One of the most significant laws passed by the U.S. Congress in this century-one that charts a new course in public land management-is the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) which was signed into law in October l976. This law is a very important one to our nation for it establishes a foundation for the management of some 470 million acres of Federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (ELM). These vast acreages, that range across the West and Alaska, are what remain of America's early public domain. They also represent a significant part of our nation's economic, social, and environmental future. They must produce for today and be preserved for tomorrow. From the very beginning, the laws Congress gave us contemplated the eventual settlement or disposal of all public lands. While this philosophy gradually turned around to one of retention and management, it persisted until passage of the FLPMA.