Last updated on August 8th, 2024 at 08:15 pm
Title 43—Public Lands: Interior–Volume 2
Subtitle B—Regulations Relating to Public Lands (Continued)
CHAPTER II—BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SUBCHAPTER A—GENERAL MANAGEMENT (1000)
PARTS 1000-1599 [RESERVED]
PART 1600—PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, BUDGETING
Subpart 1601—Planning
§ 1601.0-1 Purpose.
The purpose of this subpart is to establish in regulations a process for the development, approval, maintenance, amendment and revision of resource management plans, and the use of existing plans for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
§ 1601.0-2 Objective.
The objective of resource management planning by the Bureau of Land Management is to maximize resource values for the public through a rational, consistently applied set of regulations and procedures which promote the concept of multiple use management and ensure participation by the public, state and local governments, Indian tribes and appropriate Federal agencies. Resource management plans are designed to guide and control future management actions and the development of subsequent, more detailed and limited scope plans for resources and uses.
§ 1601.0-3 Authority.
These regulations are issued under the authority of sections 201 and 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1711-1712); the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1901); section 3 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976 (30 U.S.C. 201(a)); sections 522, 601, and 714 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.); and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
§ 1601.0-4 Responsibilities.
(a) National level policy and procedure guidance for planning shall be provided by the Secretary and the Director.
(b) State Directors will provide quality control and supervisory review, including plan approval, for plans and related environmental impact statements and provide additional guidance, as necessary, for use by Field Managers. State Directors will file draft and final environmental impact statements associated with resource management plans and amendments.
(c) Field Managers will prepare resource management plans, amendments, revisions and related environmental impact statements. State Directors must approve these documents.
§ 1601.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this part, the term:
(a) Areas of Critical Environmental Concern or ACEC means areas within the public lands where special management attention is required (when such areas are developed or used or where no development is required) to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources, or other natural systems or processes, or to protect life and safety from natural hazards. The identification of a potential ACEC shall not, of itself, change or prevent change of the management or use of public lands.
(b) Conformity or conformance means that a resource management action shall be specifically provided for in the plan, or if not specifically mentioned, shall be clearly consistent with the terms, conditions, and decisions of the approved plan or plan amendment.
(c) Consistent means that the Bureau of Land Management plans will adhere to the terms, conditions, and decisions of officially approved and adopted resource related plans, or in their absence, with policies and programs, subject to the qualifications in § 1615.2 of this title.
(d) Eligible cooperating agency means:
(1) A Federal agency other than a lead agency that is qualified to participate in the development of environmental impact statements as provided in 40 CFR 1501.6 and 1508.5 or, as necessary, other environmental documents that BLM prepares, by virtue of its jurisdiction by law as defined in 40 CFR 1508.15, or special expertise as defined in 40 CFR 1508.26; or
(2) A federally recognized Indian tribe, a state agency, or a local government agency with similar qualifications.
(e) Cooperating agency means an eligible governmental entity that has entered into a written agreement with the BLM establishing cooperating agency status in the planning and NEPA processes. BLM and the cooperating agency will work together under the terms of the agreement. Cooperating agencies will participate in the various steps of BLM’s planning process as feasible, given the constraints of their resources and expertise.
(f) Field Manager means a BLM employee with the title “Field Manager” or “District Manager.”
(g) Guidance means any type of written communication or instruction that transmits objectives, goals, constraints, or any other direction that helps the Field Managers and staff know how to prepare a specific resource management plan.
(h) Local government means any political subdivision of the State and any general purpose unit of local government with resource planning, resource management, zoning, or land use regulation authority.
(i) Multiple use means the management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people; making the most judicious use of the lands for some or all of these resources or related services over areas large enough to provide sufficient latitude for periodic adjustments in use to conform to changing needs and conditions; the use of some lands for less than all of the resources; a combination of balanced and diverse resource uses that takes into account the long term needs of future generations for renewable and non-renewable resources, including, but not limited to, recreation, range, timber, minerals, watershed, wildlife and fish, and natural scenic, scientific and historical values; and harmonious and coordinated management of the various resources without permanent impairment of the productivity of the lands and the quality of the environment with consideration being given to the relative values of the resources and not necessarily to the combination of uses that will give the greatest economic return or the greatest unit output.
(j) Officially approved and adopted resource related plans means plans, policies, programs and processes prepared and approved pursuant to and in accordance with authorization provided by Federal, State or local constitutions, legislation, or charters which have the force and effect of State law.
(k) Public means affected or interested individuals, including consumer organizations, public land resource users, corporations and other business entities, environmental organizations and other special interest groups and officials of State, local, and Indian tribal governments.
(l) Public lands means any lands or interest in lands owned by the United States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, except lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf and lands held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts and Eskimos.
(m) Resource area or field office means a geographic portion of a Bureau of Land Management district. It is the administrative subdivision whose manager has primary responsibility for day-to-day resource management activities and resource use allocations and is, in most instances, the area for which resource management plans are prepared and maintained.
(n) Resource management plan means a land use plan as described by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The resource management plan generally establishes in a written document:
(1) Land areas for limited, restricted or exclusive use; designation, including ACEC designation; and transfer from Bureau of Land Management Administration;
(2) Allowable resource uses (either singly or in combination) and related levels of production or use to be maintained;
(3) Resource condition goals and objectives to be attained;
(4) Program constraints and general management practices needed to achieve the above items;
(5) Need for an area to be covered by more detailed and specific plans;
(6) Support action, including such measures as resource protection, access development, realty action, cadastral survey, etc., as necessary to achieve the above;
(7) General implementation sequences, where carrying out a planned action is dependent upon prior accomplishment of another planned action; and
(8) Intervals and standards for monitoring and evaluating the plan to determine the effectiveness of the plan and the need for amendment or revision.
It is not a final implementation decision on actions which require further specific plans, process steps, or decisions under specific provisions of law and regulations.
§ 1601.0-6 Environmental impact statement policy.
Approval of a resource management plan is considered a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The environmental analysis of alternatives and the proposed plan shall be accomplished as part of the resource management planning process and, wherever possible, the proposed plan and related environmental impact statement shall be published in a single document.
§ 1601.0-7 Scope.
(a) These regulations apply to all public lands.
(b) These regulations also govern the preparation of resource management plans when the only public land interest is the mineral estate.
§ 1601.0-8 Principles.
The development, approval, maintenance, amendment and revision of resource management plans will provide for public involvement and shall be consistent with the principles described in section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Additionally, the impact on local economies and uses of adjacent or nearby non-Federal lands and on non-public land surface over federally-owned mineral interests shall be considered.
Subpart 1610—Resource Management Planning
§ 1610.1 Resource management planning guidance.
(a) Guidance for preparation and amendment of resource management plans may be provided by the Director and State Director, as needed, to help the Field Manager and staff prepare a specific plan. Such guidance may include the following:
(1) National level policy which has been established through legislation, regulations, executive orders or other Presidential, Secretarial or Director approved documents. This policy may include appropriately developed resource management commitments, such as a right-of-way corridor crossing several resource or field office areas, which are not required to be reexamined as part of the planning process.
(2) Analysis requirements, planning procedures and other written information and instructions required to be considered in the planning process.
(3) Guidance developed at the State Director level, with necessary and appropriate governmental coordination as prescribed by § 1610.3 of this title. Such guidance shall be reconsidered by the State Director at any time during the planning process that the State Director level guidance is found, through public involvement or other means, to be inappropriate when applied to a specific area being planned.
(b) A resource management plan shall be prepared and maintained on a resource or field office area basis, unless the State Director authorizes a more appropriate area.
(c) An interdisciplinary approach shall be used in the preparation, amendment and revision of resource management plans as provided in 40 CFR 1502.6. The disciplines of the preparers shall be appropriate to the values involved and the issues identified during the issue identification and environmental impact statement scoping stage of the planning process. The Field Manager may use any necessary combination of Bureau of Land Management staff, consultants, contractors, other governmental personnel, and advisors to achieve an interdisciplinary approach.
§ 1610.2 Public participation.
(a) The public shall be provided opportunities to meaningfully participate in and comment on the preparation of plans, amendments and related guidance and be given early notice of planning activities. Public involvement in the resource management planning process shall conform to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and associated implementing regulations.
(b) The Director shall, early in each fiscal year, publish a planning schedule advising the public of the status of each plan in process of preparation or to be started during that fiscal year, the major action on each plan during that fiscal year and projected new planning starts for the 3 succeeding fiscal years. The notice shall call for public comments on projected new planning starts so that such comments can be considered in refining priorities for those years.
(c) When BLM starts to prepare, amend, or revise resource management plans, we will begin the process by publishing a notice in the
(1) Description of the proposed planning action;
(2) Identification of the geographic area for which the plan is to be prepared;
(3) The general types of issues anticipated;
(4) The disciplines to be represented and used to prepare the plan;
(5) The kind and extent of public participation opportunities to be provided;
(6) The times, dates and locations scheduled or anticipated for any public meetings, hearings, conferences or other gatherings, as known at the time;
(7) The name, title, address and telephone number of the Bureau of Land Management official who may be contacted for further information; and
(8) The location and availability of documents relevant to the planning process.
(d) A list of individuals and groups known to be interested in or affected by a resource management plan shall be maintained by the Field Manager and those on the list shall be notified of public participation activities. Individuals or groups may ask to be placed on this list. Public participation activities conducted by the Bureau of Land Management shall be documented by a record or summary of the principal issues discussed and comments made.
The documentation together with a list of attendees shall be available to the public and open for 30 days to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he/she expressed.
(e) At least 15 days’ public notice shall be given for public participation activities where the public is invited to attend. Any notice requesting written comments shall provide for at least 30 calendar days for response. Ninety days shall be provided for review of the draft plan and draft environmental impact statement. The 90-day period shall begin when the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of the filing of the draft environmental impact statement in the
(f) Public notice and opportunity for participation in resource management plan preparation shall be appropriate to the areas and people involved and shall be provided at the following specific points in the planning process:
(1) General notice at the outset of the process inviting participation in the identification of issues (See §§ 1610.2(c) and 1610.4-1);
(2) Review of the proposed planning criteria (§§ 1610.4-2);
(3) Publication of the draft resource management plan and draft environmental impact statement (See § 1610.4-7);
(4) Publication of the proposed resource management plan and final environmental impact statement which triggers the opportunity for protest (See §§ 1610.4-8 and 1610.5-1(b)); and
(5) Public notice and comment on any significant change made to the plan as a result of action on a protest (See § 1610.5-1(b)).
(g) BLM will make copies of an approved resource management plan and amendments reasonably available for public review. Upon request, we will make single copies available to the public during the public participation process. After BLM approves a plan, amendment, or revision we may charge a fee for additional copies. We will also have copies available for public review at the:
(1) State Office that has jurisdiction over the lands,
(2) Field Office that prepared the plan; and
(3) District Office, if any, having jurisdiction over the Field Office that prepared the plan.
(h) Supporting documents to a resource management plan shall be available for public review at the office where the plan was prepared.
(i) Fees for reproducing requested documents beyond those used as part of the public participation activities and other than single copies of the printed plan amendment or revision may be charged according to the Department of the Interior schedule for Freedom of Information Act requests in 43 CFR part 2.
(j) When resource management plans involve areas of potential mining for coal by means other than underground mining, and the surface is privately owned, the Bureau of Land Management shall consult with all surface owners who meet the criteria in § 3400.0-5 of this title. Contact shall be made in accordance with subpart 3427 of this title and shall provide time to fully consider surface owner views. This contact may be made by mail or in person by the Field Manager or his/her appropriate representative. A period of at least 30 days from the time of contact shall be provided for surface owners to convey their preference to the Field Manager.
