Why This Plan Is Being Prepared

What is a Resource Management Plan (RMP)?

An RMP is a land use plan that describes broad multiple-use guidance for managing public lands administered by the BLM. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act directs the BLM to develop such land use plans to provide for appropriate uses of public land. Decisions in land use plans guide future land management actions and subsequent site-specific implementation decisions. The RMP will accomplish the following:

Establish goals and objectives for resource management and the measures needed to achieve those goals and objectives;
Identify lands that are open and available for certain uses, including any restrictions, and lands that are closed to certain uses; and
Provide comprehensive management direction for and/or allocate use of all resources.

BLM's RMPs are intended to guide management activities for a 15-20 year period. Toward the end of this timeframe, BLM usually prepares a new plan to reflect the continually evolving public land use patterns, needs, and issues in a geographic area.

Public involvement is an important part of land use planning and opportunities for public involvement and comment are provided throughout the planning process. The BLM really wants to know how people think their public lands should be used and managed.

Why is a Resource Management Plan (RMP) Being Prepared Now?

The BLM-administered public lands within the Coeur d'Alene Field Office Planning Area are currently managed in accordance with the decisions in the 1981 Emerald Empire Management Framework Plan, as amended. There are three main reasons that the Coeur d'Alene RMP is being written:

To respond to changing resource conditions;
To respond to new issues and federal policies; and
To prepare a comprehensive framework for managing public lands administered by the BLM.

The RMP will establish new land use planning decisions to address issues identified through public scoping and, where appropriate, may incorporate decisions from the existing Emerald Empire Management Framework Plan.

There are several issues within the Planning Area that need resolution. A list of preliminary issue themes. These issue themes are being refined and finalized based on comments received during the scoping period.