Don Amador is not the only land use advocate up in arms with the proposed BLM rule changes. Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA) has also sounded the alarm. ARRA is concerned that the proposed changes would fundamentally alter how BLM manages its lands through an approach never envisioned by Congress or the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). As a result, ARRA believes BLM should rescind the rule and, if it would like to move forward with the proposal, BLM should encourage Congress to implement the changes through legislation.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on its proposed Conservation and Landscape Health rule. BLM purports that the rulemaking is intended to “…establish a framework to ensure healthy landscapes, abundant wildlife habitat, clean water and balanced decision-making on our nation’s public lands.”
To expedite the emergence alert, ARRA has even provided a template to voice your concern. Sample letter on the proposed rule:
As a recreation enthusiast passionate about continuing responsible recreational access to federal lands, I write to urge the BLM to rescind its proposed rule titled Conservation and Landscape Health.
The proposal seeks to redefine “Conservation” as protection and to treat the newly defined “Conservation” as a use just like recreation and other uses outlined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). This change alone should not be attempted in a rulemaking process but should instead be considered by Congress.
The proposed rule would also implement Landscape Health Standards across all BLM management instead of applying only to grazing, implement a nebulous, first-of-its-kind Conservation Leasing scheme, and create new categories of lands that can be designated as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. This is far too much to be considered in a single rulemaking. It is unlikely even the authors of this rule can credibly claim to understand how all these sweeping changes would interact should the rule be implemented.
Please rescind this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
It is important that you have your voice heard! Please visit regulations.gov to submit comments on the proposed rule – you can copy, edit, and paste the draft comments below. The comment period ends on July 5, 2023.
