> 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.
Thanks, Mike!
Steve
Team Tierra Buena
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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(text/plain)