Description: A Land Use Planning Area is defined as the geographic area within which the BLM will make decisions during a planning effort. A planning area boundary includes all lands regardless of jurisdiction; however, the BLM will only make decisions on lands that fall under the BLM’s jurisdiction (including subsurface minerals). Unless the State Director determines otherwise, the planning area for a RMP is the geographic area associated with a particular field office (43 CFR 1610.1(b)). State Directors may also establish regional planning areas that encompass several field offices and/or states, as necessary. Page 14 of the BLM Planning Handbook.