House on Fire, an archeological site within Bears Ears National Monument — a constructed stone structure, located in an alcove with distinct ribbons of sandstone creating a flame-like appearance.

Bears Ears National Monument Management

News Release: BLM, USFS Issues Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan

BLM, USFS update management plan for Bears Ears National Monument

MONTICELLO, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced approval of the Resource Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument. This decision marks the conclusion of a multi-year collaborative planning effort to ensure protections for the Monument’s sacred, ancestral homelands, while allowing for appropriate uses of this culturally significant landscape.

With the signing of the decision, the plan is effective immediately. For more information, visit the eplanning website.

Record of Decision(s) and Approved Resource Management Plan

BLM: Bears Ears National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan

USDA FS: Bears Ears National Monument Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan

Protest Resolution Report

Protest Resolution report for Bears Ears National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement

Federal Register Notice

Action: Notice of Availability

Summary: The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced approval of the Resource Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument. This decision marks the conclusion of a multi-year collaborative planning effort to ensure protections for the Monument’s sacred, ancestral homelands, while allowing for appropriate uses of this culturally significant landscape.

The Department of the Interior Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management signed the ROD on Jan. 13, 2025, which constitutes the decision of the BLM, makes the Approved RMP effective immediately, and replaces the 2020 BENM RMP.

The Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, will publish later this week (Jan, 16 2024) in the Federal Register.

Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan

General Information

On October 8, 2021, President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation modifying the boundaries for Bears Ears National Monument. The monument, located in southeast Utah in San Juan County, is made up of 1.36 million acres of public lands administered jointly with the BLM and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Bears Ears National Monument holds special meaning to a wide variety of users. This area’s rich cultural heritage is held sacred by many Native American Tribes, who continue to rely on these lands for traditional and ceremonial uses. The natural resources here are regularly used by local communities for firewood gathering and livestock grazing. Beyond cultural and natural resources, this area is meaningful to recreationists who visit the Bears Ears region to backpack, rock climb, river raft, and more. To find more information about recreation within Bears Ears National Monument, please visit our recreation homepage.

Management Partnerships

The Bureau of Land Management (Monticello Field Office) and USDA Forest Service (Manti-La Sal National Forest) manage the monument with the Bears Ears Commission, which represents the five Tribes listed in the Presidential Proclamation designating the monument. This relationship was solidified with the signing of an inter-governmental cooperative agreement on June 16, 2022. The federal agencies also work closely with the Monument Advisory Committee. Members of the advisory committee are volunteers appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to represent varied stakeholder interests.

Bears Ears National Monument Interim Guidance

The Bureau is providing interim guidance regarding management of the Bears Ears National Monument. This interim monument management direction will provide direction on the stewardship of these lands during the public planning effort, pending approval of a monument management plan and associated environmental impact statement, in compliance with the Presidential Proclamation. The interim guidance memorandum can be viewed online.