Laws, Regulations, and Policies

BLM Related Laws

The laws and regulations that govern the BLM's system of public lands were developed primarily over the course of the 20th century, beginning with our "organic act" - the Federal Policy and Land Management Act of 1976. These laws contain direction for managing productive forests, wild horses and burros, recreation opportunities, energy, mineral and cultural resources. Many of these laws, regulations, and policies are broadly applicable to the BLM, while others are specific to particular lands or resource types.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (PDF)
O&C Lands Act of 1937 (PDF)
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (PDF)
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (PDF)
Reauthorized Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (PDF)
- Payment Information
Omnibus Public Land Management Act (Public Law 111-11) (PDF)
General Mining Laws (overview only, actual legislation in the future)
Mineral Leasing Act and Amendments (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) (PDF)
The Federal Land Transfer Facilitation Act (P.L. 106-248) (PDF)
The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, as amended through 1/2006 (PDF)
Cultural/Historic Protection and Preservation Acts
Fee System for Commercial Filming Activities on Federal land (PDF)

BLM Related Regulations

To see regulations topically organized and recent changes, click here
To comment on proposed BLM regulations, click here
Other BLM Regulatory Actions (including history of changes, etc.)

Federal Register Related

Federal Register Notices
The manuals and handbooks that describe how BLM does its work
Administrative court decisions concerning BLM-managed lands and actions: Interior Board of Land Appeals
Search the Departmental library for Secretarial Orders and other documents
See a list of Public Land Orders (PLO). To see a specific PLO (from 1995 to present, obtain the Federal Register citation and search here.