(k) If the plan involves potential for coal leasing, a public hearing shall be provided prior to the approval of the plan, if requested by any person having an interest which is, or may be, adversely affected by implementation of such plan. The hearing shall be conducted as prescribed in § 3420.1-5 of this title and may be combined with a regularly scheduled public meeting. The authorized officer conducting the hearing shall:
(1) Publish a notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected geographical area at least once a week for 2 consecutive weeks;
(2) Provide an opportunity for testimony by anyone who so desires; and
(3) Prepare a record of the proceedings of the hearing.
§ 1610.3 Coordination with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and Indian tribes.
§ 1610.3-1 Coordination of planning efforts.
(a) In addition to the public involvement prescribed by § 1610.2, the following coordination is to be accomplished with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes. The objectives of the coordination are for the State Directors and Field Managers to:
(1) Keep apprised of non-Bureau of Land Management plans;
(2) Assure that BLM considers those plans that are germane in the development of resource management plans for public lands;
(3) Assist in resolving, to the extent practicable, inconsistencies between Federal and non-Federal government plans;
(4) Provide for meaningful public involvement of other Federal agencies, State and local government officials, both elected and appointed, and federally recognized Indian tribes, in the development of resource management plans, including early public notice of final decisions that may have a significant impact on non-Federal lands; and
(5) Where possible and appropriate, develop resource management plans collaboratively with cooperating agencies.
(b) When developing or revising resource management plans, BLM State Directors and Field Managers will invite eligible Federal agencies, state and local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes to participate as cooperating agencies. The same requirement applies when BLM amends resource management plans through an environmental impact statement. State Directors and Field Managers will consider any requests of other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes for cooperating agency status. Field Managers who deny such requests will inform the State Director of the denial. The State Director will determine if the denial is appropriate.
(c) State Directors and Field Managers shall provide other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and Indian tribes opportunity for review, advice, and suggestion on issues and topics which may affect or influence other agency or other government programs. To facilitate coordination with State governments, State Directors should seek the policy advice of the Governor(s) on the timing, scope and coordination of plan components; definition of planning areas; scheduling of public involvement activities; and the multiple use opportunities and constraints on public lands. State Directors may seek written agreements with Governors or their designated representatives on processes and procedural topics such as exchanging information, providing advice and participation, and timeframes for receiving State government participation and review in a timely fashion. If an agreement is not reached, the State Director shall provide opportunity for Governor and State agency review, advice and suggestions on issues and topics that the State Director has reason to believe could affect or influence State government programs.
(d) In developing guidance to Field Manager, in compliance with section 1611 of this title, the State Director shall:
(1) Ensure that it is as consistent as possible with existing officially adopted and approved resource related plans, policies or programs of other Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian tribes and local governments that may be affected, as prescribed by § 1610.3-2 of this title;
(2) Identify areas where the proposed guidance is inconsistent with such policies, plans or programs and provide reasons why the inconsistencies exist and cannot be remedied; and
(3) Notify the other Federal agencies, State agencies, Indian tribes or local governments with whom consistency is not achieved and indicate any appropriate methods, procedures, actions and/or programs which the State Director believes may lead to resolution of such inconsistencies.
(e) A notice of intent to prepare, amend, or revise a resource management plan shall be submitted, consistent with State procedures for coordination of Federal activities, for circulation among State agencies. This notice shall also be submitted to Federal agencies, the heads of county boards, other local government units and Tribal Chairmen or Alaska Native Leaders that have requested such notices or that the responsible line manager has reason to believe would be concerned with the plan or amendment. These notices shall be issued simultaneously with the public notices required under § 1610.2(b) of this title.
(f) Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes shall have the time period prescribed under § 1610.2 of this title for review and comment on resource management plan proposals. Should they notify the Field Manager, in writing, of what they believe to be specific inconsistencies between the Bureau of Land Management resource management plan and their officially approved and adopted resources related plans, the resource management plan documentation shall show how those inconsistencies were addressed and, if possible, resolved.
(g) When an advisory council has been formed under section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 for the area addressed in a resource management plan or plan amendment, BLM will inform that council, seek its views, and consider them throughout the planning process.
§ 1610.3-2 Consistency requirements.
(a) Guidance and resource management plans and amendments to management framework plans shall be consistent with officially approved or adopted resource related plans, and the policies and programs contained therein, of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes, so long as the guidance and resource management plans are also consistent with the purposes, policies and programs of Federal laws and regulations applicable to public lands, including Federal and State pollution control laws as implemented by applicable Federal and State air, water, noise, and other pollution standards or implementation plans.
(b) In the absence of officially approved or adopted resource-related plans of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes, guidance and resource management plans shall, to the maximum extent practical, be consistent with officially approved and adopted resource related policies and programs of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes. Such consistency will be accomplished so long as the guidance and resource management plans are consistent with the policies, programs and provisions of Federal laws and regulations applicable to public lands, including, but not limited to, Federal and State pollution control laws as implemented by applicable Federal and State air, water, noise and other pollution standards or implementation plans.
(c) State Directors and Field Managers shall, to the extent practicable, keep apprised of State and local governmental and Indian tribal policies, plans, and programs, but they shall not be accountable for ensuring consistency if they have not been notified, in writing, by State and local governments or Indian tribes of an apparent inconsistency.
(d) Where State and local government policies, plans, and programs differ, those of the higher authority will normally be followed.
(e) Prior to the approval of a proposed resource management plan, or amendment to a management framework plan or resource management plan, the State Director shall submit to the Governor of the State(s) involved, the proposed plan or amendment and shall identify any known inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies or programs. The Governor(s) shall have 60 days in which to identify inconsistencies and provide recommendations in writing to the State Director. If the Governor(s) does not respond within the 60-day period, the plan or amendment shall be presumed to be consistent. If the written recommendation(s) of the Governor(s) recommend changes in the proposed plan or amendment which were not raised during the public participation process on that plan or amendment, the State Director shall provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the recommendation(s). If the State Director does not accept the recommendations of the Governor(s), the State Director shall notify the Governor(s) and the Governor(s) shall have 30 days in which to submit a written appeal to the Director of the Bureau of Land Management. The Director shall accept the recommendations of the Governor(s) if he/she determines that they provide for a reasonable balance between the national interest and the State’s interest. The Director shall communicate to the Governor(s) in writing and publish in the
§ 1610.4 Resource management planning process.
§ 1610.4-1 Identification of issues.
At the outset of the planning process, the public, other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes shall be given an opportunity to suggest concerns, needs, and resource use, development and protection opportunities for consideration in the preparation of the resource management plan. The Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, will analyze those suggestions and other available data, such as records of resource conditions, trends, needs, and problems, and select topics and determine the issues to be addressed during the planning process. Issues may be modified during the planning process to incorporate new information. The identification of issues shall also comply with the scoping process required by regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1501.7).
§ 1610.4-2 Development of planning criteria.
(a) The Field Manager will prepare criteria to guide development of the resource management plan or revision, to ensure:
(1) It is tailored to the issues previously identified; and
(2) That BLM avoids unnecessary data collection and analyses.
(b) Planning criteria will generally be based upon applicable law, Director and State Director guidance, the results of public participation, and coordination with any cooperating agencies and other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and federally recognized Indian tribes.
(c) BLM will make proposed planning criteria, including any significant changes, available for public comment prior to being approved by the Field Manager for use in the planning process.
(d) BLM may change planning criteria as planning proceeds if we determine that public suggestions or study and assessment findings make such changes desirable.
§ 1610.4-3 Inventory data and information collection.
The Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, will arrange for resource, environmental, social, economic and institutional data and information to be collected, or assembled if already available. New information and inventory data collection will emphasize significant issues and decisions with the greatest potential impact. Inventory data and information shall be collected in a manner that aids application in the planning process, including subsequent monitoring requirements.
§ 1610.4-4 Analysis of the management situation.
The Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, will analyze the inventory data and other information available to determine the ability of the resource area to respond to identified issues and opportunities. The analysis of the management situation shall provide, consistent with multiple use principles, the basis for formulating reasonable alternatives, including the types of resources for development or protection. Factors to be considered may include, but are not limited to:
(a) The types of resource use and protection authorized by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and other relevant legislation;
(b) Opportunities to meet goals and objectives defined in national and State Director guidance;
(c) Resource demand forecasts and analyses relevant to the resource area;
(d) The estimated sustained levels of the various goods, services and uses that may be attained under existing biological and physical conditions and under differing management practices and degrees of management intensity which are economically viable under benefit cost or cost effectiveness standards prescribed in national or State Director guidance;
(e) Specific requirements and constraints to achieve consistency with policies, plans and programs of other Federal agencies, State and local government agencies and Indian tribes;
(f) Opportunities to resolve public issues and management concerns;
(g) Degree of local dependence on resources from public lands;
(h) The extent of coal lands which may be further considered under provisions of § 3420.2-3(a) of this title; and
(i) Critical threshold levels which should be considered in the formulation of planned alternatives.
§ 1610.4-5 Formulation of alternatives.
At the direction of the Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, BLM will consider all reasonable resource management alternatives and develop several complete alternatives for detailed study. Nonetheless, the decision to designate alternatives for further development and analysis remains the exclusive responsibility of the BLM. The alternatives developed shall reflect the variety of issues and guidance applicable to the resource uses. In order to limit the total number of alternatives analyzed in detail to a manageable number for presentation and analysis, all reasonable variations shall be treated as sub-alternatives. One alternative shall be for no action, which means continuation of present level or systems of resource use. The plan shall note any alternatives identified and eliminated from detailed study and shall briefly discuss the reasons for their elimination.
§ 1610.4-6 Estimation of effects of alternatives.
The Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, will estimate and display the physical, biological, economic, and social effects of implementing each alternative considered in detail. The estimation of effects shall be guided by the planning criteria and procedures implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. The estimate may be stated in terms of probable ranges where effects cannot be precisely determined.
§ 1610.4-7 Selection of preferred alternatives.
The Field Manager, in collaboration with any cooperating agencies, will evaluate the alternatives, estimate their effects according to the planning criteria, and identify a preferred alternative that best meets Director and State Director guidance. Nonetheless, the decision to select a preferred alternative remains the exclusive responsibility of the BLM. The resulting draft resource management plan and draft environmental impact statement shall be forwarded to the State Director for approval, publication, and filing with the Environmental Protection Agency. This draft plan and environmental impact statement shall be provided for comment to the Governor of the State involved, and to officials of other Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes that the State Director has reason to believe would be concerned. This action shall constitute compliance with the requirements of § 3420.1-7 of this title.
§ 1610.4-8 Selection of resource management plan.
After publication of the draft resource management plan and draft environmental impact statement, the Field Manager shall evaluate the comments received and select and recommend to the State Director, for supervisory review and publication, a proposed resource management plan and final environmental impact statement. After supervisory review of the proposed resource management plan, the State Director shall publish the plan and file the related environmental impact statement.
§ 1610.4-9 Monitoring and evaluation.
The proposed plan shall establish intervals and standards, as appropriate, for monitoring and evaluation of the plan. Such intervals and standards shall be based on the sensitivity of the resource to the decisions involved and shall provide for evaluation to determine whether mitigation measures are satisfactory, whether there has been significant change in the related plans of other Federal agencies, State or local governments, or Indian tribes, or whether there is new data of significance to the plan. The Field Manager shall be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the plan in accordance with the established intervals and standards and at other times as appropriate to determine whether there is sufficient cause to warrant amendment or revision of the plan.
§ 1610.5 Resource management plan approval, use and modification.
§ 1610.5-1 Resource management plan approval and administrative review.
(a) The proposed resource management plan or revision shall be submitted by the Field Manager to the State Director for supervisory review and approval. When the review is completed the State Director shall either publish the proposed plan and file the related environmental impact statement or return the plan to the Field Manager with a written statement of the problems to be resolved before the proposed plan can be published.
(b) No earlier than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of the filing of the final environmental impact statement in the
§ 1610.5-2 Protest procedures.
