Implementation of the National Data Standard for Lands with Wilderness Characteristics
National Headquarters, Western Office
Grand Junction, CO 81506
United States
1262/1631 (HQ410) P
This Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM) provides guidance for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state and field offices to implement a national data standard for the Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) geospatial dataset. The LWC National Data Standard is used to inventory and manage lands with wilderness characteristics. The purpose for the LWC National Data Standard is to:
- Provide a consistent format of data across all BLM states.
- Track the inventoried and managed status of lands with wilderness characteristics.
- Create a national repository for publicly available LWC data.
The LWC National Data Standard supports the inventory and management decision processes for lands with wilderness characteristics, ensuring consistent data collection and usage across the BLM. This standard applies to all lands inventoried for LWC, regardless of their management status. The development of this data standard aligns with BLM Manual 6310, Conducting Wilderness Characteristics Inventory on BLM Lands, and BLM Manual 6320, Considering Lands with Wilderness Characteristics in the BLM Land Use Planning Process.
The LWC National Data Standard will be implemented as a distributed database and three feature classes in the BLM National Data Viewer. Further information is available on the Lands with Wilderness Characteristics SharePoint Site. This project site includes access to:
- Schema XML
- Schema Design Workbook
- Metadata XMLs
- Workflow
Mission
Section 201 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) requires the BLM to maintain, on a continuing basis, an inventory of all public lands and their resources and other values, which includes wilderness characteristics. Inventories determine the presence or absence of wilderness characteristics. Inventories must have permanent files that are updated with new information as it is collected to stay current. It is essential that adequate records of inventories and their updates are maintained to ensure proper documentation of inventory findings, including narratives, maps, photographs, new information, and any other relevant information. The LWC inventory process is distinct and separate from the designated wilderness and wilderness study area (WSA) monitoring process.
Consistent with section 202 of FLPMA and other applicable authorities, as part of its multiple use mandate, the BLM will continue to consider wilderness characteristics of public lands and determine how these lands will be managed when undertaking land use planning.
The goal of this data standard policy is to:
- Collect and maintain the LWC data in separate “Inventoried” and “Managed” feature classes within the data standard.
- Store historical inventories.
- Ensure a consistent metadata description for LWC across all datasets.
- Establish a common national schema that all offices will use for LWC data.
- Provide a central repository for LWC data, ensuring that relevant datasets are accessible to the public.
This PIM is effective immediately and will remain in effect unless superseded by law, regulation, or policy.
The overall budget impact on field offices, states, and centers will be moderate, primarily in terms of prioritizing dedicated staff time to accomplish the work.
Currently, each state office has its own data standard for LWC data. Development of a national data standard for LWC will provide a consistent method of collecting and storing data to assist the BLM Headquarters Wilderness Program (HQ410), state offices coordinating with other states or agencies, and the interested public. The LWC National Data Standard is intended to help answer questions regarding nominated, inventoried, and managed lands with wilderness characteristics. This data standard will also be used to collect data to inform management decisions and for national reporting.
BLM Manual Section 6310, Conducting Wilderness Characteristics Inventory on BLM Lands, and BLM Manual Section 6320, Considering Lands with Wilderness Characteristics in the BLM Land Use Planning Process.
For further information, contact Peter Keller, National Wilderness Program Lead (HQ410), pkeller@blm.gov, (202) 853-0480; Alysa Ochoa Black, GIS Data Management Specialist, amochoa@blm.gov; and Kurt Kirkpatrick, Data Standards Lead, kkirkpatrick@blm.gov.
The process identified in this policy was developed by the Headquarters National Conservation Lands Division (HQ410) with the assistance of the National Operations Center and multiple BLM state offices.