Wyoming Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Reclamation Policy
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Wyoming State Office
P.O. Box 1828
IN REPLY REFER TO: Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009-1828
3042 (951) P
March 30, 2009
EMS Transmission: March 31, 2009
Instruction Memorandum No. WY-2009-022
Expires: 9/30/2010
To: District Managers, Field Managers and Deputy State Directors
From: State Director
Subject: Wyoming Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Reclamation Policy
Program Areas: All Surface Disturbing Activities.
Purpose: Implement the Wyoming Reclamation Policy
Policy/Action: In order to ensure a consistent and science-based approach to reclamation, this
Instruction Memorandum (IM) identifies ten reclamation requirements (see Attachments) that
must be addressed when developing reclamation proposals for all surface disturbing activities.
Addressing these ten requirements will help achieve both short and long-term reclamation
success for site stabilization and eventual ecosystem reconstruction.
Timeframe: Effective immediately.
Budget Impact: Savings to Project funds in the long-term.
Background: Successful reclamation efforts are critical in maintaining an effective multiple-use
land management program. Nearly all authorizations for surface disturbing actions are based
upon the assumption that an area can and ultimately will be successfully reclaimed. Those
seeking approval to conduct surface disturbing activities on Public Lands must include
reclamation planning as part of their permit process and the BLM must make this requirement
clear early in the permitting process. This IM applies to all BLM authorized actions including
those initiated by the BLM.
Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: This IM will be supported with more detailed guidance
such as: new reclamation bond standards, a statewide monitoring and reporting strategy, and
sample templates for both reclamation and weed management plans. Specific reclamation
information and other technical guidance will be forthcoming and posted on the Wyoming
Reclamation web site (http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/reclamation.html).
Coordination: The coordination and review of the Wyoming Reclamation Policy has been
completed with the WY BLM Reclamation Team: John MacDonald, Assistant Field Manager,
Minerals, Rock Springs; Arnie Irwin, Soil Scientist, Buffalo Field Office; Brenda Neuman,
Mining Engineer, WSO; Ken Henke, NRS, WSO; Adrienne Pilmanis, Botanist, WSO; Skip
Stonesifer, Reclamation Specialist, Rawlins; Travis Bargsten, Physical Scientist, WSO; and Tom
Lahti, Landscape Architect, WSO Lead. Other non-Wyoming BLM specialists, WO-310, the
Wyoming Governor’s Office (for review by all appropriate State Agencies), the University of
Wyoming, some local governments, and numerous interested reclamation professionals in
private industry statewide.
Contact: Tom Lahti at 307-775-6232 or 307-631-9768, and by e-mail at
Tom_Lahti@BLM.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Donald A. Simpson Pamela D. Hernandez
State Director Wyoming Central Files
Director (200), Rm. 5644, MIB 1 (w/o atch)
Distribution
Director (300), Rm. 5625, MIB 1 (w/o atch)
CF 1 (w/atch)
1 Attachment
1 - Wyoming Reclamation Policy (6 pp)