Bless you...
I was dreading haveing to type all that in. The text was rather low
quality and my OCR program wasn't liking it too much.
Brian Cluff
Team Snaptek
Michael Griffith wrote:
> Our server is down today... So not a lot of work getting done. Here is
> the text version of the BLM policy with one skipped portion that defines
> geocaching.
>
>
> TO: All Washington Office and Field Officials
> From: Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning
> Subject: Geocaching Activities on BLM Public Lands
>
> Program Area: Permits for Recreation on Public Lands
>
> Purpose: This Instruction Manual (IM) provides general guidance for
> geocaching activities on BLM managed public lands.
>
> Background: --- SKIPPING A PORTION... We know what Geocaching is ----
>
> Geocaching provides and opportunity to hone orienteering skills,
> provides the opportunity to get outdoors, and it can be a wholesome
> family activity. It can also be conducted with minimal impact to the
> environment when conscientious land use ethics are follows. Even though
> geocaching appears to be an acceptable activity on BLM managed land, it
> is an activity that would only be welcome in the appropriate locations.
>
> POLICY/ACTION: A special recreation permit (SRP) is not required if the
> geocaching activity complies with casual use conditions. The following
> conditions apply to cause use: the activity is not a commercial
> endeavor, the activity complies with land use decisions and
> designations, (i.e. special area designations and wilderness interim
> management policy), and it does not award cash prizes, is not publicly
> advertised, poses minimal risk for damage to public land or related
> water resource values, and generally requires no monitoring. If you
> determine the use to be casual but have some concern about the use, such
> as, placing the caches in Congressionally designated wilderness or
> wilderness study areas, at cultural resource sites, at areas with
> threatened or endangered species, or any other special fragile area, it
> would be appropriate to issue a letter of authorization with special
> stipulations attached that would address those concerns.
>
> If the geocaching activity or event does not meet the above conditions,
> the event should be treated as any other organized recreational group or
> competitive activity or event for which BLM would require the event
> organizer to obtain and SRP.
>
> The BLM believes that geocaching is an appropriate casual user of public
> land. But as use increases or becomes a management issue in a particular
> area, the following minimum steps should be taken: 1) Try to locate a
> person or group that is responsible for the cache and have them register
> the cache with the BLM. Make sure the cache is safe and environmentally
> sound, 2) prepare an environmental assessment or other appropriate
> National Environmental Protection Act document, 3) issue a letter of
> authorization or SRP with special stipulations to mitigate concerns, 4)
> if sites are not registered within a reasonable amount of time after
> notification, then the cache should be removed from public land,
> normally, the cache would be determined to be abandoned property after
> 72 hours unless the appropriate authorization has been obtained, 5)
> monitor the use to assess public health and safety and environmental
> protection issues, 6) if the activity/sport becomes too large and begins
> to conflict with other authorized use, appropriate steps should be taken
> to properly manage the activity.
>
> TIME FRAME: This IM is effective upon receipt.
>
> BUDGET IMPACT: This IM establishes general guidance on managing
> geocaching activities. It is expected that most of the activity would
> be treated as casual use on BLM managed public land, which would not
> require the issuance of a permit thus lessening the recreation permit
> workload. Therefore, the impact on the budget should be minimal.
>
> MANUAL/HANDBOOK: This policy is in conformance with the new 2930-1
> manual and handbook.
> --------------------------
>
> I am certain that we are all pleased that this IM is in conformance with
> 2930-1. :)
>
> -- Mike
>
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>
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> http://www.azgeocaching.com
(text/plain)