QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Draft of Revised Land Use Planning Handbook

Why is the BLM revising its Land Use Planning Handbook?

• A number of BLM’s planning-related Instruction Memorandums (IMs) and Instruction Bulletins (IBs) have issued policy and direction to BLM staff since the original Land Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1, Release 1-1667) was released November 22, 2000. This draft revised handbook incorporates pertinent policies and direction from those IMs and IBs.
  
  
• BLM Manual 1601 (Release 1-1666) and the Land Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1, Release 1-1667) were released on November 22, 2000. Only one minor change has been made to the Handbook since then: Release 1675 on August 22, 2002.
  
  
• The draft revised Handbook includes additional “how to” instructions that will guide local interdisciplinary teams through specific steps in the planning process.
  
  
• To review all planning-related guidance, please go to http://www.blm.gov/planning/library.html

If the revised Handbook incorporates previously issued guidance, does that mean the final Land Use Planning Handbook will replace all the directives issued?

The Handbook incorporates some, but not all, of the directives. Therefore, the directives remain valid until their stated expiration date.

What are the most significant changes in this revised Handbook?

• Chapters containing the most significant changes are I through V, covering Land Use Plan Decisions; Land Use Planning Process and Products; Implementation; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Adaptive Management.
• Chapter III, Land Use Planning Process and Products (formerly called Development of Land Use Plan Decisions), has been completely re-written.
• Chapter IV on Implementation has been revised to more clearly distinguish land use plan and implementation decisions.
• Chapter V, Monitoring, Evaluation and Adaptive Management, has been revised to incorporate recent Departmental guidance on adaptive management.
• Program-specific guidance in Appendix C has been substantially revised in some program areas (particularly Recreation and Travel Management).
• The Appendices on Social Science Considerations (Appendix D) and Protest and Appeal Provisions (Appendix E) have been substantially revised.
• A new Appendix has been added: Standard Formats for Land Use Plan Documents (Appendix G)

Is any new policy introduced in the revised Handbook?

No.

Why was Chapter III, Land use Planning Process and Products, rewritten?

To provide more clarity and direction to the process used in planning for both Environmental Assessment-level and Environmental Impact Statement-level Resource Management Plans and Plan Revisions.

How will this Revised Handbook affect plans that are in progress?

• Work that has been done on plans started prior to the completion of this revised Land Use Planning Handbook does not have to be redone. Planners will follow the guidance contained in the revised handbook only for the portions that are yet to be completed. There should be no significant difference in the final plan, since no new policies have been introduced in the draft revised Handbook.
  
  
• The revised Land Use Planning Handbook will increase the efficiency of new planning efforts because all land use planning-related guidance will be in one place.

Will I be able to comment on the handbook revision?

This is not a formal public comment period, because the development and revision of Manuals and Handbooks is an internal process (State and Field Offices have 30 days to review and comment) within the BLM. However, in an effort to keep the public aware of changes to land use planning, the BLM is making the document available to the public before it is completed. If you have constructive comments, you may send them via electronic mail to: wohandbook@blm.gov. The address is not case sensitive.

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