Print this pageReview of the Federal 
Land
Use Planning Process
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.