Changes in Public Land Management Required To Achieve Congressional Expectations

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not have, nor is it legislatively required to have, long-range programs and quantified production goals for renewable resources such as timber, grazing forage, minerals, and energy. As a result, it has no realistic basis for determining the production levels necessary to meet its share of the nation's needs. The Forest Service is required to assess renewable resources, both public and private, and to develop a long-range program and goals for its lands. Production goals must account for limitations such as wilderness studies, environmental protection laws and programs, wild and scenic river designations, lawsuits and administrative appeals. It is important for the agencies to set annual goals which reflect such events as they occur. Meeting these goals will require comprehensive forest and rangeland management plans.