BLM proposes new rules for land use plans, with comment periods set at 30 days

What is proposed

BLM proposes to rewrite 43 CFR part 1600, the rules for writing, revising and amending the land use plans that decide which areas and routes are open to motorized use. The proposal would drop the required 90-day comment period on draft plans backed by an environmental impact statement and set any comment period at 30 days, extendable by up to 30 more, and it would let BLM hold a public meeting or hearing in place of a comment period unless NEPA requires one. It would also remove the requirement to prepare an EIS for every new or revised plan, make protests electronic-only within a fixed 30-day window, add a direct consistency review for local governments, and create emergency procedures that could shorten or waive public participation at either the notice or the protest stage.

The agency's title for this proposal is "Revision of Regulations for Planning, Programming, Budgeting".

How to comment

The Bureau of Land Management accepts public comments on this proposal through January 11, 2027. The comment period opened November 10, 2026. Use the Take Action button to get the points to make, a comment starter you can put in your own words, and the link to the agency's official comment form.

Points to make in your comment

• Support the new local government consistency review, which gives counties a direct way to raise conflicts with their own road and access plans.
• Ask BLM to define emergency circumstances narrowly so the emergency procedures cannot be used to cut public input on closures.

Topics

• OHV / Motorized Access
• Route Closures and Travel Plans

Official sources

• Official project page (www.federalregister.gov)
• Proposal documents (www.govinfo.gov)
• Official comment form (www.regulations.gov)