Why This Plan Is Being Prepared

What is a Resource Management Plan (RMP)?

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs BLM to develop comprehensive land use plans to guide management decisions and actions on public lands. Before 1985, BLM's land use plans were called Management Framework Plans. Since 1985, BLM's land use plans are called Resource Management Plans (RMPs). RMPs are prepared for relatively large areas of public lands, called planning areas, which tend to have similar resource characteristics. These planning areas usually coincide with BLM's Field Office boundaries.

Because RMPs are prepared for large areas of public lands, they generally establish broad-scale resource goals and objectives that guide subsequent plans and decisions for smaller and site-specific areas. RMPs address the full compliment of programs and activities occurring on public lands, including off-highway vehicle use, fire management, wildlife management, mineral leasing, and livestock grazing. RMPs also provide direction for managing areas on public lands that require special protection, such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Research Natural Areas, and potential additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

BLM's RMPs are intended to guide management activities for about a 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 Cottonwood Field Office Planning Area are currently managed in accordance with the decisions in the 1981 Chief Joseph Management Framework Plan, as amended. There are three main reasons that the Cottonwood RMP is being written:

1. To respond to changing resource conditions;
2. To respond to new issues and federal policies; and
3. 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 Chief Joseph Management Framework Plan.

There are several issues within the Planning Area that need resolution. A list of planning issues, which were refined based on comments received during the scoping period, is available here.