(a) Any person who participated in the planning process and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the approval or amendment of a resource management plan may protest such approval or amendment. A protest may raise only those issues which were submitted for the record during the planning process.
(1) The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Director. The protest shall be filed within 30 days of the date the Environmental Protection Agency published the notice of receipt of the final environmental impact statement containing the plan or amendment in the
(2) The protest shall contain:
(i) The name, mailing address, telephone number and interest of the person filing the protest;
(ii) A statement of the issue or issues being protested;
(iii) A statement of the part or parts of the plan or amendment being protested;
(iv) A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues that were submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or an indication of the date the issue or issues were discussed for the record; and
(v) A concise statement explaining why the State Director’s decision is believed to be wrong.
(3) The Director shall promptly render a decision on the protest. The decision shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for the decision. The decision shall be sent to the protesting party by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(b) The decision of the Director shall be the final decision of the Department of the Interior.
§ 1610.5-3 Conformity and implementation.
(a) All future resource management authorizations and actions, as well as budget or other action proposals to higher levels in the Bureau of Land Management and Department, and subsequent more detailed or specific planning, shall conform to the approved plan.
(b) After a plan is approved or amended, and if otherwise authorized by law, regulation, contract, permit, cooperative agreement or other instrument of occupancy and use, the Field Manager shall take appropriate measures, subject to valid existing rights, to make operations and activities under existing permits, contracts, cooperative agreements or other instruments for occupancy and use, conform to the approved plan or amendment within a reasonable period of time. Any person adversely affected by a specific action being proposed to implement some portion of a resource management plan or amendment may appeal such action pursuant to 43 CFR 4.400 at the time the action is proposed for implementation.
(c) If a proposed action is not in conformance, and warrants further consideration before a plan revision is scheduled, such consideration shall be through a plan amendment in accordance with the provisions of § 1610.5-5 of this title.
(d) More detailed and site specific plans for coal, oil shale and tar sand resources shall be prepared in accordance with specific regulations for those resources: Group 3400 of this title for coal; Group 3900 of this title for oil shale; and part 3140 of this title for tar sand. These activity plans shall be in conformance with land use plans prepared and approved under the provisions of this part.
§ 1610.5-4 Maintenance.
Resource management plans and supporting components shall be maintained as necessary to reflect minor changes in data. Such maintenance is limited to further refining or documenting a previously approved decision incorporated in the plan. Maintenance shall not result in expansion in the scope of resource uses or restrictions, or change the terms, conditions, and decisions of the approved plan. Maintenance is not considered a plan amendment and shall not require the formal public involvement and interagency coordination process described under §§ 1610.2 and 1610.3 of this title or the preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Maintenance shall be documented in plans and supporting records.
§ 1610.5-5 Amendment.
A resource management plan may be changed through amendment. An amendment shall be initiated by the need to consider monitoring and evaluation findings, new data, new or revised policy, a change in circumstances or a proposed action that may result in a change in the scope of resource uses or a change in the terms, conditions and decisions of the approved plan. An amendment shall be made through an environmental assessment of the proposed change, or an environmental impact statement, if necessary, public involvement as prescribed in § 1610.2 of this title, interagency coordination and consistency determination as prescribed in § 1610.3 of this title and any other data or analysis that may be appropriate. In all cases, the effect of the amendment on the plan shall be evaluated. If the amendment is being considered in response to a specific proposal, the analysis required for the proposal and for the amendment may occur simultaneously.
(a) If the environmental assessment does not disclose significant impact, a finding of no significant impact may be made by the Field Manager. The Field Manager shall then make a recommendation on the amendment to the State Director for approval, and upon approval, the Field Manager shall issue a public notice of the action taken on the amendment. If the amendment is approved, it may be implemented 30 days after such notice.
(b) If a decision is made to prepare an environmental impact statement, the amending process shall follow the same procedure required for the preparation and approval of the plan, but consideration shall be limited to that portion of the plan being considered for amendment. If several plans are being amended simultaneously, a single environmental impact statement may be prepared to cover all amendments.
§ 1610.5-6 Revision.
A resource management plan shall be revised as necessary, based on monitoring and evaluation findings (§ 1610.4-9), new data, new or revised policy and changes in circumstances affecting the entire plan or major portions of the plan. Revisions shall comply with all of the requirements of these regulations for preparing and approving an original resource management plan.
§ 1610.5-7 Situations where action can be taken based on another agency’s plan, or a land use analysis.
These regulations authorize the preparation of a resource management plan for whatever public land interests exist in a given land area. There are situations of mixed ownership where the public land estate is under non-Federal surface, or administration of the land is shared by the Bureau of Land Management with another Federal agency. The Field Manager may use the plans or the land use analysis of other agencies when split or shared estate conditions exist in any of the following situations:
(a) Another agency’s plan (Federal, State, or local) may be used as a basis for an action only if it is comprehensive and has considered the public land interest involved in a way comparable to the manner in which it would have been considered in a resource management plan, including the opportunity for public participation.
(b) After evaluation and review, the Bureau of Land Management may adopt another agency’s plan for continued use as a resource management plan if an agreement is reached between the Bureau of Land Management and the other agency to provide for maintenance and amendment of the plan, as necessary, to comply with law and policy applicable to public lands.
(c) A land use analysis may be used to consider a coal lease when there is no Federal ownership interest in the surface or when coal resources are insufficient to justify plan preparation costs. The land use analysis process, as authorized by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act, consists of an environmental assessment or impact statement, public participation as required by § 1610.2 of this title, the consultation and consistency determinations required by § 1610.3 of this title, the protest procedure prescribed by § 1610.5-2 of this title and a decision on the coal lease proposal. A land use analysis meets the planning requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The decision to approve the land use analysis and to lease coal is made by the Departmental official who has been delegated the authority to issue coal leases.
§ 1610.6 Management decision review by Congress.
The Federal Land Policy and Management Act requires that any Bureau of Land Management management decision or action pursuant to a management decision which totally eliminates one or more principal or major uses for 2 or more years with respect to a tract of 100,000 acres or more, shall be reported by the Secretary to Congress before it can be implemented. This report shall not be required prior to approval of a resource management plan which, if fully or partially implemented, would result in such an elimination. The required report shall be submitted as the first action step in implementing that portion of a resource management plan which would require elimination of such a use.
§ 1610.7 Designation of areas.
§ 1610.7-1 Designation of areas unsuitable for surface mining.
(a)(1) The planning process is the chief process by which public land is reviewed to assess whether there are areas unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations under section 522(b) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The unsuitability criteria to be applied during the planning process are found in § 3461.1 of this title.
(2) When petitions to designate land unsuitable under section 522(c) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act are referred to the Bureau of Land Management for comment, the resource management plan, or plan amendment if available, shall be the basis for review.
(3) After a resource management plan or plan amendment is approved in which lands are assessed as unsuitable, the Field Manager shall take all necessary steps to implement the results of the unsuitability review as it applies to all or certain types of coal mining.
(b)(1) The resource management planning process is the chief process by which public lands are reviewed for designation as unsuitable for entry or leasing for mining operations for minerals and materials other than coal under section 601 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
(2) When petitions to designate lands unsuitable under section 601 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act are received by the Bureau of Land Management, the resource management plan, if available, shall be the basis for determinations for designation.
(3) After a resource management plan or plan amendment in which lands are designated unsuitable is approved, the Field Manager shall take all necessary steps to implement the results of the unsuitability review as it applies to minerals or materials other than coal.
§ 1610.7-2 Designation of areas of critical environmental concern.
(a) An area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) designation is the principal BLM designation for public lands where special management is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values; fish or wildlife resources; or natural systems or processes or to protect life and safety from natural hazards. The BLM designates ACECs when issuing a decision to approve a resource management plan, plan revision, or plan amendment. ACECs shall be managed to protect the relevant and important values for which they are designated.
(b) In the land use planning process, authorized officers must identify, evaluate, and give priority to areas that have potential for designation and management as ACECs. Identification, evaluation, and priority management of ACECs shall be considered during the development and revision of resource management plans and during amendments to resource management plans when such action falls within the scope of the amendment (see §§ 1610.4-1 through 1610.4-9). Proposed and existing ACECs that will be addressed by a resource management plan, plan revision, or plan amendment will be identified in all public notices required by this part (see, e.g., § 1610.2).
(c) The authorized officer must facilitate the identification of eligible ACECs early in the land use planning process by:
(1) Analyzing inventory, assessment, and monitoring data to determine whether there are areas containing important historic, cultural, or scenic values; fish or wildlife resources; natural systems or processes; or natural hazards potentially impacting life and safety that are eligible for designation;
(2) Reevaluating existing ACECs in order to determine if the relevant and important values are still present and special management attention is still necessary; and
(3) Seeking nominations for ACECs, during public scoping, from the public, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and other Federal agencies (see §§ 1610.2(c), 1602.5(b)(4) through (6)).
(d) To be designated as an ACEC, an area must meet the following criteria:
(1) Relevance. The area contains important historic, cultural, or scenic values; fish or wildlife resources; natural systems or processes; or natural hazards potentially impacting life and safety.
(2) Importance. A historic, cultural, or scenic value; a fish or wildlife resource; a natural system or process; or a natural hazard potentially impacting life and safety has importance if it has qualities of special worth, consequence, meaning, distinctiveness, or cause for concern; national or more than local importance, subsistence value, or regional contribution of a resource, value, system, or process; or contributes to ecosystem resilience, landscape intactness, or habitat connectivity. A natural hazard can be important if it is a significant threat to human life and safety.
(3) Special management attention. The important historic, cultural, or scenic values; fish or wildlife resources; natural systems or processes; or natural hazards potentially impacting life and safety require special management attention. “Special management attention” means management prescriptions that:
(i) Protect and prevent irreparable damage to the relevant and important values, or that protect life and safety from natural hazards; and
(ii) Would not be prescribed if the relevant and important values were not present. In this context, “irreparable damage” means harm to a value, resource, system, or process that substantially diminishes the relevance or importance of that value, resource, system, or process in such a way that recovery of the value, resource, system, or process to the extent necessary to restore its prior relevance or importance is impossible.
(e) The authorized officer may designate an ACEC research natural area if the area:
(1) Meets all of the criteria identified in § 1610.7-2(d)(1) through (3); and
(2) Is consistent with one or more of the primary purposes found at § 8223.0-5 of this chapter. A designated ACEC research natural area will be subject to the use restrictions at § 8223.1 of this title in addition to the special management attention prescribed by the authorized officer through land use planning.
(f) The boundaries of proposed ACECs shall be identified for public lands, as appropriate, to encompass the relevant and important values and geographic extent of the special management attention needed to provide protection.
(g) During a planning process, the planning documents must analyze in detail any proposed ACEC that has relevant and important values. Where the BLM has received ACEC proposals that do not have relevant and important values, the agency is not required to review those proposals in detail in planning documents. Through land use planning, the BLM will evaluate the need for special management attention to protect the relevant and important values, which could include other allocations and designations being considered, in order to provide for informed decision-making on the trade-offs associated with ACEC designation.
(h) The approved resource management plan, plan revision, or plan amendment shall list all designated ACECs, identify their relevant and important values, and include the special management attention, including management prescriptions for other uses, identified for each designated ACEC.
(i) ACEC nominations typically should be evaluated during a planning process. If a nomination for an ACEC is received outside of the planning process, the following provisions apply.
(1) The State Director will evaluate whether the relevant, important, and special management criteria identified in paragraph (d) of this section are met. The State Director will determine the appropriate time to complete this analysis. If the criteria identified in paragraph (d) of this section are met, then the State Director shall, at their discretion, either:
(i) Initiate a land use planning process; or
(ii) Provide temporary management consistent with the applicable resource management plan to protect the relevant and important values from irreparable damage. Any temporary management that is implemented would be in effect until the BLM either completes a land use planning process to determine whether to designate the area as an ACEC or, through periodic evaluation, finds designation is no longer necessary. The BLM will publish a public notice if temporary management is implemented.
