HJM 6: Opposing BLM Public Lands Rule — 2024

Rep. Megan Blanksma (R-Hammett) introduced HJM 6 in the House Resources & Conservation Committee. The Memorial voices opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Public Lands Rule, which places priorities, including conservation, cultural land protection, access to nature, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation, on an equal footing with extractive activities (such as grazing and oil and gas leasing) in the BLM’s consideration of how the public lands will be used. ICL’s blog has some helpful background on why we support the proposed BLM rule.

The proposed rule is important, as the BLM manages more acreage than any other federal agency (roughly 1/10 of the entire U.S. land area), 90% of which is currently open to extractive development. Considering the increasing pressures of climate change, giving conservation priorities equal weight will allow the BLM to more responsibly administer the lands in its care, assuring their ability to provide for all uses – extractive and non-extractive alike – in the future.

There has been a good deal of misinformation circulated about the BLM’s proposed rule, including allegations that it’s illegal. To the contrary, the proposed rule is fully consistent with the BLM’s multiple use mandate, a finding upheld by 8 state attorneys general and 27 law professors. The BLM clearly asserts that valid existing extractive rights will be unaffected by the rule, so fears that this will end grazing, mining, or other extractive uses are also misplaced.

Finally, contrary to some assertions, the proposed rule was not rushed through without public input. The BLM provided a 75-day public comment period which included three in-person meetings and two virtual meetings. An impressive 92% of the comments submitted during this process were in support of the proposed rule.