Changing the RMP

Any plan, particularly one dealing with natural resources, normally requires periodic maintenance and is sometimes changed. In the Resource Management Planning process, this is accomplished in one of three ways depending on the nature and extent of the change in the resource or management situation.

1. Maintenance. RMPs and supporting components are maintained as necessary to reflect minor changes in the data. Such maintenance may include further refining, constraining, or documenting a previously approved decision in the plan. However, maintenance cannot expand the scope of the resource use or change the terms or conditions of the plan. Because maintenance is a very limited activity, it does not involve require public participation, interagency coordination, or preparation of environmental documents.

2. Amendment. An amendment is initiated by the need to consider monitoring and evaluation findings, new data, new or revised policy, or a change in circumstances significantly affecting a part of the approved plan. Amendment requires formal public participation, interagency coordination, and preparation of either an EIS, or an environmental assessment, depending upon the significance of the impacts.

3. Revision. If changes in the planning area affect major portions of the plan or the entire plan, a complete revision may be necessary. Such revisions will go through all the actions described in this guide for preparing an RMP, including full-scale public participation.

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