(2) The State Director may defer evaluating the nomination to an upcoming planning process.
(j) The State Director shall:
(1) Determine which ACECs to designate based on:
(i) The presumption that all areas found to require special management attention will be designated;
(ii) The value of other resource uses in the area;
(iii) The feasibility of managing the designation; and
(iv) The relationship to other types of designations and protective management available.
(2) In the decision document for the resource management plan or plan amendment, provide a justification and rationale for both ACEC designation decisions and decisions not to designate a proposed ACEC.
(3) Administer designated ACECs in a manner that conserves, protects, and enhances the relevant and important values and only allow casual use or uses that will ensure the protection of the relevant and important values. This paragraph (j)(3) does not apply to those ACECs designated for natural hazards potentially impacting life and safety.
(4) Prioritize acquisition of inholdings within ACECs and adjacent or connecting lands identified as holding relevant and important values related to the designated ACEC.
(k) The State Director, through the land use planning process, may remove the designation of an ACEC, in whole or in part, only when:
(1) The State Director finds that special management attention is not needed because another legally enforceable mechanism provides an equal or greater level of protection; or
(2) The State Director finds that the relevant and important values are no longer present, cannot be recovered, or have recovered to the point where special management is no longer necessary. The findings must be supported by data or documented changes on the ground.
(l) As used in this section, the terms casual use, conservation, ecosystem resilience, intactness, landscape, monitoring, protection, and restoration have the same meanings as in § 6101.4 of this chapter.
§ 1610.8 Transition period.
(a) Until superseded by resource management plans, management framework plans may be the basis for considering proposed actions as follows:
(1) The management framework plan shall be in compliance with the principle of multiple use and sustained yield and shall have been developed with public participation and governmental coordination, but not necessarily precisely as prescribed in §§ 1610.2 and 1610.3 of this title.
(2) No sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of the filing of a final court-ordered environmental impact statement—which is based on a management framework plan—proposed actions may be initiated without any further analysis or processes included in this subpart.
(3) For proposed actions other than those described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, determination shall be made by the Field Manager whether the proposed action is in conformance with the management framework plan. Such determination shall be in writing and shall explain the reasons for the determination.
(i) If the proposed action is in conformance, it may be further considered for decision under procedures applicable to that type of action, including requirements of regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.
(ii) If the proposed action is not in conformance with the management framework plan, and if the proposed action warrants further favorable consideration before a resource management plan is scheduled for preparation, such consideration shall be through a management framework plan amendment using the provisions of § 1610.5-5 of this title.
(b)(1) If an action is proposed where public lands are not covered by a management framework plan or a resource management plan, an environmental assessment and an environmental impact statement, if necessary, plus any other data and analysis necessary to make an informed decision, shall be used to assess the impacts of the proposal and to provide a basis for a decision on the proposal.
(2) A land disposal action may be considered before a resource management plan is scheduled for preparation, through a planning analysis, using the process described in § 1610.5-5 of this title for amending a plan.
PART 1780—COOPERATIVE RELATIONS
Subpart 1784—Advisory Committees
§ 1784.0-1 Purpose.
This subpart contains standards and procedures for the creation, operation and termination of advisory committees to advise the Secretary of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management on matters relating to public lands and resources under the administrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
§ 1784.0-2 Objectives.
The objective of advisory committees established under these regulations is to make available to the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management the expert counsel of concerned, knowledgeable citizens and public officials regarding both the formulation of operating guidelines and the preparation and execution of plans and programs for the use and management of public lands, their natural and cultural resources, and the environment.
§ 1784.0-3 Authority.
(a) The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1) requires establishment of a system governing advisory committees in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government and specifies policies, procedures, and responsibilities for committee creation, management and termination.
(b) The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), as amended by the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), requires establishment of advisory councils representative of major citizen interests concerned with resource management planning or the management of public lands.
(c) Section 2 of the Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended; 64 Stat. 1262), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make provisions deemed appropriate authorizing the performance by any other officer, or by any agency or employee or the Department of the Interior of any Departmental function. The establishment of advisory committees is deemed an appropriate action.
§ 1784.0-4 [Reserved]
§ 1784.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(a) Advisory committee means any committee, council, or board established or utilized for purposes of obtaining advice or recommendations.
(b) Secretary means Secretary of the Interior.
(c) Director means the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
(d) Designated Federal officer means the Federal officer or employee designated by an advisory committee charter who approves meeting agendas and attends all meetings of the committee and its subcommittees, if any.
(e) Public lands means any lands and interest in lands owned by the United States administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, except:
(1) Lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf; and
(2) Lands held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos.
§ 1784.0-6 Policy.
As part of the Department’s program for public participation, it is the policy of the Secretary to establish and employ committees representative of major citizens’ interests, or where required by law, of special citizen interests, to advise the Secretary and Director regarding policy formulation, program planning, decisionmaking, attainment of program objectives, and achievement of improved program coordination and economies in the management of public lands and resources; to regularly ensure that such committees are being optimally employed; and to limit the number of advisory committees to that essential to the conduct of the public’s business.
§ 1784.1 Establishment, duration, termination, and renewal.
§ 1784.1-1 Establishment.
(a) An advisory committee required by statute is established or renewed upon the filing of a charter, signed by the Secretary, with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives.
(b) An advisory committee not specifically required by statute shall be established only when the Secretary has—
(1) Determined as a matter of formal record, after consultation with the General Services Administration, that establishment of the committee is in the public interest in connection with duties required of the Department of the Interior by law;
(2) Signed and filed the committee charter; and
(3) Published in the
(c) An advisory committee shall not meet or take any action until the Committee’s charter has been signed by the Secretary and copies filed with the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Library of Congress.
§ 1784.1-2 Duration, termination, and renewal.
(a) An advisory committee not mandated by statute, i.e., established at the discretion of the Secretary, shall terminate not later than 2 years after its establishment unless, prior to that time, it is rechartered by the Secretary and copies of the new charter are filed with the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives. Any committee so renewed shall continue for not more than 2 additional years unless, prior to expiration of such period, it is again rechartered.
(b) Any advisory committee mandated by statute shall terminate not later than 2 years after the date of its establishment unless its duration is otherwise provided by law. Upon the expiration of each successive two-year period following date of establishment, a new charter shall be prepared and, after Secretarial approval, filed with the appropriate committees of the Senate and House of Representatives for any statutory advisory committee being continued.
§ 1784.2 Composition, avoidance of conflict of interest.
§ 1784.2-1 Composition.
(a) Each advisory committee shall be structured to provide fair membership balance, both geographic and interest-specific, in terms of the functions to be performed and points of view to be represented, as prescribed by its charter. Each shall be formed with the objective of providing representative counsel and advice about public land and resource planning, retention, management and disposal. No person is to be denied an opportunity to serve because of race, age, sex, religion or national origin.
(b) Individuals shall qualify to serve on an advisory committee because their education, training, or experience enables them to give informed and objective advice regarding an industry, discipline, or interest specified in the committee’s charter; they have demonstrated experience or knowledge of the geographical area under the purview of the advisory committee; and they have demonstrated a commitment to collaborate in seeking solutions to resource management issues.
§ 1784.2-2 Avoidance of conflict of interest.
(a) Persons or employees of organizations who hold leases, licenses, permits, contracts or claims which involve lands or resources administered by the Bureau of Land Management normally shall not serve on advisory committees except—
(1) Holders of grazing permits and leases may serve on advisory committees, including resource advisory councils, and may serve on subgroups of such advisory councils;
(2) That the lack of candidates make them the only available candidates; or
(3) When they have special knowledge or experience which is needed to accomplish the committee functions to be performed.
(b) No advisory committee members, including members of resource advisory councils, and no members of subgroups of such advisory committees, shall participate in any matter in which the members have a direct interest.
(c) Members of advisory committees shall be required to disclose their direct or indirect interest in leases, licenses, permits, contracts, or claims and related litigation which involve lands or resources administered by the Bureau of Land Management. For the purposes of this paragraph, indirect interest includes holdings of a spouse or a dependent child.
§ 1784.3 Member service.
(a) Appointments to advisory committees shall be for 2-year terms unless otherwise specified in the charter or the appointing document. Terms of service normally coincide with duration of the committee charter. Members may be appointed to additional terms at the discretion of the authorized appointing official.
(1) The term of the member of a council who has been appointed on the basis of his status as an elected official of general purpose government serving the people of the geographical area for which the council is established shall end upon that person’s departure from such elective office if such departure occurs before his or her term of appointment or reappointment to the council would otherwise expire. However, the Secretary, in his discretion, may permit the member to complete the term in another vacant position on the council, provided that the member is qualified to represent one of the other categories of major citizens’ interests set forth in the charter of the council;
(2) A vacancy occurring by reason of removal, resignation, death, or departure from elective office shall be filled for the balance of the vacating member’s term using the same method by which the original appointment was made;
(b) Committee members advise and report only to the official(s) specified in the charter. Service as an advisor, however, does not limit the rights of a member acting as a private citizen or as a member or official of another organization.
(c) The Secretary or the designated Federal officer may, after written notice, terminate the service of an advisor if, in the judgment of the Secretary or the designated Federal officer, such removal is in the public interest, or if the advisor—
(1) No longer meets the requirements under which elected or appointed;
(2) Fails or is unable to participate regularly in committee work; or
(3) Has violated Federal law or the regulations of the Secretary.
(d) For purposes of compensation, members of advisory committees shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses when on advisory committee business, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703. No reimbursement shall be made for expenses incurred by members of subgroups selected by established committees, except that the designated Federal officer may reimburse travel and per diem expenses to members of subgroups who are also members of the parent committee.
§ 1784.4 Public participation.
§ 1784.4-1 Calls for nominations.
Except where otherwise provided, candidates for appointment to advisory committees are sought through public calls for public nominations. Such calls shall be published in the
§ 1784.4-2 Notice of meetings.
(a) Notices of meetings of advisory committees and any subcommittees that may be formed shall be published in the
(b) Notices shall set forth meeting locations, topics or issues to be discussed, and times and places for the public to be heard.
§ 1784.4-3 Open meetings.
(a) All advisory committee and subcommittee meetings and associated field examinations shall be open to the public and news media.
(b) Anyone may appear before or file a statement with a committee or subcommittee regarding matters on a meeting agenda.
(c) The scheduling of meetings and the preparation of agendas shall be done in a manner that will encourage and facilitate public attendance and participation. The amount of time scheduled for public presentations and meeting times may be extended when the authorized representative considers it necessary to accommodate all who seek to be heard regarding matters on the agenda.
§ 1784.5 Operating procedures.
§ 1784.5-1 Functions.
The function of an advisory committee is solely advisory, and recommendations shall be made only to the authorized representative specified in its charter. Determinations of actions to be taken on the reports and recommendations of a committee shall be made only by the Secretary or the designated Federal officer.
§ 1784.5-2 Meetings.
(a) Advisory committees shall meet only at the call of the Secretary or the designated Federal officer.
(b) No meeting shall be held in the absence of the Secretary or the designated Federal officer.
(c) Each meeting shall be conducted with close adherence to an agenda which has been approved in advance by the authorized representative.
(d) The authorized representative may adjourn an advisory committee meeting at any time when—
(1) Continuance would be inconsistent with either the purpose for which the meeting was called or the established rules for its conduct; or
(2) Adjournment is determined to be in the public interest.
§ 1784.5-3 Records.
(a) Detailed records shall be kept of each meeting of an advisory committee and any subcommittees that may be formed. These records shall include as a minimum—
(1) The time and place of the meeting;
(2) Copies of the
(3) A list of advisors and Department or Bureau employees present;
(4) A list of members of the public present and who each represented;
(5) The meeting agenda;
(6) A complete and accurate summary description of matters discussed and conclusions reached;
(7) A list of recommendations made by the advisory committee;
(8) Copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Committee or subcommittee; and
(9) A description of the nature of public participation. The Chairperson of the advisory committee shall certify to the accuracy of meeting records.
