Two transmission towers in the distance, behind yellow flowers.

Planning and NEPA in the BLM

Landscape view of Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area in Colorado. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM

The Bureau of Land Management manages more than 245 million acres of America’s public lands and roughly 700 million acres of its subsurface mineral estate for the benefit of current and future generations.

We believe partnerships and inclusion are vital to managing sustainable, working public lands. This means respecting the ties that communities have to public lands, and welcoming and valuing diverse views. We are proud of our strong record of taking local voice into account.

To guide our efforts, we develop Resource Management Plans (RMPs) that serve as blueprints to keep public landscapes healthy and productive. Our RMPs encompass highly varied terrain, from Alaska’s North Slope, to California’s Mojave Desert, to the open space surrounding many rapidly growing western cities.

View our featured plans in development and plans in effect.

Public Involvement

Citizens, user groups and businesses can participate in crafting Resource Management Plans; state, county, local and tribal governments can serve as cooperators in these efforts. Working with others helps us develop the best possible overall plans.

Learn how you can get involved in each step of the planning process.

NEPA Reviews

The BLM makes sure that its Resource Management Plans meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), either through the production of detailed Environmental Impact Statements or less-complex Environmental Assessments and related documents. Most of these environmental reviews also offer the opportunity for public comment and participation.

Learn more about NEPA.

Parts of a Plan

Landscape view of Amboy Crater in California. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM.

Understand the parts of a plan, including special designations like Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.