Interim Policy on Management of Donated Lands and Lands Acquire with Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF)

May 28, 2009

In Reply Refer To:
2000
CA-910 (P)

EMS TRANSMISSION: 5/28/09
Instruction Memorandum No. CA-2009-020CH1
Expires: 9/30/10
    
To:                      Deputy State Directors, District Managers, and Field Office Managers

From:                  State Director

Subject:              Interim Policy on Management of Donated Lands and Lands Acquired 
                            with Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF)

BLM-California is very fortunate to have a large number of non-governmental organizations assisting in acquisition of sensitive lands by donation or by supplementing acquisitions made with LWCF.  We also are accepting or acquiring lands as mitigation/compensation for projects. We value these partnerships and must ensure that the lands so acquired are appropriately managed.

To ensure consistency statewide, this interim policy is established: 

       •    Lands acquired by BLM under donation agreements, lands acquired for
            mitigation/compensation purposes, or lands acquired with LWCF funds, are to be
            managed as avoidance/exclusion areas for land use authorizations that could result in
            surface disturbing activities.

       •    Should BLM-California managers have use authorization applications pending, or receive
             new applications on lands that meet the above criteria, they are required to notify the
             State Director and set up a briefing to address how to respond to those applications.

       •    Should managers have inquiries related to pre-application activities for any land use
             authorizations on lands that meet the above criteria, please notify applicants regarding the
             location of these lands as soon as possible and advise them to avoid these lands or
             provide details on how they would plan to operate or mitigate their project in a manner
             consistent with the values of the lands donated or acquired for conservation purposes.

We will be providing more comprehensive policy direction and guidance related to these issues in the near future. 
 

Signed by:                                
James Wesley Abbott                            
Acting State Director                     

Authenticated by:   
Richard A. Erickson    
Records Management