Welcome to the Wilderness Study Areas Training Page
This course will familiarize you with one of four programs within the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), or National Conservation Lands and program policies issued in 2012. These include the Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), National Monuments and National Conservation Areas (NMs/NCAs), Wild and Scenic River (WSRs), and National Scenic and Historic Trail (NSHT) programs.
Course Objectives: Increase participants’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in:
Wilderness Study Areas
- Module 1 - What is a Wilderness Study Area - what defines a WSA, how WSAs are a part of BLM's mission, which laws authorize WSAs, the process by which BLM established WSAs, general management principles, the difference between wilderness, WSAs, and lands with wilderness characteristics.
- Module 2 - What are the general policy requirements for managing a Wilderness Study Area - documentation: the permanent file, WSA Boundary Descriptions, Boundary Adjustments & Acquisitions, WSA Management Principles, and Monitoring Requirements.
Module 3 - What is the Non-Impairment Standard - BLM's non-impairment standard, the seven classes of allowable exceptions, how to apply the non-impairment standard and exceptions.
Module 4 - Evaluating the impact of a proposed action on a Wilderness Study Area - Identify what proposed actions are subject to wilderness evaluation, determine the type of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis required for a proposed action potentially impacting a WSA, follow the eight-step process provided by the WSA Manual to evaluate a proposed action inside a WSA and document appropriately. - Module 5 - Monitoring - describe the monitoring requirements for WSAs, understand components of an alternative monitoring schedule, describe several methods or techniques for incorporating monitoring into WSA management.
Target Audience:
Primary: Field Office Managers (w/ National Monument & National Conservation Area units), Monument and National Conservation Area unit managers, local planning lead (NEPA specialists), resource specialists and supervisory staff (e.g. senior ORPs, Field Office staff who work on National Monument & National Conservation Areas), State NLCS Leads, National Program Leads (WO-200, WO-400)
Secondary: State Directors, District Managers, Field Office Managers (w/o National Monument & National Conservation Area units); other NLCS staff (WO-400), Lands and Minerals Staff (WO-300), Public Affairs, Legislative Affairs, and if possible, all BLM employees
Additional Audiences: (not in the target audience): Cooperating Agencies, partners, and collaborators