Planning on the Public Lands

The public lands are what remains of the historic public domain after private individuals, corporations, State and local governments, and other Federal agencies acquired most of the then desirable lands during America's westward expansion in the last century. Once the lands nobody wanted, these lands-some 270 million acres-have become a rich national heritage. Scattered unevenly throughout the West, they possess resources of enormous national value.

These holdings contain many important minerals including vast amounts of fossil fuel for America's energy needs. They contain . millions of acres of rangeland that contribute to the country's meat supply and forests that supplement the Nation's timber production. They provide significant recreational values. They are home to hundreds of thousands of antelope, deer, elk, and caribou, as well as to millions of smaller wild animals and fish. They possess a vast cultural and historic heritage. Selected parcels may have value for community expansion, public works projects, and development by private interests.

The public lands-177 million acres in 11 western States and 114 million more in Alaska-are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. BLM's job is to find ways to accommodate the increasingly competitive demands on these lands while protecting and ensuring their long-term productivity.

With hundreds of choices to be made on these vast tracts of land, comprehensive land use planning is critical. To accomplish its multiple-use mission, the BLM has developed a land use planning process called Resource Management Planning.

You are encouraged to provide comments on the design and utility of these site materials. In the future a questionnaire will be included to solicit your comments, including need for specific types of additional information.