(b) All records, reports, transcripts, minutes, recommendations, studies, working papers, and other documents prepared by or submitted to an advisory committee shall be available for public inspection and copying in the Bureau of Land Management office responsible for support of that committee. Upon request, copies shall be provided at the cost of duplication as established by the regulations in 43 CFR part 2 (Appendix A).
§ 1784.6 Membership and functions of resource advisory councils and sub-groups.
§ 1784.6-1 Resource advisory councils—requirements.
(a) Resource advisory councils shall be established to cover all lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, except where—
(1) There is insufficient interest in participation to ensure that membership can be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed; or
(2) The location of the public lands with respect to the population of users and other interested parties precludes effective participation.
(b) A resource advisory council advises the Bureau of Land Management official to whom it reports regarding the preparation, amendment and implementation of land use plans for public lands and resources within its area. Except for the purposes of long-range planning and the establishment of resource management priorities, a resource advisory council shall not provide advice on the allocation and expenditure of funds. A resource advisory council shall not provide advice regarding personnel actions.
(c) The Secretary shall appoint the members of each resource advisory council. The Secretary shall appoint at least 1 elected official of general purpose government serving the people of the area to each council. An individual may not serve concurrently on more than 1 resource advisory council. Council members and members of a rangeland resource team or other local general purpose subgroup must reside in 1 of the States within the geographic jurisdiction of the council or subgroup, respectively. Council members and members of general purpose subgroups shall be representative of the interests of the following 3 general groups:
(1) Persons who—
(i) Hold Federal grazing permits or leases within the area for which the council is organized;
(ii) Represent interests associated with transportation or rights-of-way;
(iii) Represent developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
(iv) Represent the commercial timber industry; or
(v) Represent energy and mineral development.
(2) Persons representing—
(i) Nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations;
(ii) Dispersed recreational activities;
(iii) Archeological and historical interests; or
(iv) Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups.
(3) Persons who—
(i) Hold State, county or local elected office;
(ii) Are employed by a State agency responsible for management of natural resources, land, or water;
(iii) Represent Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the council is organized;
(iv) Are employed as academicians in natural resource management or the natural sciences; or
(v) Represent the affected public-at-large.
(d) In appointing members of a resource advisory council from the 3 categories set forth in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this section, the Secretary shall provide for balanced and broad representation from within each category.
(e) In making appointments to resource advisory councils the Secretary shall consider nominations made by the Governor of the State or States affected and nominations received in response to public calls for nominations pursuant to § 1784.4-1. Persons interested in serving on resource advisory councils may nominate themselves. All nominations shall be accompanied by letters of reference from interests or organizations to be represented.
(f) Persons appointed to resource advisory councils shall attend a course of instruction in the management of rangeland ecosystems that has been approved by the Bureau of Land Management State Director.
(g) A resource advisory council shall meet at the call of the designated Federal officer and elect its own officers. The designated Federal officer shall attend all meetings of the council.
(h) Council charters must include rules defining a quorum and establishing procedures for sending recommendations forward to BLM. A quorum of council members must be present to constitute an official meeting of the council. Formal recommendations shall require agreement of at least a majority of each of the 3 categories of interest from which appointments are made.
(i) Where the resource advisory council becomes concerned that its advice is being arbitrarily disregarded, the council may request that the Secretary respond directly to such concerns within 60 days of receipt. Such a request can be made only upon the agreement of all council members. The Secretary’s response shall not constitute a decision on the merits of any issue that is or might become the subject of an administrative appeal, and shall not be appealable.
(j) Administrative support for a resource advisory council shall be provided by the office of the designated Federal officer.
§ 1784.6-2 Resource advisory councils—optional features.
(a) Resource advisory councils must be established consistent with any 1 of the 3 models in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3) of this section. The model type and boundaries for resource advisory councils shall be established by the BLM State Director(s) in consultation with the Governors of the affected States and other interested parties.
(i) Council jurisdiction. The geographic jurisdiction of a council shall coincide with BLM District or ecoregion boundaries. The Governor of the affected States or existing resource advisory councils may petition the Secretary to establish a resource advisory council for a specified Bureau of Land Management resource area. The councils will provide advice to the Bureau of Land Management official to whom they report regarding the preparation, amendment and implementation of land use plans. The councils will also assist in establishing other long-range plans and resource management priorities in an advisory capacity, including providing advice on the development of plans for range improvement or development programs.
(ii) Membership. Each council shall have 15 members, distributed equally among the 3 interest groups specified in § 1784.6-1(c).
(iii) Quorum and voting requirements. At least 3 council members from each of the 3 categories of interest from which appointments are made pursuant to § 1784.6-1(c) must be present to constitute an official meeting of the council. Formal recommendations shall require agreement of at least 3 council members from each of the 3 categories of interest from which appointments are made.
(iv) Subgroups. Local rangeland resource teams may be formed within the geographical area for which a resource advisory council provides advice, down to the level of a single allotment. These teams may be formed by a resource advisory council on its own motion or in response to a petition by local citizens. Rangeland resource teams will be formed for the purpose of providing local level input to the resource advisory council regarding issues pertaining to the administration of grazing on public land within the area for which the rangeland resource team is formed.
(A) Rangeland resource teams will consist of 5 members selected by the resource advisory council. Membership will include 2 persons holding Federal grazing permits or leases. Additional members will include 1 person representing the public-at-large, 1 person representing a nationally or regionally recognized environmental organization, and 1 person representing national, regional, or local wildlife or recreation interests. Persons selected by the council to represent the public-at-large, environmental, and wildlife or recreation interests may not hold Federal grazing permits or leases. At least 1 member must be selected from the membership of the resource advisory council.
(B) The resource advisory council will be required to select rangeland resource team members from nominees who qualify by virtue of their knowledge or experience of the lands, resources, and communities that fall within the area for which the team is formed. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of recommendation from the groups or interests to be represented.
(C) All members of rangeland resource teams will attend a course of instruction in the management of rangeland ecosystems that has been approved by the BLM State Director. Rangeland resource teams will have opportunities to raise any matter of concern with the resource advisory council and to request that BLM form a technical review team, as described below, to provide information and options to the council for their consideration.
(D) Technical review teams can be formed by the BLM authorized officer on the motion of BLM or in response to a request by the resource advisory council or a rangeland resource team. The purpose of such teams is to gather and analyze data and develop recommendations to aid the decisionmaking process, and functions will be limited to tasks assigned by the authorized officer. Membership will be limited to Federal employees and paid consultants. Members will be selected based upon their knowledge of resource management or their familiarity with the specific issues for which the technical review team has been formed. Technical review teams will terminate upon completion of the assigned task.
(i) Council jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the council shall be Statewide, or on an ecoregion basis. The purpose of the council is to promote federal, state, and local cooperation in the management of natural resources on public lands, and to coordinate the development of sound resource management plans and activities with other states. It will provide an opportunity for meaningful public participation in land management decisions at the state level and will foster conflict resolution through open dialogue and collaboration.
(ii) Membership. The council shall have 15 members, distributed equally among the 3 interest groups specified in § 1784.6-1(c), and will include at least one representative from wildlife interest groups, grazing interests, minerals and energy interests, and established environmental/conservation interests. The Governor shall chair the council.
(iii) Quorum and voting requirements. The charter of the council shall specify that 80% or 12 members must be present to constitute a quorum and conduct official business, and that 80% or 12 members of the council must vote affirmatively to refer an issue to BLM Federal officer.
(iv) Subgroups. Local rangeland resource teams may be formed by the Statewide council, down to the level of a 4th order watershed. Rangeland resource teams will be formed for the purpose of providing local level input to the resource advisory council. They will meet at least quarterly and will promote a decentralized administrative approach, encourage good stewardship, emphasize coordination and cooperation among agencies, permittees and the interested public, develop proposed solutions and management plans for local resources on public lands, promote renewable rangeland resource values, develop proposed standards to address sustainable resource uses and rangeland health, address renewable rangeland resource values, propose and participate in the development of area-specific National Environmental Policy Act documents, and develop range and wildlife education and training programs. As with the resource advisory council, an 80% affirmative vote will be required to send a recommendation to the resource advisory council.
(A) Rangeland resource teams will not exceed 10 members and will include at least 2 persons from environmental or wildlife groups, 2 grazing permittees, 1 elected official, 1 game and fish district representative, 2 members of the public or other interest groups, and a Federal officer from BLM. Members will be appointed for 2 year terms by the resource advisory council and may be reappointed. No member may serve on more than 1 rangeland resource team.
(B) Technical review teams can be formed by the BLM authorized officer on the motion of BLM or in response to a request by the resource advisory council or a rangeland resource team. The purpose of such teams is to gather and analyze data and develop recommendations to aid the decisionmaking process, and functions will be limited to tasks assigned by the authorized officer. Membership will be limited to Federal employees and paid consultants. Members will be selected based upon their knowledge of resource management or their familiarity with the specific issues for which the technical review team has been formed. Technical review teams will terminate upon completion of the assigned task.
(i) Council jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the council shall be on the basis of ecoregion, State, or BLM district boundaries.
(ii) Membership. Membership of the council shall be 10 to 15 members, distributed in a balanced fashion among the 3 interest groups defined in § 1784.6-1(c).
(iii) Quorum and voting requirements. The charter of each council shall specify that a majority of each interest group must be present to constitute a quorum and conduct official business, and that a majority of each interest group must vote affirmatively to refer an issue to BLM Federal officer.
(iv) Subgroups. Resource advisory councils may form more local teams to provide general local level input to the resource advisory council on issues necessary to the successful functioning of the council. Such subgroups can be formed in response to a petition from local citizens or on the motion of the resource advisory council. Membership in any subgroup formed for the purpose of providing general input to the resource advisory council on grazing administration should be constituted in accordance with provisions for membership in § 1784.6-1(c).
(A) Technical review teams can be formed by the BLM authorized officer on the motion of BLM or in response to a request by the resource advisory council or a local team. The purpose of such technical review teams is to gather and analyze data and develop recommendations to aid the decisionmaking process, and functions will be limited to tasks assigned by the authorized officer. Membership will be limited to Federal employees and paid consultants. Members will be selected based upon their knowledge of resource management or their familiarity with the specific issues for which the technical review team has been formed. Technical review teams will terminate upon completion of the assigned task.
(B) [Reserved]
PART 1810—INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL GUIDANCE
Subpart 1810—General Rules
§ 1810.1 Rules of construction; words and phrases.
Except where the context of the regulation or of the Act of the Congress on which it is based, indicates otherwise, when used in the regulations of this chapter:
(a) Words importing the singular include and apply to the plural also;
(b) Words importing the plural include the singular;
(c) Words importing the masculine gender include the feminine as well;
(d) Words used in the present tense include the future as well as the present;
(e) The words person and whoever include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals;
(f) Officer and authorized officer include any person authorized by law or by lawful delegation of authority to perform the duties described;
(g) Signature or subscription includes a mark when the person making the same intended it as such;
(h) Oath includes affirmation, and sworn includes affirmed;
(i) Writing includes printing and typewriting as well as holographs, and copies include all types of reproductions on paper, including photographs, multigraphs, mimeographs and manifolds;
(j) The word company or association, when used in reference to a corporation, shall be deemed to embrace the words successors and assigns of such company or association, in like manner as if these last-named words, or words of similar import, were expressed.
§ 1810.2 Communications by mail; when mailing requirements are met.
(a) Where the regulations in this chapter provide for communication by mail by the authorized officer, the requirement for mailing is met when the communication, addressed to the addressee at his last address of record in the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management, is deposited in the mail.
