Biomass and Bioenergy

BLM manages approximately 69 million acres of forests and woodlands (FIA Report 2007). About 16 million acres need restoration. The BLM is increasing the use of small diameter material from forestry, fuels and rangeland treatments. The demand for biomass is expected to increase as bioenergy facilities come on-line.

When trying to reduce hazardous fuels and utilize biomass, the BLM lands are not unique. They share many of the same barriers, and offer the same opportunities as other federal and private lands. Most of the 16 million acres needing restoration are in rural areas away from existing markets. Transportation costs to existing markets are high, and establishing new markets for woody biomass is difficult. The BLM is working with partners in local communities to identify and promote opportunities.

Woody Biomass Utilization Desk Guide

The Woody Biomass Utilization Desk Guide has been developed to:

• Provide a quick reference and suggestions to local land managers on how to locate and collaborate with biomass stakeholders;
• Assess the viability of offsetting the costs of accomplishing hazardous fuels and ecosystem restoration treatments by utilizing marketable biomass;
• Provide suggestions on how to use NEPA planning tools in a biomass-utilization program; and
• Provide suggestions on how to use cost-effective sale preparation techniques and cost-effective timber sale / stewardship / service contract preparation techniques to provide increased supplies of biomass.

Woody Biomass Utilization Group

The BLM is working jointly with the interdepartmental Woody Biomass Utilization Group (Woody BUG or WBUG). Since the passage of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the BLM and the Forest Service have developed a joint Action Plan for Title II - Renewable Energy, Section 210, which authorizes transportation and research grants for BLM and FS. No funds have been appropriated for FY2007.

BLM Projects and Studies

BLM has various projects to increase use of biomass:

BLM and the Forest Service have jointly funded several biomass supply studies in the western states. The Coordinated Resource Offering Protocol (CROP) Studies were contracted with Mater Engineering of Corvallis, OR to look at levelizing the supply of small diameter material from all sources within circles drawn around utilization centers. Sites include:

• Prineville, OR - with Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.
• Mapleton, OR - with Siuslaw National Forest.
• Lakeview, OR & Alturas, CA - with Fremont, Modoc, Winema National Forests.
• New Mexico - includes the Cibola, Carson, Santa Fe National Forests.
• Kremmling, CO - ncludes the Routt, White River, Arapaho, Medicine Bow National Forests.
• Southern Utah - includes the Fishlake and Dixie National Forests.

General information on CROP Studies, and details on the CROP Study completed in Central Oregon (Bend / Prineville area) is available through these two links:

• Power point presentation by Catherine Mater (Mater Engineering) at the Denver Bioenergy and Wood Products Meeting, March 2006
• Power point presentation by Scott Aycock (Program Administrator, Central OR Intergovernmental Council) at Smallwood Conference, May 2006

For more information on other CROP sites, please contact your state biomass lead.  Additional information on biomass and bioenergy can be found on the interagency website, forestsandrangelands.gov