The land use planning process is the primary tool used by the BLM to provide for use and protection of resources on public lands in consultation with the Tribes and coordination with State and local governments, land users, and the interested public.

A Resource Management Plan (RMP) is a land use plan that describes broad multiple-use guidance for managing public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the BLM to develop such land use plans to provide for appropriate uses of public land. Decisions in land use plans guide future land management actions and subsequent site-specific implementation decisions. The Jarbidge RMP will accomplish the following:

• Respond to resource conditions that have changed;
• Respond to new issues, programs, and policies;
• Prepare a comprehensive framework for managing public lands administered by the Jarbidge Field Office for the foreseeable future; and
• Respond to the September 30, 2005 Stipulated Settlement Agreement in the case of Western Watersheds Project v. K Lynn Bennett, under the jurisdiction of the District Court, District of Idaho.  

BLM’s RMPs are intended to guide management activities for a 15 to 20 year period. Toward the end of this timeframe, BLM usually prepares a new plan to reflect the continually evolving public land use patterns, needs, and issues in a geographic area.