What happens if energy development is proposed in “BLM Special Emphasis Areas”?
While there may be exceptions, in general the BLM Special Emphasis Areas are highly likely to have inherent conflict with energy development. The BLM Special Emphasis Areas depicts a category of lands that would likely have restrictions or may be excluded from potential energy development. These areas have special emphasis or restrictions through law, regulation, presidential proclamation, executive order or are identified in existing land use plans because of their outstanding natural, cultural, scenic, scientific, recreational and other special resource values. The BLM administered lands that are excluded due to statute include lands within the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). Categories of NLCS lands from which development is excluded are: National Monuments, National Conservation Areas and similar designations, Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, and Wild and Scenic Rivers. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and lands with Visual Resource Management (VRM)
