Department of the Interior seeks public comment on recreation and wilderness proposals

Key Takeaways

On June 15, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced proposed rulemaking on recreation in wilderness areas and sought public comment on changes to its wilderness area management policies. The announcement is part of DOI’s implementation of the EXPLORE Act, which required the department to issue guidance on recreational climbing in wilderness areas.

Background

Wilderness Areas, defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964, are special-management designations that prohibit many typical uses of federal public lands, including a general prohibition on the use of motorized transport or motorized tools. Wilderness Areas are also broadly closed to any revenue-generating multiple-use activity and permit only non-motorized recreation. 

Although Wilderness Areas can only be designated by Congress, federal land management agencies may withdraw wilderness study areas (WSAs), which have similar use restrictions as Wilderness Areas but are not explicitly created by Congress. Nationwide, more than 800 wilderness areas cover more than 110 million acres of public land.

Under the EXPLORE Act (P.L. 118-234), federal land management agencies were directed to issue guidance to accommodate recreational climbing on public lands, including wilderness areas.

Opportunities for public comment

Three agencies within DOI – the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – are seeking comment on their proposed agency-specific guidelines for climbing in wilderness areas. The proposals include details of when permanent anchors may be placed and how the agencies should manage the impact of recreational climbing activities in Wilderness Areas.

The agencies are also seeking public comments on their broader policies for managing wilderness areas and wilderness study areas through their handbooks. Agency handbooks provide standard guidance for federal land managers’ decisions. Although they are not legally binding regulations, they have a significant impact on land management decisions. The agencies are seeking input on:

• BLM Manual 6340 – Management of Designated Wilderness Areas
• BLM Manual 6330 – Management of Wilderness Study Areas 
• BLM Manual 6320 – Considering Lands with Wilderness Characteristics in Land Use Planning
• USFWS Manual Part 610 – Wilderness Stewardship
• NPS Director’s Order No. 41 – Wilderness Stewardship

More than 60 percent of counties nationwide are home to some federal lands. In the counties with wilderness areas, the management of those areas has a major impact on wildfire risk, economic opportunity, community access and more. 

Next Steps

Counties are encouraged to comment on the proposed guidance for recreational climbing and wilderness management to detail the impact that wilderness designations have on local governments. Comments are due by August 14.

NACo advocates that special land-use designations and withdrawals to be made only in coordination with local governments and in line with county land use plans.

Comment on:

• BLM climbing guidance
• NPS climbing guidance
• USFWS climbing guidance