Notice2026-11950
Draft Policy and Guidance for Managing Recreational Climbing in BLM-Managed Units of the National Wilderness Preservation System
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing this Draft Statement of Policy to announce updated policy and procedural guidance for managing recreational climbing in BLM-managed units of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). This draft guidance, proposed as an update to BLM Manual 6340--Management of Designated Wilderness Areas, incorporates Congressional direction from the Protecting America's Rock Climbing (PARC) Act, as included in section 122 of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. The BLM is seeking public comment to inform the final guidance for inclusion in Manual 6340.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 114 (Monday, June 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35996-35997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11950]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516; #O2509-014-004-125222]
Draft Policy and Guidance for Managing Recreational Climbing in
BLM-Managed Units of the National Wilderness Preservation System
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of policy and procedural guidance.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing this Draft
Statement of Policy to announce updated policy and procedural guidance
for managing recreational climbing in BLM-managed units of the National
Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). This draft guidance, proposed as
an update to BLM Manual 6340--Management of Designated Wilderness
Areas, incorporates Congressional direction from the Protecting
America's Rock Climbing (PARC) Act, as included in section 122 of the
Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act.
The BLM is seeking public comment to inform the final guidance for
inclusion in Manual 6340.
DATES: Send your comments on the draft policy and guidance on or before
August 14, 2026. The BLM is not obligated to consider comments received
after this date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods.
Please include the words ``Draft Recreational Climbing in Wilderness
Guidance'' as an identifier in your message. See also discussion of
Public Availability of Comments below.
To view a copy of the draft guidance and to submit comments
electronically, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search-box,
enter the Docket number ``BLM-2026-0034'' and click the ``Search''
button. Click the ``Comment Now!'' button. Comments can also be mailed
or hand delivered to: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630),
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC
20240, Attention: Draft Recreational Climbing in Wilderness Policy
Guidance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean MacDougall, BLM Division of
National Conservation Lands, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f4d434250475e503b3e3f505866636b6a7d616a7c7c4f4d434221484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95d7d9d8caddc4caa1a4a5cac2fcf9f1f0e7fbf0e6e6d5d7d9d8bbd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>,
telephone: (970) 256-4934 for additional information.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, blind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting
Mr. MacDougall. Individuals outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their country to make international calls
to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM has released updated policy and
procedural guidance for managing recreational climbing in BLM-managed
[[Page 35997]]
units of the NWPS. This draft guidance, proposed as an update to BLM
Manual 6340--Management of Designated Wilderness Areas, incorporates
Congressional direction from the PARC Act, as included in section 122
of the EXPLORE Act (16 U.S.C. 8422). It recognizes recreational
climbing--including the use, placement, and maintenance of fixed
anchors--as an appropriate wilderness use when conducted in accordance
with the Wilderness Act and other applicable laws; clarifies criteria
for casual use; and outlines processes for authorizing activities that
exceed casual-use thresholds, managing legacy routes and anchors, and
addressing emergencies, fixed equipment, and commercial services. In
accordance with 16 U.S.C. 8422(f), the BLM is seeking public comment to
inform the final guidance for inclusion in Manual 6340.
Substantive edits to Manual 6340 related to section 122 of the
EXPLORE Act include:
<bullet> Section 1.6.B.2.j, installations;
<bullet> Section 1.6.C.13.c.ix. Primitive recreation;
<bullet> Section 1.6.C.13.f. Recreational climbing activities in
wilderness;
<bullet> Section 1.6.D.5.a. Wilderness Management Plans; Climbing
Management Plans; and
<bullet> Glossary revisions for ``anchor, permanent fixed,''
``anchor temporary,'' ``clean climbing,'' ``fixed equipment,'' and
``installation''.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 8422)
Carla M. Bock,
Acting Assistant Director, National Conservation Lands and Community
Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 2026-11950 Filed 6-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-30-P
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