Congressman Zinke Denounces BLM Land Grab

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement in opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Conservation and Landscape Health rule.

“Once again, the Biden Administration is ignoring the multiple use mandate on BLM lands in favor of radical environmentalists funding their political operation and controlling western lands,” said Rep. Zinke. “Conservation has always been an end goal of the BLM’s mandate and is already a focus for all those who utilize our public lands. The enactment of “conservation leases” is about control and is a direct threat to communities that create jobs, fund their schools, and build their livelihoods on grazing, mining, energy production and outdoor recreation. I will be submitting a rider on the FY25 Interior appropriations bill blocking this rule until a new administration is in control.”

Background:

• The Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule is a radical shift in the way the agency approaches land management which has been in place for over 50 years.
• This rule includes “Restoration and Mitigation” leases, previously named “conservation leases” which subvert the multiple use mandate established by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 threatening access to federal lands for purposes such as grazing, mining, timber production, energy production, and outdoor recreation.
• This rule expands designations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern effectively locking up lands across the West.
• Rep Zinke previously co-sponsored H.R. 3397 which requires BLM to withdraw the rule and included that language as a rider in the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.

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