actions of the Department suggest some- ponent parts.”Interior also pointed to other thing far more damaging: a deliberate entities, such as the Food and Drug Admineffort to dismantle and weaken the Bureau.” istration, which are located outside of D.C. Apparently supporting the multiple use The Public Lands Foundation, a group of by Frank Dubois concept of managing federal lands is an retired BLM employees, is opposing the “attack” in the eyes of Udall. reorganization and have written to the Udall and his counterpart in the House Senate Committee on Energy and Natural of Representatives, Rep. Betty McCollum Resources requesting they hold a hearing (D-Minn), have demanded the Department on the matter. In their letter, they say the BLM’s westward trek and enviros “immediately suspend its efforts to relocate.” headquarters should stay in D.C. where losing water battle In response, Interior released a statement decisions are made that “affect all Amerisaying, “It’s troubling that Sen. Udall and cans.” The relocation, they say, would Rep. McCollum seem to have missed the benefit the “short-term” interests of local numerous detailed reports, Committee and stakeholders to the “detriment of all other he Department of Interior is moving staff briefings, and written responses to constituents and the long-term needs of forward with their plan to relocate the every single question asked by the Con- the public lands.” They also say the breakup headquarters of the Bureau of Land gress during the past few months. All of of the D.C. structure “will promote local, Management (BLM) to Grand Junction, Col- these briefings and communications have parochial interests over the national orado. The reorganization would have the explained the advantages, efficiencies, and interests.” top twenty-seven BLM positions make the other savings of such a relocation to the Did you ever wonder what BLM employmove to Grand Junction while three Department, our stakeholders, and the ees thought about the comments you make hundred or so will be assigned to various public. We have stressed from early on the local level concerning resource manin this process that it was consistent with agement plans, allotment management positions in the West. Sixty-one positions will remain in D.C. and responsive to the feedback received plans, draft EISs, etc.? Then just look up the The plan to move BLM headquarters is from a broad range of partners, including synonyms of “parochial”, and there you will vehemently opposed by the environmental members of Congress, Governors, local finds words like: narrow-minded, limited, lobby groups, which means, guess what, it officials and the public. In addition, we have close-minded, petty, blinkered and myopic. is opposed by the Democrats in Congress. provided office-level, state by state break- Now you know how they view your comLeading the pack is Senator Tom Udall downs of the benefits of this effort.” ments, thanks to this insight from an (D-NM). Udall, who is the top Democrat on Another issue being raised by the oppo- organization of six hundred retired BLM the Senate Subcommittee on Interior nents is a federal statute that says, “all employees. Appropriations, has said the relocation “is offices attached to the seat of government Smarter forbeAgriculture. ® District of Colum- POTUS & WOTUS not based on rigorous financialInsurance and orga- shall exercised in the nizational analysis, nor is it intended to bia, and not elsewhere, except as otherwise The U. S. Congress passed the Clean increase the Bureau’s accountability and provided by law.” In response, Interior Water Act (CWA) in 1972 to restore and improve the management of our nation’s wrote, “all offices attached to the seat of maintain the integrity of our nation’s waters. public lands.” Udall further stated. “…in government” should be interpreted as “an In general, the CWA prohibits the discharge light of the recent appointment of an acting executive department, a term defined else- of materials into navigable waters without Bureau Director with a long-established where in the U.S. Code to include the a permit. Navigable waters are defined as To learn more about a risk management tool that can record of attacks on public lands, the Department of the Interior, but not its com- “waters of the United States”. And just what NEW MEXICO FEDERAL LANDS NEWS
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