[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 43, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 43CFR1610.3-1]



[Page 16-17]

 

                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR

 

    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 

PART 1600_PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, BUDGETING--Table of Contents

 

                Subpart 1610_Resource Management Planning

 

Sec.  1610.3-1  Coordination of planning efforts.



    (a) In addition to the public involvement prescribed by Sec.  

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



[[Page 17]]



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 Sec.  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 Sec.  1610.2(b) of this title.

    (f) Federal agencies, State and local governments and Indian tribes 

shall have the time period prescribed under Sec.  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.



[48 FR 20368, May 5, 1983, as amended at 70 FR 14566, 14567, Mar. 23, 

2005; 70 FR 29208, May 20, 2005]