(b) Where the authorized officer uses the mails to send a notice or other communication to any person entitled to such a communication under the regulations of this chapter, that person will be deemed to have received the communication if it was delivered to his last address of record in the appropriate office of the Bureau of Land Management, regardless of whether it was in fact received by him. An offer of delivery which cannot be consummated at such last address of record because the addressee had moved therefrom without leaving a forwarding address or because delivery was refused or because no such address exists will meet the requirements of this section where the attempt to deliver is substantiated by post office authorities.
(a) The authority of the United States to enforce a public right or protect a public interest is not vitiated or lost by acquiescence of its officers or agents, or by their laches, neglect of duty, failure to act, or delays in the performance of their duties.
(b) The United States is not bound or estopped by the acts of its officers or agents when they enter into an arrangement or agreement to do or cause to be done what the law does not sanction or permit.
(c) Reliance upon information or opinion of any officer, agent or employee or on records maintained by land offices cannot operate to vest any right not authorized by law.
§ 1810.4 Information required by forms.
Whenever a regulation in this chapter requires a form approved or prescribed by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, the Director may in that form require the submission of any information which he considers to be necessary for the effective administration of that regulation.
Subpart 1812—Qualifications of Practitioners
§ 1812.1 General.
§ 1812.1-1 Regulations governing practice before the Department.
Every individual who wishes to practice before the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau, must comply with the requirements of part 1 of this title.
§ 1812.1-2 Inquiries.
No person other than officers or employees of the Department of the Interior shall direct any inquiry to any employee of the Bureau with respect to any matter pending before it other than to the head of the unit in which the matter is pending, to a superior officer, or to an employee of the unit authorized by the unit head to answer inquiries.
Subpart 1815—Disaster Relief
§ 1815.0-3 Authority.
Disaster Relief Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1744).
§ 1815.0-5 Definitions.
Major disaster means any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, winddriven water, tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, or other catastrophe in any part of the United States, which, in the determination of the President, is or threatens to be of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant disaster assistance by the Federal Government to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby, and with respect to which the Governor of any State in which such catastrophe occurs or threatens to occur certifies the need for Federal disaster assistance and gives assurance of the expenditure of a reasonable amount of the funds of such State, its local governments, or other agencies for alleviating the damage, loss, hardship or suffering resulting from such catastrophe.
§ 1815.1 Timber sale contracts.
§ 1815.1-1 Relief granted.
(a) Where an existing timber sale contract does not provide relief to the timber purchaser from major physical change, not due to negligence of the purchaser, prior to approval of construction of any section of specified road or other specified development facility and, as a result of a major disaster, a major physical change results in additional construction work in connection therewith, the United States will bear a share of the increased construction costs. The United States’ share will be determined by the authorized officer as follows:
(1) For sales of less than 1 million board feet, costs over $1,000;
(2) For sales of from 1 to 3 million board feet, costs over the sum of $1 per thousand board feet;
(3) For sales of over 3 million board feet, costs over $3,000.
(b) Where the authorized officer determines that the damages caused by such major physical change are so great that restoration, reconstruction, or construction is not practical under this cost-sharing arrangement, he may cancel the timber sale contract notwithstanding any provisions thereof.
§ 1815.1-2 Applications.
(a) Place of filing. The application for relief shall be filed in the office which issued the contract.
(b) Form of application. No special form of application is necessary.
(c) Contents of application. (1) The date of issuance of the contract and any identification number.
(2) The particular disaster and its effect upon contract performance.
(3) An estimate of the damages suffered.
(4) A statement of the relief requested.
(5) An estimate of time which will be needed to overcome the delay in performance caused by the disaster.
PART 1820—APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Subpart 1821—General Information
§ 1821.10 Where are BLM offices located?
(a) In addition to the Headquarters Office in Washington, D.C. and seven national level support and service centers, BLM operates 12 State Offices each having several subsidiary offices called Field Offices. The addresses of the State Offices and their respective geographical areas of jurisdiction are as follows:
(b) A list of the names, addresses, and geographical areas of jurisdiction of all Field Offices of the Bureau of Land Management can be obtained at the above addresses or any office of the Bureau of Land Management, including the Washington Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.
§ 1821.11 During what hours may I file an application?
You may file applications or other documents or inspect official records during BLM office hours. Each BLM office will prominently display a notice of the hours during which that particular office will be open. Except for offices which are open periodically, for example, every Wednesday or the 3rd Wednesday of the month, all offices will be open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, at least from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., local time.
§ 1821.12 Are these the only regulations that will apply to my application or other required document?
No. These general regulations are supplemented by specific program regulations. You should consult the regulations applying to the specific program.
§ 1821.13 What if the specific program regulations conflict with these regulations?
If there is a conflict, the specific program regulations will govern and the conflicting portion of these regulations will not apply.
Subpart 1822—Filing a Document with BLM
§ 1822.10 How should my name appear on applications and other required documents that I submit to BLM?
Your legal name and current address should appear on your application and other required documents.
§ 1822.11 What must I do to make an official filing with BLM?
You must file your application and any other required documents during regular office hours at the appropriate BLM office having jurisdiction over the lands or records involved. You must file any document with BLM through personal delivery or by mailing via the United States Postal Service or other delivery service, except for those applications that may be filed electronically under § 1822.13, unless a more specific regulation or law specifies the mode of delivery. The date of mailing is not the date of filing.
§ 1822.12 Where do I file my application or other required documents?
You should file your application or other required documents at the BLM office having jurisdiction over the lands or records involved. The specific BLM office where you are to file your application is usually referenced in the BLM regulations which pertain to the filing you are making. If the regulations do not name the specific office, or if you have questions as to where you should file your application or other required documents, contact your local BLM office for information and we will tell you which BLM office to file your application.
§ 1822.13 May I file electronically?
For certain types of applications, BLM will accept your electronic filing if an original signature is not required. If BLM requires your signature, you must file your application or document by delivery or by mailing. If you have any questions regarding which types of applications can be electronically filed, you should check with the BLM office where you intend to file your application. When you file an application electronically, it will not be considered filed until BLM receives it.
§ 1822.14 What if I try to file a required document on the last day of the stated period for filing, but the BLM office where it is to be filed is officially closed all day?
BLM considers the document timely filed if we receive it in the office on the next day it is officially open.
§ 1822.15 If I miss filing a required document or payment within the specified period, can BLM consider it timely filed anyway?
BLM may consider it timely filed if:
(a) The law does not prohibit BLM from doing so;
(b) No other BLM regulation prohibits doing so; and
(c) No intervening third party interests or rights have been created or established during the intervening period.
§ 1822.16 Where do I file an application that involves lands under the jurisdiction of more than one BLM State Office?
You may file your application with any BLM State Office having jurisdiction over the subject lands. You should consult the regulations of the particular BLM resource program involved for more specific information.
§ 1822.17 When are documents considered filed simultaneously?
(a) BLM considers two or more documents simultaneously filed when:
(1) They are received at the appropriate BLM office on the same day and time; or
(2) They are filed in conjunction with an order that specifies that documents received by the appropriate office during a specified period of time will be considered as simultaneously filed.
(b) An application or document that arrives at the BLM office where it is to be filed when the office is closed for the entire day will be considered as filed on the day and hour the office next officially opens.
(c) Nothing in this provision will deny any preference right granted by applicable law or regulation or validate a document which is invalid under applicable law or regulation.
§ 1822.18 How does BLM decide in which order to accept documents that are simultaneously filed?
BLM makes this decision by a drawing open to the public.
Subpart 1823—Payments and Refunds
§ 1823.10 How may I make my payments to BLM?
Unless specific regulations provide otherwise, you may pay by:
(a) United States currency; or
(b) Checks, money orders, or bank drafts made payable to the Bureau of Land Management; or
(c) Visa or Master Card credit charge, except as specified by pertinent regulation(s).
BLM can issue you a refund under the authority of section 304(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, 43 U.S.C. 1734.
§ 1823.12 When and how may I obtain a refund?
(a) In making a payment to BLM, if the funds or fees you submitted to BLM exceed the amount required or if the regulations provide that fees submitted to BLM must be returned in certain situations, you may be entitled to a full or partial refund.
(b) If you believe you are due a refund, you may request it from the BLM office where you previously submitted your payment. You should state the reasons you believe you are entitled to a refund and include a copy of the appropriate receipt, canceled check, or other relevant documents.
§ 1823.13 Is additional documentation needed when a third party requests a refund?
Yes. When refund requests are made by heirs, executors, administrators, assignees, or mortgagees, BLM may require additional documentation sufficient to establish your entitlement to a refund. If you are an heir, executor, administrator, assignee or mortgagee, you should contact the BLM office where you will file your refund application for information regarding appropriate documentation.
Subpart 1824—Publication and posting of notices
§ 1824.10 What is publication?
Publication means publishing a notice announcing an event or a proposed action in the
§ 1824.11 How does BLM choose a newspaper in which to publish a notice?
BLM bases its choice of newspapers on their reputation and frequency and level of circulation in the vicinity of the public or private lands involved.
§ 1824.12 How many times must BLM publish a notice?
The number of times that BLM will publish or cause to be published a notice depends on the publication requirements for the particular action involved. You should see the applicable law and the regulations governing specific BLM resource programs for information on the requirements for publication for a particular action.
§ 1824.13 Who pays for publication?
The cost of publication is the responsibility of the claimant or applicant.
§ 1824.14 Does the claimant or applicant pay for an error by the printer of the paper in which the notice appears?
No. The claimant or applicant is not responsible for costs involved in correcting an error by the printer.
§ 1824.15 What does it mean to post a notice?
Posting a notice is similar to publishing a notice except that the notice is displayed at the appropriate BLM office, local courthouse or similar prominent local government building or on a prominent fixture such as a building, tree or post located on the particular public lands involved.
§ 1824.16 Why must I post a notice?
The posting of a notice informs those persons who may be interested in the lands or resources described, who have relevant information to provide, or who may wish to oppose the proposal.
§ 1824.17 If I must post a notice on the land, what are the requirements?
The posted notice must be visible throughout the time period for posting specified in the regulations governing the relevant program. BLM or its regulations may require additional posting, such as in a post office or city hall. For any additional posting requirements, you should see applicable Federal and State law, the regulations of the particular BLM resource program and any additional BLM requirements associated with your application.
Subpart 1825—Relinquishments
§ 1825.10 If I relinquish my interest (such as a claim or lease) in public lands, am I relieved of all further responsibility associated with that interest?
No. You are still responsible for fulfilling any regulatory, statutory, lease, permit and other contractual obligations that apply, such as performance of reclamation and payment of rentals accruing before the time of relinquishment. You should see the regulations relating to the specific BLM resource program involved for more detailed information.
§ 1825.11 When are relinquishments effective?
Generally, BLM considers a relinquishment to be effective when it is received, along with any required fee, in the BLM office having jurisdiction of the lands being relinquished. However, the specific program regulations govern effectiveness of relinquishments.
§ 1825.12 When does relinquished land become available again for other application or appropriation?
Relinquished land may not again become available until BLM notes the filed relinquishment of an interest on the land records maintained by the BLM office having jurisdiction over the lands involved. If you have any questions regarding the availability of a particular tract of land, you should contact the BLM office having jurisdiction over the lands or records.
PART 1840—APPEALS PROCEDURES
§ 1840.1 Cross reference.
For special procedural rules applicable to appeals from decisions of Bureau of Land Management officers or of administrative law judges, within the jurisdiction of the Board of Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, see subpart E of part 4 of this title. Subpart A of part 4 and all of the general rules in subpart B of part 4 of this title not inconsistent with the special rules in subpart E of part 4 of this title are also applicable to such appeals procedures.
PART 1850—HEARINGS PROCEDURES
Subpart 1850—Hearing Procedures; General
§ 1850.1 Cross reference.
