In 1976, Congress passed the Federal Land Policy Management Act, which guides the Bureau of Land Management in public lands policy. Critics say the act has several shortcomings, but changes in policy may address them.
The Biden administration recently directed the agency to elevate recreation and conservation to the same level as other land uses, such as mining or grazing.
Critics say that may not be enough, because the agency has an ingrained bias for uses such as cattle and minerals.
Ken Rait, of the Pew Charitable Trusts, said that after years of turmoil during the Trump administration, the agency is undergoing changes.
“The reality is the BLM culture is changing. There’s fresh new leadership in this administration that is very well aware of what the public values are in the West, and is responding to what the public interest is,” Rait said.
The deadline to submit comments on the proposed rule change is June 20.
