BLM Desk Guide to Cooperating Agency Relationships - National ...

BLM • A Desk Guide to Cooperating Agency Relationships and Coordination with Intergovernmental Partners • 201214Suggested roles for CAs:Suggest models and methods for impactanalyses. Develop and review direct, indirect,and cumulative effects analysis within CA’sexpertise. Suggest mitigation measures foradverse effects.43 CFR 1610.4-6 (BLM)Estimating effects of alternatives.The Field Manager, in collaborationwith any cooperating agencies, willestimate and display the physical,biological, economic, and social effects ofimplementing each alternative consideredin detail.8. The BLM selects preferredalternative and issues the draft RMP.The various planning alternatives must beevaluated in relation to planning issues andcriteria and the analysis of effects. The AOselects a preferred alternative and forwardsthe resulting draft plan to the State Director forapproval and publication. The draft plan mustbe available for public comment for a minimumof 90 days.Suggested roles for CAs:Collaborate with the BLM’s AO in evaluatingalternatives. Provide information forpreliminary (internal) draft RMP. Review thepreliminary (internal) draft RMP. After publicrelease of the draft RMP/draft EIS, CAs mayprovide written comment, if desired, just asnon-CAs and members of the public areallowed.43 CFR 1610.4-7 (BLM)Selection of preferred alternative.The Field Manager, in collaboration withany cooperating agencies, will evaluatethe alternatives, estimate their effectsaccording to the planning criteria, andidentify a preferred alternative thatbest meets Director and State Directorguidance. Nonetheless, the decision toselect a preferred alternative remains theexclusive responsibility of the BLM. Theresulting draft resource management planand draft environmental impact statementshall be forwarded to the State Directorfor approval, publication, and fi ling withthe Environmental Protection Agency.This draft plan and environmental impactstatement shall be provided for commentto the Governor of the State involved,and to offi cials of other Federal agencies,State and local governments and Indiantribes that the State Director has reason tobelieve would be concerned.9. The BLM responds to commentsand issues the final RMP.The BLM is required to respond to substantivecomments submitted on a draft RMP/draftEIS that reveal new information, missinginformation, or fl awed analysis that couldsubstantially change the conclusions. The AOthen forwards the fi nal plan, revised as neededto refl ect comments received, to the StateDirector for publication. The document is alsoforwarded to the Governor for a 60-day reviewto identify any inconsistencies with State orlocal plans, policies, or programs.Suggested roles for CAs:Review comments within CA’s expertiseand assist the BLM in preparing responses.Review the preliminary (internal) draft ofthe proposed RMP. State agency CAs maycontribute to the Governor’s consistencyreview.43 CFR 1610.4-8 (BLM)Selection of resource management plan.After publication of the draft resourcemanagement plan and draft environmentalimpact statement, the Field Manager shallevaluate the comments received and selectand recommend to the State Director,for supervisory review and publication,a proposed resource management planand fi nal environmental impact statement.After supervisory review of the proposedresource management plan, the StateDirector shall publish the plan and fi le therelated environmental impact statement.See 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e) for requirements ofthe Governor’s consistency review.