1. Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
I. Introduction
II. Inventory Procedures
A. Background
B. Route Analysis & Boundary Identification
C. Size
D. Naturalness
E. Outstanding Opportunities & Supplemental Values
F. Boundary adjustments & LWC documentation
III. Planning
Inventory - Background

2. Inventory Procedures: Background
Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
Inventory Procedures:
Background
Inventory - Background

3. Inventory - Background
FLPMA, Section 201(a)
“…prepare and maintain on a continuing basis an inventory of all public lands and their resource and other values….
“This inventory shall be kept current so as to reflect changes in conditions and to identify new and emerging…values.”
Inventory - Background

4. Inventory - Background
FLPMA, Section 201(a)
“The preparation and maintenance of such inventory, or the identification of such areas shall not, of itself, change or prevent change of the management…of public lands.”
Such changes are regulated through land use plans, as outlined in FLPMA, Section 202
Inventory - Background

5. Inventory - Background
what is
not what should be
not what might be
Inventory - Background

6. Wilderness Characteristics
Wilderness Act, Section 2(c)
Size
Apparent Naturalness
Outstanding Opportunities for Solitude or Primitive Recreation
Other supplemental values ?
If 1-3 present = land with wilderness characteristics (LWC)
Inventory - Background

7. Inventory - Background
When to Inventory
Wilderness Characteristics identified as an issue in NEPA scoping
During RMP, RMP Amendment
Project proposal where inventory is not current
Newly acquired lands
Inventory - Background

8. Inventory - Background
When to Inventory
New information from the public outside specific NEPA analysis
Public needs to supply:
map
narrative explaining how new info substantially differs from BLM’s info
photos
Inventory - Background

9. When to Inventory
Frequently enough to maintain inventories as “current”
“Maintain” does NOT mean to discard previous inventories and start over
Inventory - Background

10. Citizen-supplied Information
Name of identified area
Name of Submitter
Date of Submission
Supporting material meets standards?
Check Validity
Inventory - Background

11. Citizen-supplied Information
Check Validity
appropriate boundaries
wilderness characteristics?
Information sources
prior inventories
knowledge of current personnel
aerial photography; other remote sensing
NEW INVENTORY
Inventory - Background

12. Inventory - Background
LWC Documentation
Appendix B, Form 1
Inventory - Background

13. Inventory - Background
FORM 1
Documentation of BLM Wilderness Characteristics Inventory Findings from Previous Inventory on Record
1. Is there existing BLM wilderness characteristics inventory information on all or part of this area?
No (Go to Form 2)Yes _______ (If yes, and if more than one area is within the area, list the unique identifiers for those areas.):
a) Inventory Source: ____________________
b) Inventory Area Unique Identifier(s):____________________
c) Map Name(s)/Number(s):____________________
d) BLM District(s)/Field Office(s):____________________ X
Inventory - Background

14. Inventory - Background
FORM 1
Documentation of BLM Wilderness Characteristics Inventory Findings from Previous Inventory on Record
1. Is there existing BLM wilderness characteristics inventory information on all or part of this area?
No (Go to Form 2)Yes _______ (If yes, and if more than one area is within the area, list the unique identifiers for those areas.):
a) Inventory Source: ____________________
b) Inventory Area Unique Identifier(s):____________________
c) Map Name(s)/Number(s):____________________
d) BLM District(s)/Field Office(s):____________________ X
BLM original inventory 1979 NV
Split Rock NE
Split Rock FO
Inventory - Background

15. Inventory - Background
2. BLM Inventory Findings on Record:
Existing inventory information regarding wilderness characteristics (if more than one BLM inventory area is associated with the area, list each area and answer each question individually for each inventory area):
Inventory Source: ____________________
BLM original inventory 1979
Area Unique Identifier
Sufficient Size?
Yes/No
(acres)
Naturalness?
Outstanding Solitude?
Outstanding Primitive & Unconfined Recreation?
Supplemental Values? NV
Y (5,897) Y N NV
N (3,100) NV
N (568) NV
Y (10,112)
Inventory - Background

16. Inventory - Background
2. BLM Inventory Findings on Record:
Existing inventory information regarding wilderness characteristics (if more than one BLM inventory area is associated with the area, list each area and answer each question individually for each inventory area):
Inventory Source: ____________________ ?
BLM original inventory 1979
Area Unique Identifier
Sufficient Size?
Yes/No
(acres)
Naturalness?
Outstanding Solitude?
Outstanding Primitive & Unconfined Recreation?
Supplemental Values? NV
Y (5,897) Y N NV
N (3,100) NV
N (568) NV
Y (10,112)
Inventory - Background

17. Inventory Maintenance
Compare existing data with new data
Does previous conclusion remain valid?
Document your reasoning
Make findings available to the public
Add to Permanent Files
Inventory - Background

18. Permanent Files Permanent Files Unique identifier Map Inventory forms
state code, office code, inventory number NV
related to inventories from 1970s
Map
Inventory forms
Always keep a copy in local office
Inventory - Background

19. APPENDIX A – PERMANENT DOCUMENTATION FILE
Permanent Files
One file for each inventory unit Unique identifier
APPENDIX A – PERMANENT DOCUMENTATION FILE
The permanent documentation file should include the following:
1. Inventory Area Evaluation: Appendix B.
2. Route Analysis: Appendix C.
3. Inventory Maps: Inventory maps used in conducting and documenting findings of wilderness characteristics inventories must be retained. Maps should depict the area’s unique identifier, boundary, and any photo points.
4. Photo Documentation: Documentation could include a descriptive log and photographs (Appendix D).
5. Supporting Documentation: Include additional notes, forms, and documents.    
Inventory - Background

20. Inventory Procedures: Background
Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
Inventory Procedures:
Background
End of Module IIA
Inventory - Background