Locking up the land. Endangering our economy. Limiting jobs. That is what a few squeaky wheels would like you to believe are the impacts to our communities from national monuments and added protections for America’s great open spaces.

In May 2010, BLM hosted a science symposium in Albuquerque called "A Decade of Discovery," honoring the 10th anniversary of the National Landscape Conservation System. The symposium invited presenters from various fields to explore the scientific value of our conservation lands.

Since its passage by Congress in 1906, the Antiquities Act has been a critically important tool for the preservation of our public lands – lands that belong to all Americans. Serving as a vital “insurance policy” for our nation’s natural treasures, the Antiquities Act gives the president the power to grant national monument status to areas possessing significant historical and/or scientific values.

This guide walks you through how the BLM Scoping Process works for National Monuments and National Conservation Areas. Scoping is the first stage in the planning process where the BLM solicits public input to get a general understanding of major resource issues and management concerns. During this stage, the BLM issues a Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register, signaling the start of the formal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).