Planning teams must adhere to national guidance as they complete their land use planning efforts. This section first explains the general hierarchy of national guidance, and then describes guidance that is specific to BLM planning efforts.

The Guidance Hierarchy

A three-tiered hierarchy of guidance directs the activities of any Federal agency. At the highest level, Congress establishes law, which provides mandatory direction to agencies. Because laws are often very broad, agencies generate more specific direction by creating regulations and policies to further define and implement laws. Regulations are the second-highest level of direction. When an agency creates new or revises existing regulations, other agencies and the public must review them. Agencies publish their finalized regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations and in the Federal Register. Agencies also issue policy, the third level of direction, to provide even more detail to complement laws and regulations. Policies are internal documents that have no external review requirement.

Planning-Related Guidance

Two key laws influence BLM’s planning efforts: the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). This section describes these laws and the related BLM regulations and policies. Please click on the above links for more specific information on these laws.

Relationship of the Laws to One Another

The BLM Land Use Planning Handbook outlines a process that meets the requirements of both NEPA and FLPMA for the development of planning decisions (new RMPs and RMP revisions and amendments). The interdisciplinary team established to work on planning projects ensures that the BLM is complying with other laws, regulations, and policies associated with particular resources and uses of the public lands.

How it All Fits Together

Together, NEPA and FLPMA, as well as the associated regulations mentioned above, form the basis for BLM’s planning process. BLM’s planning handbook is a BLM policy that encompasses the requirements of NEPA and FLPMA laws and regulations. The following chart depicts this framework:

Click here to see the chart. (opens in a new window)