BLM Campaign
Alaska Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently creating long-term Resource Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements (RMP/EIS) for nearly 24 million acres of Alaska’s public lands –an area bigger than Mississippi and roughly 1/12th of Alaska’s landmass.
These incredible places rank among the nation’s highest in terms of biological diversity and number of shorebirds supported during spring migration across Alaska. They contain critical habitat for wildlife such as North America’s largest caribou herd, the Western Arctic Caribou Herd. These lands also have some of the highest densities of brown bear in the State.
BLM’s lands are host to an abundance of wildlife that has been able to thrive in its undeveloped state. The preservation of large blocks of intact fisheries and wildlife habitat provide access for sport and subsistence hunting, quiet recreation and a healthy economy.
Despite petitions by tribes, sporting groups, local residents, subsistence and recreational users, and others to apply protective designations, BLM is forging ahead with plans to open sensitive areas to leasable and locatable mineral development.
More Information and Ways to Get Involved
Keep coming back for the latest information, analyses, and calls to action.
- Read our overview of BLM lands.
- Better understand the process of creating Resource Management Plans and discover the latest emerging issues and patterns of these plans.
- Find the latest ways to take action and get involved in the planning process.
Find the latest information on each of Alaska’s Resource Management Plans. Keep coming back to find the most recent developments.
BLM RMP Important Dates
| Plan | Acreage | Field Office | Important Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay RMP | 1.2 million | Anchorage | 30 day protest period on final ended Jan 14,2008. Protests are currently being reviewed. A Record of Decision (ROD) is expected late 2008. |
| East Alaska RMP | 7.6 million | Glenallen | Currently beginning implementation |
| Eastern Interior RMP | 10.5 million | Fairbanks | Scoping has started, meetings will be conducted until June 2008 with a deadline for comment July 1, 2008. |
| Kobuk Seward RMP | 13 million | Fairbanks | ROD expected summer 2008 |
| Ring of Fire RMP | 1.3 million | Anchorage | ROD issued March 2008 to be followed by an additional 90 day public comment period for the Haines Block potential ACEC |
About the BLM Wildlands Program
Alaska Wilderness League’s BLM Wildlands program monitors BLM planning activities in Alaska. The program is based in Alaska Wilderness League’s Anchorage field office.
The goal of the program is work with Alaskans and people across the US to identify, nominate and protect the extraordinary values found throughout BLM lands in Alaska. To achieve this goal, our program staff works with tribes, sporting groups, local residents, subsistence and recreational users and other stakeholders to create grassroots-based alternatives which support areas of high conservation potential and the goals of local communities. The program seeks to serve as a voice for various stakeholders to ensure the public has the knowledge and tools needed to participate in the planning and management of BLM lands in Alaska.
The main individuals working on the program are Jennifer Hillman and Jeremiah Millen. Jennifer holds the policy analyst position and analyzes RMPs and prepares comments and documents for submission. Jeremiah is the field representative and heads up community level coordination to promote openness in the process and understanding of the special places within the planning area.
To contact Alaska Wilderness League’s Anchorage office about the BLM program, call 907-222-4046 or email Jennifer@alaskawild.org or Jeremiah@alaskawild.org
