NMF&LB Members Respond to BLM Proposed Rule

On April 3, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register entitled, “Strengthening the Stewardship of America’s Public Lands.” The proposed rule includes significant changes to the way BLM currently manages public lands and has the potential to adversely impact current permitted uses like grazing, mining, and energy development. The rule was drafted in the shadows and included no stakeholder input or opportunity for public engagement.

The proposed rule:

• Aims to place conservation on equal footing with other uses, potentially compromising how the current lease programs operate.

• Would apply “Land Health Standards” to all 245 million acres under the BLM’s portfolio. (This standard currently only applies to grazed lands.)

• Proposes the creation of “Conservation Leases.”

• Prioritizes the creation of more Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).

With just over 13 million acres of BLM land located in NM, the proposed rule will significantly impact how we utilize these lands.

The proposed rule was open for public comment until July 5, 2023. More than 152,000 comments were submitted to the Federal Register by the deadline, and NMF&LB members sent nearly 200 messages to New Mexico’s congressional delegation and the Federal Register. The BLM held virtual and in-person informational public meetings throughout May and June, and multiple NMF&LB members attended the meeting in Albuquerque on May 30.

NMF&LB will continue to provide updates to members on next steps on the proposed rule. More information about the rule and a recording of the virtual meeting held May 15 is available at https://www.blm.gov/public-lands-rule.