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By: Robert Janis
A Q&A with Robert V.
Abbey -- Director of the Bureau of Land
Management
ATV recreationists are well familiar with the
three letters BLM. It stands for the Bureau of
Land Management, the federal government agency
that has authority over millions of acres of
land and decides where ATVers will and will not
be riding on those lands. Because the BLM is so
important to ATV recreation, we thought it would
be appropriate to have a sit down with the
director of the agency, Robert V. Abbey, to find
out what the Bureau is doing that impacts ATV
use.
Abbey began his career in natural resources with
the Mississippi State Park Commission. He also
served in a number of other federal positions
prior to becoming Director of the Bureau of Land
Management. These include being a natural
resource researcher for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi; assistant
district manager in Yuma, Arizona; program
analyst in the national budget office of the BLM
in Washington, D.C.; district manager for the
BLM’s Jackson, Mississippi office; and BLM
Associate State Director in Colorado.
During his federal career he was the principal
agency proponent for the Great Basin Restoration
Initiative. During that time he testified before
Congressional Committees and worked closely with
the Director of the BLM as well as the Secretary
of Interior to elevate the status and funding
for restoration activities in the Great Basin.
In addition, he sat on a number of committees in
both the private and government sector. These
included the Executive Committee for the
Implementation of the Southern Nevada Public
Lands Management Act and the University of
Nevada College of Agriculture Dean’s Advisory
Board.
He was appointed to be Director of BLM in
August, 2009.
ATVSource: How many acres do you have
jurisdiction over?
Robert Abbey: The BLM manages more land – 256
million acres – than any other Federal agency.
This land, known as the National System of
Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 western
states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a
budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700
million acres of sub-surface mineral estate
throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use
mission is to sustain the health and
productivity of the public lands for the use and
enjoyment of present and future generations. The
Bureau accomplishes this by managing such
activities as outdoor recreation, livestock
grazing, mineral development, and energy
production, and by conserving natural,
historical, cultural, and other resources on
public lands.
ATVSource: How much of that is for trail use?
Robert Abbey: About 243 million acres of
BLM-managed land is available for some form of
motorized use. Most of these areas limit
motorized use to designated routes, which are
categorized as roads, primitive roads, and
trails. All roads and primitive roads are open
to motor vehicle use, although some of these
routes may have seasonal or other types of use
restrictions designed to minimize user conflicts
or protect sensitive resources. Many
recreational OHV users find that primitive roads
offer the best riding opportunities for
motorcycle and ATV riders due to the undeveloped
and challenging terrain. Some Field Offices also
provide motorized trail opportunities
specifically for ATVs and motorcycles, including
courses designed for safely introducing children
to the activity. As more travel management plans
are completed each year, more of these types of
primitive roads and trails are being designated.
It is essential for ATV enthusiasts to be
involved in the travel planning process and
on-going management of the National System of
Public Lands to ensure that, where appropriate,
high-quality and sustainable OHV opportunities
will be maintained.
ATVSource: How much of that is open to ATVs?
Robert Abbey: Though it varies by Field Office,
travel management plan, and state law, ATVs are
able to use any road, primitive road, and trail
that have been designated as ‘open’ to that type
of use. In some cases, a travel management plan
may call for certain routes to be managed
specifically for recreational ATV use.
Currently, there are many thousands of miles of
routes on public lands that have been designated
as “open” to ATV use.
ATVSource: What are your plans for trail
development for 2010?
Robert Abbey: As you are
probably aware, the BLM has been conducting
travel management planning for several years,
and through this process, we are continually
working to identify areas that are appropriate
for ATV use. At any one time, Field Offices
managed under one of the twelve BLM State
Offices are likely in the midst of a planning
initiative, whether it is an Environmental
Assessment for a wildlife water guzzler, travel
management plan, or a revised Resource
Management Plan (RMP). The RMP is a living
document that generally undergoes revision every
15 to 20 years, and the opportunity for public
input is a key component of every planning
project. Each Field Office maintains a NEPA
(National Environmental Policy Act) page on
their website or in their public rooms, and
current planning activities can be viewed there.
Find more information at HYPERLINK "www.blm.gov" and
contact the project lead to learn how you can
become involved in the BLM’s planning processes
throughout the country
ATVSource: What is your policy toward opening up
land for ATV recreation?
Robert Abbey: The BLM’s travel management policy
has essentially involved “mapping the West.”
Through this public process each Field Office
determines which routes and areas are
appropriate for motor vehicle access, including
OHV recreation. The travel management planning
process ensures that the BLM is balancing the
uses of public lands to provide appropriate
access while conserving natural and cultural
resources. Recreational OHV enthusiasts have an
opportunity to help determine which areas are
available for OHV recreation by becoming
involved in the Field Office travel management
planning process.
ATVSource: Off-road enthusiasts are concerned
about losing the land they now have for ATV
recreation. What is your policy concerning trail
closings? Are there plans to review the current
policy?
Robert Abbey: I have gone on record stating that
a burgeoning use of off-road vehicles on public
lands is one of the greatest challenges facing
our land managers today– it’s a fact. We are
seeing impacts to important wildlife habitat,
riparian areas, and cultural sites because of
irresponsible use by an increasing number of ORV
enthusiasts. While concerned about this, I am
cognizant of the need to provide for appropriate
and adequate motorized access on public lands so
that people can continue to travel the back
country as part of their recreation experience.
