BSWI RMP SCOPING Resource Advisory Council Briefing Bureau of Land Management October 28, 2013

1. - BSWI RMP SCOPING Resource Advisory Council BriefingBureau of Land ManagementOctober 28, 2013

2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW • Why are we here? • Review planning area. • RMP process overview. • Review issues and planning criteria BLM has identified. • Seek RAC assistance.

3. WHY ARE WE HERE? • BLM will develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bering Sea Western Interior Planning Area • Scoping is the 1st step in the RMP process • Scoping initiates process of engaging the public in BLM’s decision-making and allows BLM to listen to: • what currently works well on BLM land • what concerns you have about BLM land • What you would like to see in the future

4. BSWI RMP PLANNING AREA • In order to include all BLM-managed lands in the RMP, the planning area boundary is drawn on a large scale. • BSWI RMP decisions will only apply to BLM-managed public lands in the plan area.

6. BSWI RMP PLANNING AREA • 62-million-acre planning area • 10.6m acres (17.3%) BLM managed • 7.8m Unencumbered • 2.6m State selected • 213k Native selected

7. THE PURPOSE OF AN RMP • FLPMA requires BLM to create land and resource use document that guide decisions for the future. • To manage change AND resolve issues on BLM land. • Replace existing plans that do not manage current issues: • 1981 Southwest Management Framework Plan • 1986 Central Yukon Resource Management Plan

8. Define Desired Outcomes: or, Land and Resource Management Goals and Objectives • Allowable Land Uses: how to manage allowable uses and activities to achieve goals and objectives TYPES OF RMP-LEVEL DECISIONS

9. Actions needed to achieve desired outcomes • Analyze appropriate special designations TYPES OF RMP-LEVEL DECISIONS

10. RMP AND EIS PROCESS • The RMP will • Consider management alternatives • Analyze the positive and negative of each alternative • Select a management plan for the future

11. THE RMP PROCESS: TIMELINE

12. SCOPING MEETINGS Coordination challenges with government shut-down and AFN.

13. PUBLIC, TRIBAL & AGENCY INVOLVEMENT • 67 federally recognized Tribes • Approx. 42 Native, 6 Regional Corps (Doyon, Calista, CIRI, TKC, BSNC, BBNC) • 4 Boroughs (Denali, Lake and Peninsula, Mat-Su, Kenai) • 60 rural communities with 25,000 residents • 26 communities close to BLM-managed land • Cooperating Agencies

14. 20 Planning Criteria provided by BLM • Valid existing rights will be recognized and protected. • Subsistence resource use will be designed to have the least adverse impact possible upon subsistence users and subsistence resources. • New recommendations to Congress for wilderness designation will not be considered in this plan… Public may suggest additional RMP PLANNING CRITERIA

15. Management of Resources • Management of Resource Uses and Activities • Special Designations • Public Safety, Social and Economic Features RMP ISSUE CATEGORIES

16. Vegetation • Soil, Water, Air • Fish • Wildlife • Wildland Fire • Cultural • Visual • Wilderness Character MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

17. Forestry Products • berries, bark, mushrooms, firewood, etc • Grazing • Reindeer • Renewable Energy • wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal • Mining MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCE USES AND ACTIVITIES

18. Lands & Realty • Withdrawals • Right-of-Way corridors - utility, roads, pipelines, • Communications tower sites • Recreation • Commercial recreation uses • Non-commercial recreation uses • Trails, Travel Management, Off-Highway Vehicles MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCE USES AND ACTIVITIES

19. LANDS AND REALTY BLM land critical for communication sites, utilities, transportation corridors to support development on BLM as well as adjacent State and Native lands

20. LANDS AND REALTY WITHDRAWALS • Public Land Orders (PLO) signed by President, Secretary of the Interior, or authorized by Congress. • Set aside land for specific public purposes like a national park or recreation area and limits other activities, such as entry under the general land laws and the mining laws.

21. LANDS AND REALTY WITHDRAWALS • 5.4m acres, or 75% of planning area, subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals • PLO 5180 - approx 4m acres • PLO 5184 - approx 1.4m acres

22. LANDS AND REALTY WITHDRAWALS - PLOs 5180 & 5184: • Reserves land to study and determine the proper classification of the lands and ascertain the public values on the land which need protection • Withdraws from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws

23. LANDS AND REALTY WITHDRAWALS - PLOs 5180 & 5184: • Withdraws from leasing • Withdraws from location and entry under the mining laws • BUT, PLO 5184 - Does NOT withdraw from metalliferous mineral entry (minerals containing gold, copper, silver, zinc)

24. RECREATION USES AND ACTIVITIES Commercial Recreation • Helicopter Skiing, Outfitter Guide Hunting, OHV Tours, Sled Dog Rides, filming Competitive Events • Iron Dog Snowmachine Race, Iditasport, Iditarod Sled Dog Race Non-commercial Recreation • Scout/Youth campouts, group hikes, group rides

25. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) • Wild and Scenic Rivers • National Trails SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS

26. Abandoned Mine Sites / Hazardous Materials • Environmental Justice • Subsistence PUBLIC SAFETY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FEATURES

27. Economics • What are some of the desired economic and social conditions that (name of village) is trying to achieve or maintain? • What could the BLM in its role as a land manager consider doing in the future that would help (name of village) meet those economic and social goals?  PUBLIC SAFETY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FEATURES

28. PUBLIC SAFETY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FEATURES Subsistence Title VIII of ANILCA – requires BLM to have least adverse impact • Access to public lands • Available fish & wildlife resources/habitat

29. Help engage your stakeholders • Encourage response to meeting offers • Encourage attendance at nearest Scoping Meeting • Suggest other meetings/functions BLM can attend RAC ASSISTANCE NOW How you can assist the RMP effort now

30. Spring 2014 RAC meeting – present the issues we heard during scoping • RAC members help advise us on those issues • RAC members form a committee to help address certain issues • RAC members continue to help keep stakeholders involved RAC ASSISTANCE FUTURE How you can assist the RMP effort in the future

31. For more info • www.blm.gov/ak/planning • Alan Bittner, Anchorage Field Manager, abittner@blm.gov, 907-267-1285 • Jorjena Daly, RMP Project Lead, jdaly@blm.gov, 907-267-1317 Questions?