For special procedural rules applicable to hearings in public lands cases, including hearings under the Federal Range Code for Grazing Districts and hearings in both Government and private contest proceedings, within the jurisdiction of the Board of Land Appeals, Office of Hearings and Appeals, see subpart E of part 4 of this title. Subpart A of part 4 and all of the general rules in subpart B of part 4 of this title not inconsistent with the special rules in subpart E of part 4 of this title are also applicable to such hearings, contest, and protest procedures.
PART 1860—CONVEYANCES, DISCLAIMERS AND CORRECTION DOCUMENTS
Subpart 1862 [Reserved]
Subpart 1863—Other Title Conveyances
§ 1863.5 Title transfer to the Government.
§ 1863.5-1 Evidence of title.
Evidence of title, when required by the regulations, must be submitted in such form and by such abstracter or company as may be satisfactory to the Bureau of Land Management. A policy of title insurance, or a certificate of title, may be accepted in lieu of an abstract, in proper cases, when issued by a title company. A policy of title insurance when furnished must be free from conditions and stipulations not acceptable to the Department of the Interior. A certificate of title will be accepted only where the certificate is made to the Government, or expressly for its benefit and where the interests of the Government will be sufficiently protected thereby.
For evidence of title in mining cases, see § 3862.1-3 of this chapter.
Subpart 1864—Recordable Disclaimers of Interest in Land
§ 1864.0-1 Purpose.
The Secretary of the Interior has been granted discretionary authority by section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1745) to issue recordable disclaimers of interests in lands. In general, a disclaimer may be issued if the disclaimer will help remove a cloud on the title to lands and there is a determination that such lands are not lands of the United States or that the United States does not hold a valid interest in the lands. These regulations implement this statutory authority of the Secretary.
§ 1864.0-2 Objectives.
(a) The objective of the disclaimer is to eliminate the necessity for court action or private legislation in those instances where the United States asserts no ownership or record interest, based upon a determination by the Secretary of the Interior that there is a cloud on the title to the lands, attributable to the United States, and that:
(1) A record interest of the United States in lands has terminated by operation of law or is otherwise invalid; or
(2) The lands lying between the meander line shown on a plat of survey approved by the Bureau of Land Management or its predecessors and the actual shoreline of a body of water are not lands of the United States; or
(3) Accreted, relicted, or avulsed lands are not lands of the United States.
(b) A disclaimer has the same effect as a quitclaim deed in that it operates to estop the United States from asserting a claim to an interest in or the ownership of lands that are being disclaimed. However, a disclaimer does not grant, convey, transfer, remise, quitclaim, release or renounce any title or interest in lands, nor does it operate to release or discharge any tax, judgement or other lien, or any other mortgage, deed or trust or other security interest in lands that are held by or for the benefit of the United States or any instrumentality of the United States.
(c) The regulations in this subpart do not apply to any disclaimer, release, quitclaim or other similar instrument or declaration, that may be issued pursuant to any provision of law other than section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1745).
§ 1864.0-3 Authority.
Section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1745), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue a recordable disclaimer, where the disclaimer will help remove a cloud on the title of such lands, if certain determinations are made and conditions are met.
§ 1864.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(a) Authorized officer means any employee of the Bureau of Land Management who has been delegated the authority to perform the duties described in this subpart.
(b) Accreted lands have the meaning imparted to them by applicable law. In general, they are lands that have been gradually and imperceptibly formed along the banks of a body of water by deposition of water-borne soil.
(c) Avulsed lands have the meaning imparted to them by applicable law. In general, they are lands that have been uncovered by a relatively sudden change in alignment of the channel of a river, or by a comparable change in some other body of water, or that remain as uplands following such a change, or that are located in the bed of the new channel.
(d) Actual shoreline means the line which is washed by the water wherever it covers the bed of a body of water at its mean high water level.
(e) Lands means lands and interests in lands now or formerly forming a part of the reserved or unreserved public lands of the contiguous 48 States and Alaska and as to any coastal State, includes submerged lands inside of the seaward boundary of the State.
(f) Meander line means a survey line established for the purpose of representing the location of the actual shoreline of a permanent natural body of water, without showing all the details of its windings and irregularities. A meander line rarely runs straight for any substantial distance. It is established not as a boundary line but in order to permit calculation of the quantity of lands in the fractional sections remaining after segregation of the water area.
(g) Relicted lands have the meaning imparted that term by applicable law. In general, they are lands gradually uncovered when water recedes permanently.
(h) State means “the state and any of its creations including any governmental instrumentality within a state, including cities, counties, or other official local governmental entities.”
§ 1864.1 Application for issuance of a document of disclaimer.
§ 1864.1-1 Filing of application.
(a) Any entity claiming title to lands may file an application to have a disclaimer of interest issued if there is reason to believe that a cloud exists on the title to the lands as a result of a claim or potential claim of the United States and that such lands are not subject to any valid claim of the United States.
(b) Before you actually file an application you should meet with BLM to determine if the regulations in this subpart apply to you.
(c) You must file your application for a disclaimer of interest with the proper BLM office as listed in § 1821.10 of this title.
§ 1864.1-2 Form of application.
(a) No specific form of application is required.
(b) A nonrefundable fee of $100 shall accompany the application.
(c) Each application shall include:
(1) A legal description of the lands for which a disclaimer is sought. The legal description shall be based on either an official United States public land survey or, in the absence of or inappropriateness (irregularly shaped tracts) of an offical public land survey, a metes and bounds survey (whenever practicable, tied to the nearest corner of an official public land survey), duly certified in accordance with State law, by the licensed civil engineer or surveyor who executed or supervised the execution of the metes and bounds survey. A true copy of the field notes and plat of survey shall be attached to and made a part of the application. If reliance is placed in whole or in part on an official United States public land survey, such survey shall be adequately identified for record retrieval purposes;
(2) The applicant’s name, mailing address, and telephone number and the names addresses and telephone numbers of others known or believed to have or claim an interest in the lands;
(3) All documents which show to the satisfaction of the authorized officer the applicant’s title to the lands;
(4) As complete a statement as possible concerning:
(i) The nature and extent of the cloud on the title, and
(ii) The reasons the applicant believes:
(A) The record title interest of the United States in the lands included in the application has terminated by operation of law or is otherwise invalid, including a copy or legal citation of relevant provisions of law; or
(B) The lands between the meander line shown on the plat of survey approved by the Bureau of Land Management or its predecessors and the actual shoreline of a body of water are not lands of the United States, including as documentation an official plat of survey or a reference to a date of filing or approval and, if the applicant elects, any non-Federal survey plats related to the issue; or
(C) The lands are accreted, relicted or avulsed and are no longer lands of the United States, including submission for the uplands portion of the body of water affected a copy of an official plat of survey or a reference to it by date of filing or approval and, if the applicant elects, any non-Federal survey plats related to the issue;
(5) Any available documents or title evidence, such as historical and current maps, photographs, and water movement data, that support the application;
(6) The name, mailing address, and telephone number of any known adverse claimant or occupant of the lands included in the application;
(7) Any request the applicant may have that the disclaimer be issued in a particular form suitable for use in the jurisdiction in which it will be recorded; and
(d) Based on prior discussions with the applicant, the authorized officer may waive any or all of the aforementioned items if in his/her opinion they are not needed to properly adjudicate that application.
§ 1864.1-3 Action on application.
(a) BLM will not approve an application, except for applications filed by a state, if more than 12 years have elapsed since the applicant knew, or should have known, of the claim of the United States.
(b) BLM will not approve an application if:
(1) The application pertains to a security interest or water rights; or
(2) The application pertains to trust or restricted Indian lands.
(c) BLM will, if the application meets the requirements for further processing, determine the amount of deposit we need to cover the administrative costs of processing the application and issuing a disclaimer.
(d) The applicant must submit a deposit in the amount BLM determines.
(e) If the application includes what may be omitted lands, BLM will process it in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 9180 of this title. If BLM determines the application involves omitted lands, BLM will notify the applicant in writing.
§ 1864.1-4 Consultation with other Federal agencies.
BLM will not issue a recordable disclaimer of interest over the valid objection of another land managing agency having administrative jurisdiction over the affected lands. A valid objection must present a sustainable rationale that the objecting agency claims United States title to the lands for which a recordable disclaimer is sought.
§ 1864.2 Decision on application.
(a) The authorized officer shall notify the applicant and any party adverse to the application, in writing, on the determination of the authorized officer on whether or not to issue a disclaimer. Prior to such notification, the authorized officer shall issue to the applicant a billing that includes a full and complete statement of the cost incurred in reaching such determination, including any sum due the United States or that may be unexpended from the deposit made by the applicant. If the administrative costs exceed the amount of the deposit required of the applicant under this subpart, the applicant shall be informed that a payment is required for the difference between the actual costs and the deposit. The notification shall also require that payment be made within 120 days from the date of mailing of the notice. If the deposit exceeds the administrative costs of issuing the disclaimer, the applicant shall be informed that a credit for or a refund of the excess will be made. Failure to pay the required amount within the allotted time shall constitute grounds for rejection of the application. Before the authorized officer makes a determination to issue a disclaimer, he/she shall publish notice of the application, including the grounds supporting it, in the
§ 1864.3 Issuance of document of disclaimer.
Upon receipt of the payment required by §§ 1864.1-2(b), 1864.1-3(c) and 1864.2 of this title and following, by not less than 90 days, the publication required by § 1864.2 of this title, the authorized officer shall make a decision upon the application, and if the application is allowed, shall issued to the applicant an instrument of disclaimer.
§ 1864.4 Appeals.
An applicant or claimant adversely affected by a written decision of the authorized officer made pursuant to the provisions of this subpart shall have a right of appeal pursuant to 43 CFR part 4.
Subpart 1865—Correction of Conveyancing Documents
§ 1865.0-1 Purpose.
The purpose of these regulations is to implement section 316 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1746), which affords to the Secretary of the Interior discretionary authority to correct errors in patents and other documents of conveyance pertaining to the disposal of the public lands of the United States under laws administered through the Bureau of Land Management or its predecessors.
§ 1865.0-2 Objective.
The objective of a correction document is to eliminate from the chain of title errors in patents or other documents of conveyance that have been issued by the United States under laws administered by the Bureau of Land Management or its predecessors and that pertain to the disposal of the public lands or of an interest therein.
§ 1865.0-3 Authority.
Section 316 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1746) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to correct patents and other documents of conveyance issued at any time pursuant to the laws relating to the disposal of the public lands where the Secretary of the Interior deems it necessary or appropriate to do so in order to eliminate errors.
§ 1865.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(a) Authorized officer means any employee of the Bureau of Land Management to whom has been delegated the authority to perform the duties described in this subpart.
(b) Error means the inclusion of erroneous descriptions, terms, conditions, covenants, reservations, provisions and names or the omission of requisite descriptions, terms, conditions, covenants, reservations, provisions and names either in their entirety or in part, in a patent or document of conveyance as a result of factual error. This term is limited to mistakes of fact and not of law.
(c) Patents or other documents of conveyance means a land patent, a deed or some other similar instrument in the chain of title to realty that has been issued by the United States under laws administered by the Bureau of Land Management or its predecessors pertaining to the disposal of the public lands of the United States or of an interest therein. It also includes interim conveyances issued under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and approvals and tentative approvals issued under the Act of July 7, 1958, as amended (72 Stat. 339).
(d) Lands mean lands or interest in lands.
§ 1865.1 Application for correction of conveyancing documents.
§ 1865.1-1 Filing of application.
(a) Any claimant asserting ownership of lands described in and based upon a patent or other document of conveyance containing an alleged error may file an application to correct the alleged error.
(b) An application shall be filed in writing with the proper Bureau of Land Management office as listed in § 1821.2-1(d) of this title.
§ 1865.1-2 Form of application.
(a) No specific form of application is required.
(b) A non-refundable fee of $100 shall accompany the application.
