Draft Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan Scheduled for Release in 2012

Map of the planning area for the Eastern Interior RMP.

The BLM plans to release its draft Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement in early 2012. This plan, which covers the area shaded blue on the map, will provide future direction for 6.7 million acres of public land including the White Mountains National Recreation Area, the Steese National Conservation Area, and the Fortymile area. To save costs and streamline planning efforts, the Eastern Interior RMP will combine three existing land use planning areas and 2.1 million acres of unplanned public lands into one RMP.

Resource management plans provide the BLM with comprehensive, long-term direction concerning the use and management of resources on BLM-managed public lands. The Eastern Interior RMP will establish goals and objectives for managing resources, and it will outline the measures needed to achieve those goals and objectives. It will identify lands available for certain uses, along with any restrictions on those uses, and will identify lands closed to certain uses.

When the BLM develops an RMP, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is also required. The EIS will analyze the environmental effects of the proposed management actions.

The planning process will take about three years to complete. There will be multiple opportunities for you to be involved—from identifying issues to commenting on draft plans.

If you want to provide comments or attend public meetings when the draft plan is released, please email us at BLM_AK_EIFO_GenDel@blm.gov or call 474-2340 to be added to our contact list.

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