Opportunities for RAC Participation

Three Part discussionGeneral presentation;Example of oil and gas decision making; andPanel Discussion of RAC involvement.

Provide an overview of BLM’s decision making processDescribe critical components to decision making; Discuss BLM’s decision space and types of decisions; Illustrate BLM’s coordination with stakeholders; andEmphasize opportunities for RAC involvement.

Provide for open discussion and feedback

Process Overview

Rational, deliberate resource management actions that are: Consistent with the BLM Mission;Comply with legal and regulatory

requirements; and Support public interest.

BLM Mission To sustain the health, diversity, and

productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Legal (Generally we think we can figure this out, but it is often a point of disagreement)FLPMA and other applicable law.Case law.Regulations, policies, guidelines.

What is the Public Interest from federal perspective? (this one is very open to interpretation)Informed by the use of best available information,

data and science.Allows various resources uses and values along a

spectrum.Considers “what’s right for the resource”.Balances local, regional, national interests.

Field Office scoping (specialists and field manager)What decision needs to be made?Who needs to make it?Coordination with key stakeholders – including

the RACWhat info is needed to assess the impacts?What are the alternative decisions or

management strategies?

State Office briefing (seniors specialists and management)Coordination with key stakeholders – including

State agenciesWhat if the decision is not made now?Any additional circumstances or data informing the

decision?Are there consequences and precedent framing the

decision?Who’s affected directly or indirectly by the

decision?Did we use the correct assumptions?

Washington Office briefing (program leaders and executive leadership)Have key issues and constraints been

addressed?Have we coordinated with key stakeholders?What ifs?

There are multiple possible decisions we could make, but which best supports public interest in each case?

BLM must consider:Public expectations;Legal precedent and case law;Regulations, policies, guidelines;Organizational structure, needs, and delegated

authority;Political reality – they don’t drive our decisions

but they do exist and must be considered; and Budget.

Decision process is intended to serve the public interest.

Decision process is intended to comply with law, regulation and policy.

Decision process is intended to ensure we are not arbitrary or capricious in our decisions.

Do you recognize any

other constraints that

BLM should

emphasize?

Question for the RAC:

Critical Components

Public involvement entails: “The opportunity for participation by affected

citizens in rule making, decision making, and planning with respect to the public lands, including public meetings or hearings . . . or advisory mechanisms, or other such procedures as may be necessary to provide public comment in a particular instance” (FLPMA, Section 103(d)).

Section 309 of FLPMA requires:That resource advisory councils (RACs) or their

functional equivalent be involved in the land use planning process.

Coordination with tribal, federal, state and local agencies.BLM places an emphasis on

coordination with Cooperating Agencies – those with jurisdiction and valuable expertise.

Often a significant investment in time and effort.

Consultation with RAC. Promote outreach to stakeholderValidate public inputForm potential management

alternativesSeek a recommendation

We can’t engage on

every issue, but are we

engaging on the

“right” issues?

Question for the RAC:

Public notification, outreach and involvementWhat works and what does not? Do local media announcements

work, for example? Stakeholder review and

commentSolicit public comments to

identifying key issues and alternative management actions.

Provide interest groups opportunity to advocating for certain resource values and uses.

How can the RAC

assist in better

involving the public?

Question for the RAC:

What happens when we can’t agree? Eventually, BLM must

make a decision. Situations where we can’t

agree are often due to BLM’s need to serve a different element of the public interest.

Differing perspectives on the spectrum of resource use or value result in different demands.

Is there a role for the

RAC to facilitate

resolution between

interest groups?

Question for the RAC:

Types of Decisions

What are they?Broad, strategic zoning map decisions.Establish overall resource management goals.Identify which resource values emphasized and

where.Describe which uses are allowed where.Define major restrictions or exclusions limiting the

management of values/uses.Why do we make them?

Guide future management and frame site-specific analysis with reasonable scenarios for allowable uses.

Balance multiple demands for land use.Determine the appropriate level of analysis.

Example allowable usesLand tenure zones.ACEC designations.

Appropriate level of analysisDescribe current

conditions and trends.Provide adequate

information to evaluate the attainment of stated goals/objectives.

What’s the most recent

allocation decision in

which RAC members

have been involved?

Question for the RAC:

What are they?Site-specific plans and actionsFinal approval allowing on-the-ground actionDefined by program specific regulatory

requirementsWhy do we make them?

Ensure coordinated, interdisciplinary implementation of land use allocations

Integrate multiple resource program goalsImplement adaptive management strategiesEstablish monitoring and evaluation programs to

determine if resource goals have been attained

Example implementation decisionIdentify specific areas, roads

and trails available for use.Recreation marketing actions.

Appropriate level of analysisDescribe site-specific impacts.Provide adequate information

to evaluate the attainment of stated goals/objectives.

What’s the most recent

implementation

decision in which RAC

members have been

involved?

Question for the RAC:

Protests and Appeals of Decisions

Most decisions allow for protest or appeal remedy.

Important element of serving the public interest.

Becoming an increasing part of our workload.We plan for staff time in

reviewing and resolving issues.

Creates a barrier to the expediency of decision making.

Why is this the case? Is it indicative of “good” public involvement or “flawed” process? Can the RAC strategize ways to address it?

Question for the RAC: