Withdrawals

Objectives

Protect lands with important resource values and/or significant levels of investment by withdrawing them from the operation of public land and mineral laws. Withdrawal is necessary to avoid irreparable damage that may be caused by nondiscretionary activities.

Land Use Allocations

Recommendations for revocation or continuation of existing withdrawals are shown in Table 13.

Management Actions/Direction

Complete the review of existing withdrawals to determine whether continuation of the withdrawal is consistent with the statutory objectives of the programs for which the lands were dedicated and with other important programs.

Terminate unnecessary or duplicative withdrawals and continue those that still meet the intent of the withdrawal.

Implement the BLM-proposed withdrawals listed under land use allocations. This will involve recommendations to and approval by the Secretary of the Interior.

Evaluate future withdrawal proposals for compliance with program objectives and Federal law and recommend appropriate action to the Secretary of the Interior.

Limit withdrawals to the minimum area needed and restrict only those activities that would be detrimental to the purposes of the withdrawal.

Pursue mineral withdrawals in all resource natural areas.

Also see Management of Newly Acquired Lands located near the end of this chapter.