Rescinding the Washington Office Permanent Instruction Memorandum No. 2017-003, The Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Washington, D.C.  20240

http://www.blm.gov

October 24, 2017

In Reply Refer To:

1601, 1790 (210) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 10/25/2017

Instruction Memorandum No. 2018- 002           

Expires: 9/30/2021

To:                   All Washington Office and Field Office Officials

From:               Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management

Subject:           Rescinding the Washington Office Permanent Instruction Memorandum No. 2017-003, The Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews

Program Area:  National Environmental Policy Act and Planning

Purpose:  This interim policy rescinds Washington Office (WO) Permanent Instruction Memorandum (IM) No. 2017-003, The Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews, issued on January 12, 2017.

Policy/Action:  All issues related to Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews across Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands are to be directed to the BLM Washington Office, Planning and Resources (WO-200) directorate.  The BLM will no longer apply the provisions outlined in WO IM No. 2017-003.

Timeframe:  This IM is effective immediately.

Budget Impact:  This policy will not result in additional program costs.

Background:  This interim policy responds to a March 28, 2017, Executive Order, which rescinds the Council on Environmental Quality’s 2016 Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews. The 2016 CEQ guidance had led the BLM to draft BLM permanent IM 2017-003. Specifically, that IM directed that all relevant BLM NEPA documents must be consistent with the CEQ guidance.  IM 2017-003 outlined emission estimation guidelines for BLM planning and activities related to energy development and production.  All issues related to Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews across Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands are to be directed to the BLM Washington Office, Planning and Resources (WO-200) directorate. 

Manual/ Handbook Sections Affected:  None.

Coordination: The Division of Decision Support, Planning and NEPA (WO-210) coordinated preparation of this IM with the Directorates of Fire & Aviation (FA-100), Resources and Planning (WO-200), and Energy, Minerals and Realty Management (WO-300).

Contact:  If there are any questions concerning this IM, please contact Kristin Bail, Assistant Director, Planning and Resources (WO-200), at 202-208-6731.  Field staff may also contact Andrew Tkach, Planning and Environmental Analyst, WO-212, at 202-912-7283, atkach@blm.gov, for information concerning this IM.