UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov/

February 3, 2009 

• Alaska, Colorado and Idaho offices will continue using ePlanning for Resource Management Plans (RMPs) in at least one office per State. Use of ePlanning for NEPA will also be encouraged in these offices as training and support will be provided. Support could include post training support, import of legacy documents, and/or possible additional field office funding for Super User or other support purposes. 

• This IM modifies IM-2008-151 and the schedule for implementation of ePlanning for RMPs and NEPA. Offices desiring to request volunteer status for this year should indicate such interest by February 13, 2009, to Karla_Bird@blm.gov so that a final training schedule can be developed and additional resources can be allocated. 

• An additional limited number of volunteer offices may continue working on existing RMPs, new RMP starts, and NEPA using ePlanning in 2009. Offices that have been trained in the use of ePlanning, but not identified as the one office in CO, AK, or ID, may choose not to use ePlanning during FY2009. However, these offices will be required to catch up use of the application when fully implemented at a later date. Substantial training and support will be available to all ePlanning offices this year.  

• The Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning (AD-200) in consultation with the Assistant Director, Information Resources Management (AD-500) and National Operations Center (NOC) has determined that a cross-organizational assessment would provide the most objective evaluation of the ePlanning application. A team is being organized by the Division Chief, Washington Office (WO-210). The completed assessment will seek to determine any modifications to ePlanning, including application simplification, functionality, and support needs for full implementation of ePlanning in FY2010 and beyond.  

• All offices that have used ePlanning V. 2.0 during FY2008 or before are required to submit a report of Lessons Learned from ePlanning to Karla_Bird@blm.gov by   February 20, 2009. These reports will inform the assessment team. Reports should use the suggested format in the attachment below and should not repeat points made in the State NEPA Implementation Plans responsive to IM-WO-2008-151. 

• Implementation of ePlanning, while slowed during 2009, continues to be a priority for full deployment under the auspices of the Department of Interior Blueprint for Planning. Catch-up phases for implementation of BLM’s ePlanning application for all offices will occur during FY2010 and beyond. Therefore, volunteer offices are encouraged to participate during FY2009 in order to assist in the piloting and further assessment of ePlanning for land use planning and for NEPA while substantial training and support is available.