To: ADs, AFOs

From: Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty, and Resource Protection

Subject: Right-of-Way (ROW) Management-Land Use Planning

Program Areas: ROW Corridors, ROW Use Areas, Land Use Planning

Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) provides guidance on ROW corridor and ROW Use Area planning and designation and the consideration of energy related and other ROWs as part of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) land use planning process.

Background: The President's National Energy Policy requires that BLM increase and diversify our Nation's sources of both traditional and alternative energy resources, improve our energy transportation network and ensure sound environmental management. This integrated policy approach requires BLM to ensure that there is a sufficient means to both develop energy where authorizations require a ROW (e.g., wind energy) and transport energy supplies in an effective manner (e.g., oil and gas pipelines and electric transmission lines), while still maintaining current environmental standards and good stewardship principles.

The overall objective is to continue to make BLM-administered lands available for needed ROWs where consistent with national, state, and local plans, and use ROWs in-common to minimize environmental impacts and proliferation of separate ROWs. (See FLPMA, Section 503.)

Policy/Action: It is essential that BLM appropriately consider the Nation's needs for ROW corridors and ROW Use Areas related to the production and distribution of energy in the land use planning process. In addition, all land use plans must assess the impacts of land use decisions on current and potential ROW corridors and ROW Use Areas and the authorization of energy related and other ROWs within the lands affected by the plan.

The need for ROW corridors, ROW Use Areas and the effects of land use plan decisions on energy related ROWs must be factored into all of the steps of the land use planning process.

In order to adequately consider ROW corridors, ROW Use Areas, and other ROW issues in the land use planning process, each land use plan should include the following to the extent reasonable and appropriate:

1. Identify existing and potential corridors (potential corridors include existing ROW routes that can be considered for additional facilities and thus be considered a corridor if not already so designated);

2. Identify existing and potential ROW development sites such as energy development areas (e.g., wind energy sites) and communication sites;

3. Describe likely development of potential corridors and other ROW sites as a basis for impact assessment and development of stipulations or conditions of use;

4. Describe limitations on other uses in the potential corridors or at potential ROW development sites which would be necessary to maintain the ROW and corridor values;

5. Describe corridor and ROW development area selection criteria, including goals and objectives for the areas identified (to help establish reclamation standards, manage other multiple uses, establish sideboards for approval process for future compatible uses, etc.);

6. Describe any adverse effects on the distribution or production of energy supplies if the decision is inconsistent with authorizing energy related facilities;

7. Describe reasonable alternatives to a proposed action having adverse energy effects and the anticipated effects of such alternatives on the production/distribution of energy.

Each RMP should consider a general RMP goal statement or ROW corridor decision which emphasizes that BLM will encourage use of the designated ROW corridors and ROW Use Areas to the the extent possible, but, depending on site specific needs, actual locations may vary. Such variances should be considered consistent with the RMP, provided such locations and uses are consistent with the selection criteria and goals and objectives for ROW corridors and ROW Use Areas.

Additional guidance specific to suggested land use allocations, management actions, and consultation requirements for ROW activities are contained in the attachment to this IM.

Time Frame: Effective immediately upon receipt.

Budget Impact: The effect on the budget is not currently known. However, future budgets may be impacted on the basis of data received on ROW and corridor management and related costs.

Manual/Handbook Sections Impacted: The guidance and suggestions provided herein are in addition to the guidance provided in BLM Manual Sections 1610 and 2801.1 - .12, and Handbook H-1601-1, Appendix C.

Coordination: This IM has been coordinated through the Planning, Assessment and Community Support Group and the Lands and Realty Group.

Contacts: Public Utility Commission for the state the planning area is within and for the appropriate adjoining states, consistent with the protocol of the Western Governors' Association related to interagency coordination of corridor management planning.

For further information: Contact Jeff Holdren, WO 350 (E-Mail: jeff_ holdren@wo.blm.gov), Ray Brady, WO 350 (E-Mail: ray_brady @wo.blm.gov), or Mike Mottice, WO 210 (E-Mail: mike_mottice@wo.blm.gov) if you have questions or other concerns pertaining to this memorandum.