A federal agency wants to change the rules on BLM closures as they pertain to emergencies and certain other situations. Under current rules, at any time the Bureau of Land Management moves to close or restrict access to land it manages, the agency must publish temporary closure and restriction orders in the Federal Register. It’s not a simple, nor fast, process. The closure can’t happen until the notice is published. But what if something comes up of an emergent nature? Say a fire, a flood, or something else that could affect public safety?
Notify public of BLM closures with “modern communication tools”
The agency wants to change the rules on this in two ways. Instead of having to go through the process of publishing BLM closures in the Federal Register, the agency would post the information on social media and with other “modern communication tools” to let the public know. Second, the closures could take effect as soon as the closure order is signed.
“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,” said Tom Heinlein, BLM Assistant Director for National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships. “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.”
The BLM is already using similar techniques to communicate information about fire prevention orders and during wildland fires. These are when actions including closures and restrictions are necessary to protect life, property, safety, and resources.
What kind of emergencies?
What sort of emergencies is the BLM suggesting this new rule would apply to? The agency says, “emergency incidents or unforeseen events that require prompt responses, such as public health emergencies, flood or fire damage, hazardous material incidents, unexploded ordnances, or changes in public land use that create a hazard to the public.”
“In a law enforcement emergency, every minute counts. This proposal will allow quicker action by law enforcement agencies when necessary to respond to emergency and unforeseen events, and improve collaboration and support among BLM, state, county, local, and Tribal law enforcement organizations,” said Jason O’Neal, Director of the BLM Office of Law Enforcement and Security.
Other non-emergency, temporary BLM closures include occasions where resource protection or conflicting visitor activities are involved. BLM cites situations like the King of the Hammers racecourse and the Reno Air Races, among others.
Public comment period
The Bureau is taking public comment on the proposal until January 22, 2024. It begins once the rule publishes in the Federal Register.
For more information on the proposed changes to the BLM rules, including how to submit comments, click here.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! Sounds like a very good idea. I woder how many RVers get the Federal Register, or read it on-line? Probably not very many. 😉 Safe travels!
While the Federal Register is on-line few will read it unless they are looking for a specific issue. Or are employed in regulatory compliance in a Federal Agency or Industry. Modern methods of communications abound. Heck employees would probably post notices on campground bulletin boards.
What a simple yet common sense approach. What’s there to think or discuss about. KISS-keep it simple stupid.
The article states “the agency would post the information on social media and with other “modern communication tools” to let the public know.” I am not on social media so I would hope that they would include email notifications and/or have a phone app that would convey the notifications.
They’ll have to change the way government works before that idea reaches fruition, since lawyers are elected to government they’ll never be operated with common sense as lawyers can’t write anything with common sense. Instead of saying Don’t do that or you’ll go to jail, they write something that’s 4 pages long explaining how you might be incarcerated if you do such and such. Can’t help myself, my divorce papers were so confusing I had to hire another lawyer to explain them. Lol
Having been involved with rule making and the Federal Register I can tell you I know where they are coming from. Publication In the Federal Register Is a very slow process, one that I do not wish on anybody. Given disasters happen without notice, I understand why they want to move more rapidly when one occurs or is likely to occur.
Health emergencies? That’s all I needed to read to know where and why they want to take this power trip.
Reno Air Races are gone. No more.
The “public health emergency” is a slippery slope. First off, I’d be5 85% of BLM staff love the land and hate “all those pesky people”. Secondly, if they had this ability, they would’ve used “public health emergency” to close the lands during Covid….for no valid reason whatsoever.