Dozens of Democratic lawmakers on Monday urged Interior Secretary Doug Burgum not to revoke a rule that elevates conservation on par with other uses of millions of acres of rangelands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.
Doing so would “undermine the long-term resilience of BLM lands at a time when wide-ranging stressors — including climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, and increasing public demand for access to public lands — require stronger, not weaker, management frameworks,” the 61 lawmakers wrote in a letter sent Monday to Burgum and Bill Groffy, BLM’s acting director.
“We urge you to withdraw the proposed rescission and continue to fully implement the Public Lands Rule,” according to the letter, organized by California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, and Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper.
“The Rule is critical to meeting BLM’s statutory obligations, sustaining and realizing the benefits of multiple uses compatible with public lands,” the lawmakers added, “and ensuring these special landscapes remain healthy and productive for all Americans to enjoy for years to come.”
