Members of Congress

Ranking Member Raul Grijalva said “With nearly a quarter of our carbon pollution coming from fossil fuel production on public lands, we have a mandate to fundamentally transform the way we manage our public lands in the face of climate change,” said Grijalva. “I’m glad to hear the Biden administration is taking that charge seriously with today’s decision.

“This decision is especially welcome as House Republicans continue to push their Polluters Over People agenda by passing legislation today that gives away even more of our public lands to Big Oil for cheap. The mess that polluters have already created makes it clear that we need to guide public land management with sustainability and future generations in mind, not dirty industry profits.”

Representative Diana DeGette tweeted: GOOD NEWS: Just weeks after Rep. Huffman & I called on @Interior to use its authority to protect more of our public land, they announced plans today to do exactly that. This is a big win in our effort to protect more of our nation’s wilderness for future generations to enjoy!

Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez tweeted: In Nuevo Mexico, our lands are our heritage and history. For thousands of years, our people have been stewards of clean air and water, healthy forests, and responsible agriculture. Now @Interior and @BLMNational are prioritizing these lands for the future.

Representative Jared Huffman tweeted: We have a responsibility to be good stewards of our public lands – and that starts with balanced land management that prioritizes cultural lands protection, conservation, wildlife restoration, and recreation instead of fossil fuel extraction.

Representative Melanie Stansbury tweeted: In New Mexico, our lands and waters are a part of who we are. Grateful for @SecDebHaaland and @Interior's announcement yesterday of efforts to ensure conservation is at the forefront in the protection and stewardship of our @BLMNational lands!

National

Jim Baca, Former Bureau of Land Management Director said, “The time has certainly arrived and, in reality, is overdue for BLM to put the protection of New Mexico’s and our nation’s wildest public lands, the health of crucial rivers and streams and the integrity of its irreplaceable sacred sites and cultural resources on even footing extractive industry.”

James Kenna, Retired California State Director Bureau of Land Management, and Conservation Lands Foundation Board Member said, “People who visit, and communities that live close to, Bureau of Land Management lands know they include some of the nation’s most important watersheds and habitat for wildlife and fish.  They know the beauty of the scenic expanses and the cultural significance of those places.  Laws calling for conservation on those lands have been on the books since the 1970s.  It is an overdue and welcome step to see our national policies updated to help land managers ensure better on-the-ground conservation outcomes all across the West.”

Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia said, “Our nation’s largest public lands agency, the Bureau of Land Management, has largely focused on resource extraction and commodity development for nearly 40 years,” said Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. “As the climate crisis worsens and nature disappears, the US government must prioritize the protection of land and water for future generations and Indigenous communities, and to conserve habitat for endangered species. Otherwise, we won’t have a planet worth living on.”

Anna Peterson, Executive Director of The Mountain Pact said, “Over 120 local elected officials from western states have called on the Biden administration to protect more Bureau of Land Management lands as part of the administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. We look forward to the BLM using this rulemaking process to conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands, wildlife and waters in tandem with locally-led efforts to advance conservation across the west.”

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, President and CEO Land Tawney said, Hunters and anglers have good cause to support the forward-looking, comprehensive management strategy being proposed by the Interior Department. This approach builds on historic investments made through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by implementing a holistic management plan that considers the broad array of diverse stakeholder needs while also establishing a focus on long-term conservation habitat. This framework will give BLM managers the tools they need to manage for intact and resilient landscapes. In addition, it prioritizes important active management prescriptions to tackle invasive species and the restoration of lands and waters through conservation leasing - an underutilized tool that will encourage partnerships and collaboration with local communities and NGOs like BHA.”

Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program said, “The process announced today could fundamentally change the way BLM approaches land management. As the largest manager of lands in the country, BLM must be a critical part of the U.S. strategy for taking on climate change and biodiversity loss. The landscapes overseen by BLM are some of the most iconic and treasured places in the country, but for too long, those lands and waters have been managed to emphasize private profit over public benefit. BLM's proposed process sets a good foundation, and this comment period will be an important opportunity for the department to finetune this process and incorporate feedback from the communities most affected by their decisions. We hope that this process leads to a new BLM that puts the needs of the climate and species ahead of profits for the oil and gas industry.”

Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society, said “Rebalancing the Bureau of Land Management by focusing its priorities on conservation will better safeguard our nation’s lands, waters and wildlife and strengthen agency partnerships with tribes and local communities to protect the places they cherish for years to come. We need a climate plan for public lands because we have limited time to stave off the worst climate impacts on our communities and stop the loss of nature. Better managing public lands for ecosystem resilience in the face of climate pressure, as this rule proposes, is a piece of the puzzle in making our nation’s lands and waters a solution for addressing severe threats to public health and the natural world.”  

