Rights-of-Way Cost Recovery Regulations

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Introduction

Each year, thousands of individuals and companies apply to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to obtain a right-of-way (ROW) on public land.
 
A ROW grant is an authorization to use a specific piece of public land for a certain project, such as roads, pipelines, transmission lines, and communication sites. A ROW grant authorizes rights and privileges for a specific use of the land for a specific period of time. Generally, a BLM ROW is granted for a term appropriate for the life of the project.

On April 22, 2005, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a final rule which revises BLM regulations on rights-of-way issued under the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) and the Mineral Leasing Act.

The final rule revises the BLM cost recovery (processing and monitoring fee) policies and procedures for issuing right-of-way grants and adjusts cost recovery fees to take into account cost increases since the previous regulations became effective in August 1987.

This web site contains information on:

• an “Old vs. New” overview of the new ROW regulations;
• a detailed list of questions and answers (FAQs) regarding the new regulations;
• resources to help interested individuals understand the process for obtaining a right-of-way on public lands;
• the subsequent responsibilities a grant holder has after the right-of-way has been authorized.

For definitions of Rights-of-Way terms, click "Glossary" in the menu.