The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Bureau of Land Management's Resource Management Plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is a rule subject to the Congressional Review Act's submission requirements. The decision follows a review of whether the plan, which governs 1.87 million acres of public land, must be submitted to both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
GAO decision on rule submission
In a decision released by the GAO on January 15, 2026, the agency determined that the Grand Staircase Resource Management Plan (RMP) meets the definition of a rule under the Administrative Procedure Act. Because no exceptions under the Congressional Review Act apply, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must submit the plan to Congress and the Comptroller General before it can take effect.
Review of plan's legal history
The BLM originally issued the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan for the monument on January 13, 2025. The GAO's investigation into the plan's legal status involved reviewing the agency's views, which the Department of the Interior provided in a response dated September 18, 2025.
Purpose and restoration of boundaries
The Grand Staircase RMP was developed to align with Presidential Proclamation 10286, which restored the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its pre-December 4, 2017, levels. The plan directs the BLM to manage these lands specifically to protect and restore objects identified in both Proclamation 10286 and Proclamation 6920.
Land-use restrictions and prohibitions
The management plan implements several significant land-use restrictions across the 1.87 million acres of BLM-administered land. These include a zonal system that designates more than 1.2 million acres as a "primitive area" where off-highway vehicle use is prohibited. Additionally, the RMP mandates the withdrawal of all federal lands within the decision area from both mineral and geothermal leasing.
Specific environmental and recreational protections
Other specific protections established by the RMP include limits on the number of days camping is permitted, the identification of certain pastures as unavailable for grazing or open only for trailing, and the distinction between recreational shooting and game hunting. The plan also provides explicit protections for old-growth trees and migratory birds, while creating new Areas of Critical Environmental Concern to safeguard sensitive resources.
Livestock grazing and tribal access
The RMP also addresses livestock and tribal interests by reflecting instructions from Proclamation 10286, which states that lands covered by voluntarily relinquished grazing permits or leases will be retired from livestock grazing. Furthermore, the plan ensures that tribal members maintain access to sites and resources for customary usage.
In a separate regional matter, the Washington County Water Conservancy District continues to operate under the oversight of its appointed board of trustees. The district is governed in accordance with Utah legislative policy, utilizing county-wide representatives to oversee district activities during scheduled public meetings.
