appropriate, multiple jurisdictions, to enable effective management. From the proposed Dept. Manual Chapter on Implementing Landscape-level Approaches to Resource Management, October 2016 3
Secretarial Order 3330, 2013 Relevant Policy use of a landscape-scale approach to identify and facilitate investment in key conservation priorities in a region Presidential Memo, 2015 Large-scale plans and analysis.to inform where development is appropriate, where resources values should be protected Proposed DOI Manual Chapter, Implementing Landscape-level Approaches to Resource Management, October 2016 BLM National Mitigation Policy, est. January 2017 4
BLM Land Use Planning Land Use Plans / Resource Management Plans (RMPs) Long-range Comprehensive Make resource and use decisions Identify desired future conditions, actions to achieve Landscape-level (versus specific proposed projects) BLM Mission Sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 5
What is Planning 2.0? Update to BLM s land use planning regulations (43 CFR 1600) Incremental improvements, not wholesale changes Final Rule now available at blm.gov/plan2 Federal Register December 12; effective mid-january 2017 Elk in the Rio Grande Valley, NM 6
Existing planning regulations >30 years old New rule makes incremental improvements to address concerns: Why Planning 2.0? process efficiency, stakeholder involvement, modern challenges and demands on public lands and resources La Ventana Arch, El Malpais NCA, NM 7
Goals of Planning 2.0 1. Improve BLM s ability to respond to change 2. Provide meaningful opportunities for collaboration 3. Improve BLM s ability to implement a landscape approach Bisti De-na-zin Wilderness, NM 8
Planning 2.0 Update Final Rule Highlights New opportunities for early public involvement Plan Assessment public information and data gathering phase Draft Alternatives Review Longer minimum comment periods for RMPs RMPs - Current: 90 days, Proposed: 60 days, Final: 100 days Amendments Current: 90 days, Proposed: 45 days, Final: 60 days Planning area Existing: Field Office boundary is the default planning area Proposed: BLM Director determines planning area for all RMPs Final: No default; rule provides criteria for developing planning area as well as an opportunity for public review
Planning 2.0 Update Final Rule Highlights, continued High-quality information Required to use high quality information any representation of knowledge such as facts or data, including the best available scientific information, which is accurate, reliable, and unbiased, is not compromised through corruption or falsification, and is useful to its intended users Coordination and Consistency
Landscape Considerations in RMPs 1. Plan assessment phase 2. Planning area boundary 3. Regional mitigation principles embedded into plans* Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave NCA, NM 11
Planning 2.0 Next Steps 1. Federal Register December 12, 30-day waiting period 2. Revised BLM Land Use Planning Handbook 3. Partner and stakeholder presentations and trainings Presilla Wilderness Study Area, NM 12
New Mexico Land Use Planning Update Río Grande del Norte NM RMP-A Taos RMP (2012) Public review of Alternatives, spring 2017 Mancos-Gallup RMP-A Farmington RMP (2003) Draft RMPA/EIS in 2018 Verde RMP-A Taos RMP (2012) Draft in late 2017 Sabinoso RMP-A Taos RMP (2012) Proposed RMP-A/EA December 2016 Rio Puerco RMP Revision (1986) Proposed RMP/FEIS January 2017 Tri-County RMP Revision Combines White Sands (1986) and portions of Mimbres RMPs (1993) Supplemental EIS in 2017 Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks NM RMP Public scoping February 2017 OKT RMP Combines Oklahoma (1994), Texas (1996), and Kansas RMPs (1991) Draft RMP/EIS in 2017 Carlsbad RMP (1986) Draft RMP/EIS January 2017 13
For More Information New National BLM Website New Mexico RMPs and current NEPA documents are available on the national NEPA Register, eplanning https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/eplanning (Or, Google BLM eplanning and click FrontOffice link) 14
BLM New Mexico Contacts Molly Cobbs Zoe Davidson Land Use Planning/NEPA Lead Mitigation, Monitoring and Botany Lead (505) 954-2170 (505) 954-2054 mcobbs@blm.gov zdavidson@blm.gov Dripping Springs, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks NM, NM 15
Upcoming Public Involvement Opportunities Plan Milestone When? Mancos-Gallup RMP-A Public scoping period (additional) Open now! (til February 20, 2017) Verde Transmission RMP-A Public Scoping period Open now! (til January 5, 2017) Sabinoso Wilderness RMP-A Carlsbad RMP Rio Puerco RMP Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks RMP Proposed RMP-A available for 30-day protest period Draft RMP/EIS review and comment period Proposed RMP-A available for 30-day protest period Public information gathering period December 2016 January 2017 January 2017 February 2017 16