I feel strongly that we can work collaboratively
to find a balance between recreational demands
on the public lands, including ATV use, and
protecting natural and cultural resources. Our
current travel management policy is an important
tool to achieving balance by encouraging good
rider etiquette that will help preserve the
quality and caliber of riding that you now
enjoy. Remember though, others enjoy these areas
too and measures must be taken to minimize
conflicts with other users and to protect
sensitive resources. I encourage OHV enthusiasts
to get involved and assist the BLM, not only
with travel planning but also with peer
education and trail maintenance, which
facilitates the day-to-day management of OHV
opportunities. This will help ensure that OHV
enthusiasts are active partners not only in
managing high-quality recreation opportunities
but also in cooperatively conserving sensitive
resources.
ATVSource: What new policies are being
considered pertaining to wilderness study areas,
roadless area management and national landscape
conservation?
Robert Abbey: The BLM recently issued
Instruction Memorandum No. 2009-215, Planning
for Special Designations within the National
System of Public Lands. Through this memorandum,
the BLM clarifies its land use planning policy
for tracts of public land dedicated to specific
uses designated by acts of Congress or
presidential proclamations issued under the
Antiquities Act. (see
HYPERLINK)
ATVSource: What is the future of development and
expansion of trails on lands under your
jurisdiction?
Robert Abbey: Managing the National System of
Public Lands for multiple uses is not easy by
any means. Without a doubt, this is made more
difficult by those who recreate on public lands
and appear to have a total disregard for the
impact their actions cause. We support
opportunities to use public lands for
recreational pursuits and in a manner that helps
sustain communities and local economies. Most of
us want the BLM to place as much value on our
Nation’s wilderness and cultural resources as we
do on grazing or mineral exploration and
development. I believe we can achieve our common
goals and better serve the public by working
together while we continue our discussion on
issues where we might disagree.
ATVSource: Do you work with local off-road
groups concerning trail development,
maintenance, and closings? If so, explain how?
Robert Abbey: Yes, we are pleased to work with
volunteers to help manage the National System of
Public Lands. In part this is because the BLM
can’t manage public lands by itself, nor should
it. More importantly, however, is that
partnerships help the BLM do a much better and
more effective job than could be done in
isolation. Thus most, if not all, of the BLM
Field Offices depend upon partnerships with
their active publics, including OHV and
conservation interest groups, to plan and
coordinate trail projects on public lands. Many
of these projects and events take place during
National Trails Day or National Public Lands
Day, but others occur throughout the field
season when volunteer forces are more readily
available. Stakeholder stewardship and
accountability are necessary for America’s
public lands and vital to their survival as the
natural resource we all know and love.
ATVSource: Do you offer grants to local clubs to
help them with trail development and expansion?
If so, explain the programs?
Robert Abbey: The Departmental Partnership and
Cooperation Team revised the Departmental manual
in January 2008. As a result, the BLM and other
DOI bureaus may now use grants.gov for giving
money to partner groups without competition
(sole source). If the BLM has any active grant
opportunities, they will be listed under the
Department of the Interior. To learn more, go to
HYPERLINK
"http://www.grants.gov"http://www.grants.gov.
ATVSource: There are many groups that offer
grant programs to help manage OHV use like
Yamaha and Polaris. Do you have some kind of
program that takes advantage of grant programs
like this or do you educate your people in
methods to take advantage of these programs?
Robert Abbey: The BLM
cannot generally apply for grants, but we work
closely with our public lands user groups, who
can and often do apply. In all cases, when the
BLM is slated to benefit from any kind of
donation of goods or money, the bureau must
follow the Departmental Donations Policy, which
can be found in Departmental Manual at HYPERLINK
"http://elips.doi.gov/app_DM/act_getfiles.cfm?relnum=3772".
The BLM donation guidelines in part say grants
are considered donations, and applying for
grants is considered a solicitation. Authorized
BLM employees are permitted to solicit only for
competitively awarded grants from nonprofit
charitable foundations and governmental entities
that award grants directly to the BLM. All other
donation solicitation activities require
explicit written permission as described in the
Departmental Manual. ATV and trail enthusiasts
of all interests are encouraged to contact their
local Field Office’s Outdoor Recreation Planner
for more information.
ATVSource: Do you have volunteer programs to
assist in providing more resources for the
management and maintenance of trails?
Robert Abbey: Yes, we do!
BLM volunteers across the country are an
extension of our Field Office staff. At any
given time but especially during the “field
season”—generally April through
September—volunteers assist BLM staff in
accomplishing important projects ranging from
cultural resource audits to trail maintenance.
The public can learn more at
www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/res/Volunteer.html
and by contacting the BLM Volunteer Coordinator
at the local Field Office.
ATVSource: How much of your budget is committed
to management of OHV recreation?
Robert Abbey: Activities involving OHV
recreation are managed under the BLM’s
Recreation Resource Management Program and, for
the most part, are not separately tracked or
reported. Recreation and Visitor Services
Program funding for Fiscal Year 2009 totaled
about $45.9 million; the President’s budget has
requested $49.5 million for Fiscal Year 2010. In
accordance with the Secretary’s priorities, $2.5
million of the 2010 funds are targeted for
introducing children and youth to natural
resource management, with the goal of
transforming young users of public lands into
those who care for those lands and are as
passionate about them as you and me.
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