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

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW 1.Why are we here? 2.Review planning area. 3.RMP process overview. 4.Review issues and planning criteria BLM has identified. 5.Seek RAC assistance. 2

WHY ARE WE HERE? BLM will develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bering Sea Western Interior Planning Area Scoping is the 1 st 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 3

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. 4

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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 6

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 7

8 TYPES OF RMP-LEVEL DECISIONS 1)Define Desired Outcomes: or, Land and Resource Management Goals and Objectives 2)Allowable Land Uses: how to manage allowable uses and activities to achieve goals and objectives

9 TYPES OF RMP-LEVEL DECISIONS 3)Actions needed to achieve desired outcomes 4)Analyze appropriate special designations

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 10

THE RMP PROCESS: TIMELINE Planning PhasePlanned Dates Public Scoping (30+ days)July 18 - January 17, 2014 Develop Alternatives2014 Prepare DRAFT RMP/EIS2014 Public Comment on DRAFT RMP/EIS (90+ days) 2015 Prepare Proposed RMP/Final EIS Protest Period and Governors Consistency Review 2017 Record of Decision

SCOPING MEETINGS CommunityPlanned Dates AnchorageTentative Dec 4 BethelTBD UnalakleetTBD AniakTBD McGrathTBD Holy CrossTBD Marshall or Russian Mission TBD 12 CommunityPlanned Dates Lower Kalskag and Kalskag November 8 SleetmuteTBD NikolaiTBD KaltagTBD GraylingTBD Crooked CreekTBD Lime VillageTBD Coordination challenges with government shut-down and AFN.

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 13

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 14 RMP PLANNING CRITERIA

1)Management of Resources 2)Management of Resource Uses and Activities 3)Special Designations 4)Public Safety, Social and Economic Features 15 RMP ISSUE CATEGORIES

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

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

18 MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCE USES AND ACTIVITIES – 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

BLM land critical for communication sites, utilities, transportation corridors to support development on BLM as well as adjacent State and Native lands 19 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. 20 LANDS AND REALTY

WITHDRAWALS 5.4m acres, or 75% of planning area, subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals – PLO approx 4m acres – PLO approx 1.4m acres 21 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 22 LANDS AND REALTY

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

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 24 RECREATION USES AND ACTIVITIES

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

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

27 PUBLIC SAFETY, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FEATURES Economics 1.What are some of the desired economic and social conditions that (name of village) is trying to achieve or maintain? 2.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?

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

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

30 RAC ASSISTANCE FUTURE 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 How you can assist the RMP effort in the future

For more info Alan Bittner, Anchorage Field Manager, Jorjena Daly, RMP Project Lead, Questions? 31