Discontinued Use of Categorical Exclusions for Salvage Harvest
In Reply Refer To:
1790 (HQ-210/220) P
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
August 3, 2022
In Reply Refer To:
1790 (HQ-210/220) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 08/12/2022
Permanent Instruction Memorandum No. 2022-010
To: All Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Subject: Discontinued Use of Categorical Exclusions for Salvage Harvest
Program Area: Forestry, National Environmental Policy Act.
Purpose: Discontinue use of the Categorical Exclusion (CX) for salvaging dead and dying trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, or other disturbances not to exceed 1,000 acres for disturbances of 3,000 acres or less (516 Departmental Manual (DM) 11.9C (10)).
Administrative or Mission Related: Mission.
Policy/Action: Taking into account the complexity of land management and other factors, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that all Bureau offices are to immediately and indefinitely discontinue reliance on the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX, 516 DM 11.9C (10). This IM does not affect reliance on the 250-acre salvage harvest CX at 516 DM 11.9C (8).
Timeframe: This IM is effective immediately and shall remain in effect unless superseded by law, regulation, or policy.
Budget Impact: Additional costs will result from implementing this policy due to increased labor and time to prepare environmental documents to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Background: The BLM updated its NEPA procedures adopting the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX into the 516 DM Chapter 11 via Federal Register notice published December 10, 2020. Having evaluated the BLM’s consideration and approval of proposed salvage harvest actions since that time, the BLM now directs Bureau offices to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA) to inform future agency approval of a salvage harvest of more than 250 acres.
Manual/ Handbook Sections Affected: This Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM) directs the BLM to discontinue using the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX set forth in the DOI Manual at 516 DM 11.9C (10). The Manual is not being changed by this PIM, but the BLM is not to rely on this 2020 Salvage Harvest CX when making new decisions. The BLM may modify the manual in the future in compliance with applicable Council on Environmental Quality requirements.
Coordination: NEPA, Forestry and Office of the Solicitor.
Contact: If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Megan Gilbert at magilbert@blm.gov or Marlo Draper at mdraper@blm.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
David Jenkins Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director, Resources Division of Regulatory Affairs and Directives,(HQ-630)
and Planning
Purpose: Discontinue use of the Categorical Exclusion (CX) for salvaging dead and dying trees resulting from fire, insects, disease, drought, or other disturbances not to exceed 1,000 acres for disturbances of 3,000 acres or less (516 Departmental Manual (DM) 11.9C (10)).
Mission.
Policy/Action: Taking into account the complexity of land management and other factors, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that all Bureau offices are to immediately and indefinitely discontinue reliance on the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX, 516 DM 11.9C (10). This IM does not affect reliance on the 250-acre salvage harvest CX at 516 DM 11.9C (8).
This IM is effective immediately and shall remain in effect unless superseded by law, regulation, or policy.
Additional costs will result from implementing this policy due to increased labor and time to prepare environmental documents to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The BLM updated its NEPA procedures adopting the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX into the 516 DM Chapter 11 via Federal Register notice published December 10, 2020. Having evaluated the BLM’s consideration and approval of proposed salvage harvest actions since that time, the BLM now directs Bureau offices to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA) to inform future agency approval of a salvage harvest of more than 250 acres.
This Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM) directs the BLM to discontinue using the 2020 Salvage Harvest CX set forth in the DOI Manual at 516 DM 11.9C (10). The Manual is not being changed by this PIM, but the BLM is not to rely on this 2020 Salvage Harvest CX when making new decisions. The BLM may modify the manual in the future in compliance with applicable Council on Environmental Quality requirements.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Megan Gilbert at magilbert@blm.gov or Marlo Draper at mdraper@blm.gov.
NEPA, Forestry and Office of the Solicitor.