Form 1221-2 (June 1969) UNITED STATES Release DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 3-336 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Date MANUAL TRANSMITTAL SHEET 09/17/2012 Subject H – 3809-1 – Surface Management 1. Explanation of Materials Transmitted: This release transmits an entirely new Handbook Section, H-3809-1 - Surface Management. The Handbook incorporates changes in policies resulting from the revision of regulations in 43 CFR 3809. 2. Reports Required: None 3. Materials Canceled: None 4. Filing Instructions: File as directed below REMOVE INSERT N/A H – 3809 -1 (339 pages) /s/ Michael D. Nedd Michael D. Nedd Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management This Page Left Blank Surface Management Handbook BLM Handbook H-3809-1 This Page Left Blank BLM HANDBOOK Rel. 3-336 09/17/2012 H-3809-1 – SURFACE MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK – (Public) i Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Objective ............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.3 Authorities.......................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3.1 Statutes ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.3.2 Regulations ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.4 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................................. 1-2 1.4.1 BLM Director.............................................................................................................. 1-2 1.4.2 BLM State Director..................................................................................................... 1-2 1.4.3 District, Field, and Monument Managers ................................................................... 1-2 1.4.4 Program Specialist ...................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4.5 Delegation of Authority .............................................................................................. 1-4 Chapter 2 Casual Use Activity ..................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Negligible Disturbance ...................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Not Casual Use .................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.2.1 Cumulative Effects...................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Occupancy................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.3 Operator Notification .................................................................................................. 2-2 Chapter 3 Operations Conducted Under Notices ......................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Pre-January 20, 2001 Notice-Level Operations ................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Continued Pre-2001 Operations .................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Extended Pre-2001 Notice .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.3 Change of Operator on Pre-2001 Notice .................................................................... 3-2 3.1.4 Modified Pre-2001 Notice .......................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.5 Additional Acreage on Pre-2001 Notice ..................................................................... 3-2 3.1.6 Expired Pre-2001 Notice............................................................................................. 3-3 3.2 Filing a Notice.................................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.1 Required Filing ........................................................................................................... 3-3 3.2.2 Reviewing the Filing ................................................................................................... 3-7 3.2.3 Operator Notification ................................................................................................ 3-10 3.2.4 Authorization ............................................................................................................ 3-12 3.2.5 Commencing Operations .......................................................................................... 3-13 3.3 Notice Modification ......................................................................................................... 3-13 3.3.1 Modifying a Notice ................................................................................................... 3-13 3.3.2 BLM Required Modification .................................................................................... 3-13 3.3.3 Modification Review ................................................................................................ 3-14 3.3.4 Commencing Operations .......................................................................................... 3-14 3.3.5 Continued Operations ............................................................................................... 3-14 3.3.6 Change of Operator ................................................................................................... 3-14 3.4 Notice Term ..................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.4.1 Initial Term ............................................................................................................... 3-14 3.4.2 Notice Extension ....................................................................................................... 3-15 3.5 Expired Notice ................................................................................................................. 3-17 3.5.1 Inspection .................................................................................................................. 3-17 BLM HANDBOOK Rel. 3-336 09/17/2012 H-3809-1 – SURFACE MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK – (Public) ii 3.5.2 Closing the Case File ................................................................................................ 3-17 Chapter 4 Plan of Operations – Content and Processing ............................................................. 4-1 4.1 Requirement to File a Plan of Operations .......................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 Existing Plans of Operations ....................................................................................... 4-2 4.2 Plans of Operations - Overview of Processes .................................................................... 4-2 4.2.1 Plan Review Timeline ................................................................................................. 4-3 4.2.2 Plan Review Level of Detail and Effort ...................................................................... 4-3 4.3 Plan of Operations – Filing and Content............................................................................ 4-4 4.3.1 Pre-Plan Coordination ................................................................................................. 4-4 4.3.2 Completeness Requirement ...................................................................................... 4-13 4.3.3 Proposed Operations and Operator Identification..................................................... 4-13 4.3.4 Additional Information Requirements ...................................................................... 4-29 4.3.5 Reclamation Cost Estimate Information Requirement ............................................. 4-31 4.4 Processing the Plan of Operations ................................................................................... 4-32 4.4.1 Completeness Review ............................................................................................... 4-32 4.4.2 NEPA Analysis ......................................................................................................... 4-39 4.4.3 Issuing a Decision ..................................................................................................... 4-44 4.5 Beginning Operations ...................................................................................................... 4-48 4.5.1 State and Federal Permit Requirements .................................................................... 4-48 4.5.2 Phased Approvals or Development ........................................................................... 4-48 4.6 Modifications to Plans of Operations .............................................................................. 4-49 4.6.1 Operator Requested Modifications ........................................................................... 4-49 4.6.2 Required Modifications ............................................................................................ 4-49 4.6.3 BLM Review of Plan Modifications ........................................................................