The Bureau of Land Management is proposing rule changes for restrictions on public land use or temporary closures and invites the public to comment. These proposed changes aim to modify current procedures for announcing temporary closures, making rules effective, and ensuring tribal uses of the land.
Firstly, The Bureau of Land Management is asking for public input on several proposed rule changes, including one that would allow the BLM to use social media to notify the public of temporary closures or restrictions instead of publishing those orders in the "Federal Register." Another change would allow those rules to go into effect when they are signed, and another would "allow exemptions for Tribal members for traditional uses of public lands," and "would also specify that any closure or restriction on BLM public lands in Alaska must follow the procedures and limits on subsistence use established in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act."
Moving forward, Tom Heinlein, BLM Assistant Director for National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships had this to say about the proposal: "From time to time, BLM needs to issue orders to temporarily close or restrict the use of public lands to protect people, property, public lands, and resources, or to avoid conflict among visitor uses. Our aim is to balance our responsibilities for protecting people and the places and resources found on BLM-managed public lands while ensuring the safe and sustainable use and enjoyment of these lands now and in the future."
In regards with participation, Public input on these changes will be accepted from Nov. 21, 2023 to Jan. 22, 2024, according to a news release from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The proposal will be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 21, 2023. Individuals can find out more about the proposed changes by visiting regulations.gov and searching RIN 1004-AE89"
To provide additional information, The document detailing the proposed changes to temporary closure and restriction orders is available here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2023-25698/temporary-closure-and-restriction-orders. It is 21 pages total, and notes that the changes would also help to ensure that Tribal activities remain private when conducted for traditional or cultural purposes. The draft document also explains that "The requirement in 43 CFR 8364.1 to publish temporary closure and restriction orders in the Federal Register frequently delays the BLM’s ability to issue such orders.
The BLM’s ability to expeditiously close or restrict the use of public lands temporarily is also hampered by the time it takes for an order to become effective after being signed by an authorized officer."
