Federal Register #2026-11950

BLM Draft Policy for Recreational Climbing Management in Wilderness Areas

This opportunity involves a draft policy release by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding recreational climbing in wilderness areas: - Government Buyer: - Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior - Purpose: - Soliciting public comment on draft policy and procedural guidance for managing recreational climbing in BLM-managed National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) units - Key Details: - Updates BLM Manual 6340 - Incorporates direction from the Protecting America's Rock Climbing (PARC) Act and the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act - Recognizes recreational climbing, including use and maintenance of fixed anchors, as appropriate wilderness use under certain conditions - Clarifies criteria for casual use and outlines processes for authorizing activities exceeding casual-use thresholds - Addresses management of legacy routes, anchors, emergencies, fixed equipment, and commercial services - Notable Requirements: - No procurement of products or services; this is a policy notice seeking public input - No OEMs, vendors, or purchase quantities are specified

Description

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing a Draft Statement of Policy to update policy and procedural guidance for managing recreational climbing in BLM-managed units of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). This update incorporates Congressional direction from the Protecting America's Rock Climbing (PARC) Act as part of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The draft guidance recognizes recreational climbing as an appropriate wilderness use when conducted according to applicable laws, clarifies criteria for casual use, and outlines processes for authorizing activities exceeding casual-use thresholds. The BLM is seeking public comment to inform the final guidance for inclusion in Manual 6340.

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