BLM Proposes Supplementary Rules to Protect Public Health and Safety
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FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing supplementary rules for use of a small parcel of public land that the agency uses as an administrative site in Fairbanks. The proposed rules, which are now available for comment, address public safety concerns and would apply only to the 11.41 acres of public land at the BLM site.
The BLM administrative site, which is located west of University Avenue on the southern bank of the Chena River, houses offices that support operations for more than 40 million acres of BLM-managed land in the northern half of Alaska. In addition to visiting the BLM office, the public often uses the open space adjacent to the office building to picnic, walk dogs or access the Chena River. Currently, visitors encounter inconsistent rules regarding appropriate conduct at the site.
“The BLM strives to be a good neighbor in the communities we serve,” said Geoff Beyersdorf, BLM Fairbanks District Manager. “These proposed rules seek to enhance visitor and employee safety, protect natural resources, improve recreation experiences and protect public health at the administrative site.”
Lack of consistent rules and expectations regarding appropriate public conduct at the site hampers the BLM’s ability to provide a safe visitor experience and to minimize user conflicts. Current issues include open fires in proximity to office buildings, overnight use or long-term occupancy, unattended vehicles and use of aerial drones. The BLM office is adjacent to an administrative site and helipad operated by the State of Alaska, which currently prohibits use of drones that may put pilots and crews at risk. One of the proposed rules would prohibit the use of drones on the BLM property, to be consistent with the State regulation.
Many of the proposed rules are existing State laws and municipal ordinances that the BLM proposes to adopt to facilitate cooperation between BLM Law Enforcement Rangers and local/State authorities. Others make minor modifications to existing BLM regulations to make them more applicable to the site’s urban and riverside environment.
BLM supplementary rules support objectives of 43 CFR 8365 “Rules of Conduct” for the protection of public lands and resources, and for the protection, comfort and well-being of the public in its use of recreation areas, sites and facilities on public lands. Nothing in these proposed rules would impart any new or special authority or jurisdiction to BLM Law Enforcement Rangers on or within the navigable waters of the State of Alaska or airspace managed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The proposed rules are available for a 60-day public comment period, which closes on
January 22, 2018, and can be found at this website: http://bit.ly/FDOrules. The BLM Eastern Interior Field Office will consider all public comments, and may make revisions based on these comments. Final rules will go into effect no less than 30 days after their publication in the
Federal Register.
Interested parties may submit comments regarding the proposed supplementary rules by mail, email or in person. For more information or to submit comments, please contact planning and environmental coordinator Jeanie Cole at 907-474-2340.
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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.