The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently preparing a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Eastern Interior Planning Area. The plan, known as the Eastern Interior RMP, 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. In addition, it will cover BLM lands in the upper Black River and the greater Fairbanks area that are currently not included in an existing land use plan.

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 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.

The planning process will take about three years to complete. Along with the RMP, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed as part of the planning process . An integral component of the Eastern Interior RMP is public involvement. Throughout the project, stakeholders and residents will have opportunities to participate and share their insights and comments. 

More information on the planning process is available on the Eastern Interior RMP ePlanning Web Page.

The Eastern Interior RMP/EIS is being developed using the BLM's ePlanning system. The Draft RMP/EIS, released on February 24, 2012, is available for public comments through July 23, 2012. An interactive version allowing allows users to submit comment online is available on the Eastern Interior RMP ePlanning Web Page.