Print this pageReview of
the Federal 
Land
Use Planning Process*
Search and Discovery Article #50027 (2005)
Posted November 27, 2005
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1Executive Director, Public Lands Advocacy, 1410 Grant Street, C307, Denver, CO 80203, phone (303) 860-0212 ([email protected])
Abstract
Access to public lands plays an
increasing role in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources.
Federal land use planning is conducted through the resource management plan (RMP)
process and the end-point of the planning process will, to varying degrees,
dictate which lands will be available for leasing and what kind of restrictions
will be placed on use of those lands. Review of recent draft RMPs in Colorado,
Utah, and Wyoming indicates that the proposed plans contain excessive
restrictions, inadequate Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenarios (RFDS),
lack of accountability for mineral decisions, failure to acknowledge valid
existing lease rights, and unreasonable mitigation requirements. There are a
number of opportunities in the RMP process where the public can be involved.
These opportunities include scoping, development of RFDS, determination of
proposed alternatives, and draft and final environmental impact statements.
Decisions made during the development of RMPs have direct bearing on the ability
to access, explore, and develop mineral resources and industry must have a
greater role in the federal land use planning process.
Federal land
