The Proposed RMP and Final EIS describe and analyze alternatives for the planning and management of public lands and resources administered by the BLM, Bakersfield Field Office. The Planning Area is located in central California, and comprises approximately 17 million acres of land. Within the Decision Area, the BLM administers approximately 400,000 acres of surface estate and 1.2 million acres of federal mineral estate. Through this RMP revision, the BLM is revising the existing plans (1997 Caliente and 1984 Hollister RMP's) to address the availability of new data and policies, emerging issues, and changing circumstances that have occurred during the 14 plus years since the ROD for the existing plans were signed. As part of the RMP revision process, the BLM conducted scoping to solicit input from the public and interested agencies on the nature and extent of issues and impacts to be addressed in the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. Planning issues identified from this RMP revision focus on access to public, travel, recreation and visitor services, wildlife and special status species, livestock grazing, and energy and minerals management.