Federal Register #2026-06602

Proposed Revision to NEPA Implementing Procedures for BLM Forest Management

This notice announces a proposed revision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): - Issued by the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary - Proposes a new categorical exclusion (CE) for forest and woodland density management in the DOI NEPA Handbook - Allows modification of tree density on up to 5,000 acres per treatment area - Activities covered include: - Cutting, yarding, chipping, and group selection silvicultural treatments - Pile burning, underburning, and seeding or planting to accelerate native species re-establishment - Imposes limitations on road construction - Requires resource protection and environmental considerations - No specific OEMs, vendors, or products are requested; this is a procedural update - Intended to streamline environmental review for certain forest management activities and improve operational efficiency on BLM-managed lands

Description

This notice announces a proposed revision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The revision would add a new categorical exclusion (CE) for forest and woodland density management, allowing modification of tree density up to 5,000 acres. This aims to improve forest health, reduce wildfire risks, and increase operational efficiency by streamlining environmental review processes for certain forest management activities.

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