BLM speeds up land-use plan process

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management directed staff nationwide this week to no longer wait to solve all arguments over off-highway vehicles before finalizing its major land use plans.

That could cut by years the issuing of Resource Management Plans (RMPs). They are often needed before some types of development — such as mining or timber harvests — may proceed, or before permanent protections for wild lands may be put in place.

Arguments over OHVs on public lands have been especially heated at times in Utah.

"This is a common-sense approach that will better serve the public," said Ed Shepard, BLM assistant director for renewable resources and planning, who issued the new directive.

Utah groups have mixed feelings about the move.

Brian Hawthorne, director of Utah Shared Access Alliance, is pleased with a quicker-paced process.

Environmentalists and off-road vehicle advocacy groups were clearly frustrated that it took 11 years for the BLM to produce a travel plan for the San Rafael Swell.

"We think it's basically a good thing," Hawthorne said. "We look forward to work together with BLM on its travel plans."

But environmentalists are wary.

"What we would prefer is to have a travel plan in conjunction with the RMPs," said Tim Wagner, resource planning coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. "The real problem in delaying something like this is that it allows for the further degradation to go on willy-nilly on public lands with no discretion at all. By not incorporating a good draft travel plan, it also then keeps it out of public's eye in terms of bigger picture."

As land use plans are developed, the BLM must determine which areas are "open," "closed" or have "limited" use for OHVs. In the past for "limited" areas, some BLM staff tried to resolve exactly which trails and lands would permit OHVs — and under what conditions — before finishing RMPs.

However, the BLM found that when disagreements occurred, which is common, it could add years to the land use planning process that already required three to five years to complete.

Shepard said, "With this flexibility, our offices can complete their Resource Management Plans, which address many issues, in a reasonable amount of time. Then the field staffs can concentrate on selection of road and trail systems, and give the public more opportunity to be involved in the designations."