The Bureau of Land Management today released a Draft Strategic Action Plan for the management of mountain bicycling activities on public lands. The BLM encourages the public to share experiences and ideas related to mountain bicycling use on public land and give recommendations on the draft plan during the public comment period, from August 19 through Sept. 25.

When implemented, the National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan would promote environmentally sound use of mountain bicycles and other nonmotorized, mechanized vehicles on BLM-managed public land. It would ensure that mountain bicycling opportunities are recognized and provided for on public lands where appropriate and would provide guidance to the BLM field offices, interest groups and individuals for implementing on-the-ground actions and resource protection measures.

The BLM is developing this action plan to

• update its 1992 Mountain Bicycle Strategy;
• recognize changing demographics, increasing populations, emerging technologies, and issues unique to mountain bicycling;
• provide for consistency among BLM states and field offices regarding management approaches;
• make more effective use of existing staff, resources, volunteers, and partnerships; and
• assess planning, environmental and regulatory needs.

The final strategic action plan will not be a decision document or a new regulation. Mountain bicycling was an emerging use on public lands when most of the BLM's existing land use plans were developed, so their use was not addressed. With the increase in mountain bicycle use, new technology, and BLM's land use planning schedule, mountain bicycling management guidance is needed. Site-specific activity plans will continue to address local issues.

The BLM asks that the public comment on the following themes that form the basis of the draft National Mountain Bicycle Strategic Action Plan.

• Coordination with both internal and external groups and stakeholders;
• Education and Interpretation to present a consistent ethics message to the public;
• Planning and Environmental Considerations that consider all aspects of on-the-ground mountain bicycle and trail management issues;
• Funding needs and sources for immediate and future actions;
• Emerging Issues as the sport of mountain bicycling evolves;
• Regulations for clear and consistent management of mountain bicycles and other mechanized vehicles on public lands and whether they are needed; and
• Other ideas and suggestions.

The draft plan may be viewed at any BLM office or online at www.blm.gov or a copy may be requested by mail. Send requests for copies to Margy Tidemann, BLM-Worland Field Office, P.O. Box 119, Worland, WY 82401-0119.

Comments can be submitted electronically through BLM's national website at www.blm.gov, or mailed to: Tim Smith, Team Lead

National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan
BLM-California State Office
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1834
Sacramento, CA 95825-1886

The BLM will take public comments from August 19 through Sept. 25, 2002, and anticipates completion of the National Mountain Bicycling Strategic Action Plan by the end of calendar year 2002.

The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land — 261 million surface acres — than any other Federal agency. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 gave the BLM its comprehensive mission to manage the public lands for a variety of uses so as to benefit present and future generations. The BLM accomplishes this by managing for such resources as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing and mineral development, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on the public lands. Most of the country's BLM-managed public land is located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. These lands, once remote, now provide the growing communities of the West with open space that gives the region much of its character. The Bureau, which has a budget of $1.8 billion and a workforce of about 9,000 employees, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the Nation.

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