[Az-Geocaching] BLM Policy - Text Edition

[Brian Cluff]

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
> 
> ____________________________________________________________
> Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com
> To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit:
> http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching
> 
> Arizona's Geocaching Resource
> http://www.azgeocaching.com