(c) Each application shall include:
(1) The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the applicant and any others known to the applicant that hold or purport to hold any title or other interest in, lien on or claim to the lands described in the patent or other document of conveyance containing the alleged error as to which the corrective action is requested, and if the error involves a misdescription, the land that would be affected by the corrective action requested;
(2) All documents which show the applicant’s title to the lands included in the application;
(3) A certified copy of any patent or other document conveying any lands included in the application to the applicant or predecessor(s) in interest; and
(4) As complete a statement as possible concerning:
(i) The nature and extent of the error;
(ii) The manner in which the error can be corrected or eliminated; and
(iii) The form in which it is recommended the corrected patent or document of conveyance be issued.
§ 1865.1-3 Action on application.
The authorized officer, upon review of the factual data and information submitted with the application, and upon a finding that an error was made in the patent or document of conveyance and that the requested relief is warranted and appropriate, shall give written notification to the applicant and make a reasonable effort to give written notification to any others known to have or believed to have or claim an interest in the lands that a corrected patent or document of conveyance shall be issued. The notification shall include a description of how the error is to be corrected or eliminated in the patent or document of conveyance. The notice shall require the applicant to surrender the original patent or other document of conveyance to be corrected. Where such original document is unavailable, a statement setting forth the reasons for its unavailability shall be submitted in lieu of the original document. The notice may include a requirement for quitclaiming to the United States the lands erroneously included, and shall specify any terms and conditions required for the quitclaim.
§ 1865.2 Issuance of corrected patent or document of conveyance.
Upon the authorized officer’s determination that all of the requirements of the Act for issuance of a corrected patent or document of conveyance have been met, the authorized officer shall issue a corrected patent or document of conveyance.
The authorized officer may initiate and make corrections in patents or other documents of conveyance on his/her own motion, if all existing owners agree.
§ 1865.4 Appeals.
An applicant or claimant adversely affected by a decision of the authorized officer made pursuant to the provisions of this subpart shall have a right of appeal pursuant to 43 CFR part 4.
PART 1870—ADJUDICATION PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES
Subpart 1871—Principles
§ 1871.0-3 Authority.
The Act of September 20, 1922 (42 Stat. 857; 43 U.S.C. 1161-1163), as modified by section 403 of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1946 (60 Stat. 1100), reads as follows:
§ 1871.1 Equitable adjudication.
§ 1871.1-1 Cases subject to equitable adjudication.
The cases subject to equitable adjudication by the Director, Bureau of Land Management, cover the following:
(a) Substantial compliance: All classes of entries in connection with which the law has been substantially complied with and legal notice given, but the necessary citizenship status not acquired, sufficient proof not submitted, or full compliance with law not effected within the period authorized by law, or where the final proof testimony, or affidavits of the entryman or claimant were executed before an officer duly authorized to administer oaths but outside the county or land district, in which the land is situated, and special cases deemed proper by the Director, Bureau of Land Management, where the error or informality is satisfactorily explained as being the result of ignorance, mistake, or some obstacle over which the party had no control, or any other sufficient reason not indicating bad faith there being no lawful adverse claim.
PART 1880—FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Subpart 1882—Mineral Development Impact Relief Loans
§ 1882.0-1 Purpose.
The purpose of this subpart is to establish procedures to be followed in the implementation of a program under section 317 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to make loans to qualified States and their political subdivisions.
§ 1882.0-2 Objective.
The objective of the program is to provide financial relief through loans to those States and their political subdivisions that are experiencing adverse social and economic impacts as a result of the development of Federal mineral deposits leased under the provisions of the Act of February 25, 1920, as amended.
§ 1882.0-3 Authority.
Section 317(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1744), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make loans to States and their political subdivisions to relieve social or economic impacts resulting from the development of Federal minerals leased under the Act of February 25, 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).
§ 1882.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(a) Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
(b) Director means the Director, Bureau of Land Management.
(c) Act means the Act of February 25, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181).
§ 1882.1 Loan fund, general.
Funds appropriated by Congress for loans for relief of adverse social and economic impacts resulting from the development of Federal mineral deposits leased and developed under the Act may be loaned to those States and their political subdivisions who qualify under this subpart. Such loans may be used for: (a) Planning, (b) construction and maintenance of public facilities, and (c) provisions for public services.
§ 1882.2 Qualifications.
(a) Any State receiving payments from the Federal Government under the provisions of section 35 of the Act or any political subdivision of such a State that can document to the satisfaction of the Director that it has suffered or will suffer adverse social and economic impacts as a result of the leasing and development of Federal mineral deposits under the provisions of the Act shall be considered qualified to receive loans made under this subpart.
(b) A loan to a qualified political subdivision of a State receiving payment from the Federal Government under the provisions of section 35 of the Act shall be conditioned upon a showing of proof, satisfactory to the Director, by the political subdivision that it has legal authority to pledge funds payable to the State under section 35 of the Act in sufficient amounts to secure the payment of the loan.
§ 1882.3 Application procedures.
No later than October 1 of the fiscal year in which a loan is to be made, the State or its political subdivision shall submit to the Director a letter signed by the authorized agent requesting a loan. The authorized agent shall furnish proof of authority to act for the State or political subdivision with the application. Such letter shall constitute a formal application for a loan under this subpart and shall contain the following:
(a) The name of the State or political subdivision requesting the loan.
(b) The amount of the loan requested.
(c) The name, address, and position of the person in the State or political subdivision who is to serve as contact on all matters concerning the loan.
(d) A description and documentation of the adverse social and economic impacts suffered as a result of the leasing and development of Federal mineral deposits.
(e) An analysis and documentation of the additional expenses generated as a result of the leasing and development of Federal minerals.
(f) Proposed uses of the funds derived from the loan.
(g) Evidence that the loan and repayment provisions are authorized by State law.
(h) The Director may request any additional information from the applicant that is needed to properly act on the loan application. The applicant shall furnish such additional information in any form acceptable to the applicant and the Director. No loan shall be granted unless such additional information is timely received by the Director.
§ 1882.4 Allocation of funds.
If applications for loans exceed the funds appropriated for such purpose, loans shall be allocated among the States and their political subdivisions in a fair and equitable manner, after consultation with the Governors of the affected States, giving priority to those States and political subdivisions suffering the most severe social and economic impacts. The allocation of funds under this section shall be the final action of the Department of the Interior.
§ 1882.5 Terms and conditions.
§ 1882.5-1 Tenure of loan.
Loans shall be for a period not to exceed 10 years. Loan documents shall include a schedule of repayment showing the amount of the principal and interest due on each installment.
§ 1882.5-2 Interest rate.
Loans shall bear interest at a rate equivalent to the lowest interest rate paid on an issue of at least $1 million of bonds exempt from Federal taxes of the applicant State or any agency thereof within the calendar year immediately preceding the year of the loan. Proof of each rate shall be furnished by an applicant with its application.
§ 1882.5-3 Limitation on amount of loans.
Total outstanding loans under this program for qualified States or their political subdivisions shall not exceed the total amount of the qualified State’s projected mineral revenues under the Act for the 10 years following. The total outstanding loans shall be the sum of the unpaid balance on all such loans made to a qualified State and all of its qualified political subdivisions.
§ 1882.5-4 Loan repayment.
Loan repayment shall be by withholding mineral revenues payable to the qualified State for itself or its political subdivisions under the Act until the full amount of the loan and interest have been recovered.
§ 1882.5-5 Security for a loan.
The only security for loans made under this subpart shall be the mineral revenues received by a qualified State or its political subdivisions under the Act. Loans made under this subpart shall not constitute an obligation upon the general property or taxing authority of the qualified recipient.
§ 1882.5-6 Use of loan.
A loan made under this subpart may be used for the non-Federal share of the aggregate cost of any project or program otherwise funded by the Federal Government which requires a non-Federal share for such project or program and which provides planning or public facilities otherwise eligible for assistance under the Act.
§ 1882.5-7 Nondiscrimination.
No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin or sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity funded in whole or part with funds made available under this subpart.
§ 1882.5-8 Additional terms and conditions.
The Director may impose any terms and conditions that he determines necessary to assure the achievement of the purpose of the loans made under this subsection.
§ 1882.6 Loan renegotiation.
The Secretary may, upon application of a qualified State or one of its qualified political subdivisions, take any steps he determines necessary and justified by the failure of anticipated mineral development or related revenues to materialize as expected when the loan was made under this subpart to renegotiate the loan, including restructuring of the loan. All applications submitted under this section shall set forth in detail the basis for the renegotiation of the loan. The renegotiated loan shall meet the requirements of this subpart to the extent possible.
§ 1882.7 Inspection and audit.
Upon receipt of a loan under this subpart, the grantee of the loan shall establish accounts and related records necessary to record the transactions relating to receipt and disposition of such loan. These accounts and related records shall be sufficiently detailed to provide an adequate inspection and audit by the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States. The loan funds shall not be commingled with other funds of the recipient.
SUBCHAPTER B—LAND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (2000)
PART 2090—SPECIAL LAWS AND RULES
Subpart 2091—Segregation and Opening of Lands
§ 2091.0-1 Purpose.
The purpose of this subpart is to provide a general restatement of the regulatory provisions in title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations dealing with the segregation and opening of public lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management and summarize the existing procedures covering opening and closing of lands as they relate to the filing of applications. The provisions of this subpart do not replace or supersede any provisions of title 43 covering opening and closing of public lands.
§ 2091.0-3 Authority.
Section 2478 of the Revised Statutes (43 U.S.C. 1201), sections 2275 and 2276 of the Revised Statutes (43 U.S.C. 851, 852), the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), section 4 of the Act of August 18, 1894, as amended (43 U.S.C. 641 et seq.), the Act of March 3, 1877 (43 U.S.C. 321-323), as amended by the Act of March 3, 1891 (43 U.S.C. 231, 321, 323, 325, 327-329), section 4 of the General Allotment Act of February 8, 1887 (25 U.S.C. 334), as amended by the Act of February 28, 1891 (26 Stat. 794) and section 17 of the Act of June 25 1910 (25 U.S.C. 336), the Act of March 20, 1922, as amended (16 U.S.C. 485), the Act of July 7, 1958 (72 Stat. 339-340), the Act of January 21, 1929, as supplemented (43 U.S.C. 852 Note), section 24 of the Federal Power Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 818), section 7 of the Act of June 28, 1934, as amended (43 U.S.C. 315f), the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).
§ 2091.0-5 Definitions.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(a) Authorized officer means any employee of the Bureau of Land Management who has been delegated the authority to perform the duties described in this subpart.
(b) Segregation means the removal for a limited period, subject to valid existing rights, of a specified area of the public lands from the operation of some or all of the public land laws, including the mineral laws, pursuant to the exercise by the Secretary of regulatory authority for the orderly administration of the public lands.
(c) Land or public lands means any lands or interest in lands owned by the United States within the several States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, without regard to how the United States acquired ownership, except: (1) Lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf; and (2) lands held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts and Eskimos.
(d) Mineral laws means those laws applicable to the mineral resources administered by the Bureau of Land Management. They include, but are not limited to, the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, the material disposal laws and the Geothermal Steam Act.
(e) Public lands records means the Tract Books, Master Title Plats and Historical Indices maintained by the Bureau of Land Management, or automated representation of these books, plats and indices on which are recorded information relating to the status and availability of the public lands. The recorded information may include, but is not limited to, withdrawals, restorations, reservations, openings, classifications applications, segregations, leases, permits and disposals.
(f) Opening means the restoration of a specified area of public lands to operation of the public land laws, including the mining laws, and, if appropriate, the mineral leasing laws, the material disposal laws and the Geothermal Steam Act, subject to valid existing rights and the terms and provisions of existing withdrawals, reservations, classifications, and management decisions. Depending on the language in the opening order, an opening may restore the lands to the operation of all or some of the public land laws.
(g) Opening order means an order issued by the Secretary or the authorized officer and published in the