Danielle Murray, Conservation Lands Foundation, Senior Director, said, “For far too long the Bureau of Land Management has focused on resource extraction and commodity development, neglecting conservation and restoration. The agency’s Public Lands Rule will re-focus management on the needs of the 21st century, better protecting people and the environment from climate-related impacts. We thank the Biden administration for recognizing that our public lands are one of our nation’s most valuable resources and that the time has come to prioritize the management of natural systems and healthy communities in the West.”

Sara Brodnax, Director of Public Lands Policy at the National Audubon Society, said “Conserve is a verb. You have to do it. From the bald eagle to the Greater sage-grouse, we’ve learned that conservation takes deliberate action. It doesn’t happen by chance and it doesn’t happen by simply hoping that nature will find balance – especially in sensitive ecosystems that have endured decades of overuse or neglect. That’s why the Bureau of Land Management must have in place policies to balance responsible development with land and wildlife conservation and must engage in active management to help restore degraded areas.”

Bailey Brennan, public lands attorney at the National Wildlife Federation said “The Bureau of Land Management’s mission has always been to steward our public lands for multiple uses, including conservation, recreation, and cultural values. Unfortunately, too often this broad congressional direction has been overshadowed by the urge to extract from these lands without much emphasis on the health of the ecosystems. This new plan is welcome news for fish and wildlife, sportsmen and women, rural economies, and all who depend upon these lands. It is also a chance for the Biden Administration to recommit to full co-management of these lands with the Indigenous communities and Tribal Nations that have vast ecological knowledge in caring for these lands.”

Camilla Simon, executive director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) said, “For far too long, the agency tasked with stewarding more than 245 million acres has put a premium on resource extraction while wildlife, fragile watersheds, recreation, and the protection of cultural resources have taken second place. This new rule will modernize management priorities to help mitigate climate-related impacts, restore fragmented habitat, and expand opportunities to connect with nature. We look forward to working with the administration as it implements this plan — in coordination with Tribal and local partners — so that the health of the lands, waters and nearby communities are prioritized.”

America Fitzpatrick, Conservation Program Director with the League of Conservation Voters said, “In the face of the climate crisis, it’s more important now than ever to make sure our public lands are part of the climate solution. We applaud the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule, which would rebalance the management of our public lands, and urge the BLM to continue partnering with Tribal nations and use its administrative tools to protect our land, water, wildlife, and cultural resources.”

Vera Smith, Senior Federal Lands Policy Analyst at Defenders of Wildlife said, “We have long been concerned about the ecological decline of public lands and the associated loss of habitats for at-risk species like the black footed ferret and pygmy rabbit. This is an invaluable opportunity for its priorities and safeguard habitats for wildlife that are trending toward extinction, so that they not only exist but thrive in the future.”

Accountable.US said, “This rule starts to end Big’s Oil’s special treatment by the federal government when it comes to managing assets that belong to all Americans. Huge energy companies have spent millions to make politicians put them at the front of the line to profit from public lands for too long,” said Jordan Schreiber, Director of Energy at Accountable.US. “We applaud the Biden administration for beginning to reverse the unfair access these powerful special interest groups have enjoyed at the expense of ordinary Americans.”

National Parks Conservation Association, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kristen Brengel, “The proposed rule directly responds to the growing need to better manage public lands, waters, and wildlife in the face of devastating wildfires, historic droughts, and severe storms that communities are experiencing across the West, as well as to deepen BLM’s collaborative work with communities, states and Tribes to support responsible development of critical minerals, energy and other resources.”

Center for American Progress, Senior Fellow, Drew McConville said: “America’s public lands should be managed to enrich our lives and our communities for generations to come, not just to pad the bottom lines of wealthy companies at public expense. By proposing these long-overdue standards, the Biden administration can ensure that wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Tribal cultural resources aren’t sacrificed to a broken system that values oil, gas, and minerals above all else. Delivering a strong BLM public lands rule is one of the most important steps President Biden can take to meet his commitment to conserve America’s lands and waters for future generations.”

Helen O’Shea, of the Natural Resources Defense Council said, “The time is ripe for BLM to strengthen its commitment to conservation and bring its multiple use mandate into the 21st century, creating the strong and resilient stewardship needed for these changing times. We appreciate the meaningful conservation measures in this new rule that have the promise to advance biodiversity, climate resilience and equity on our public lands.”

America the Beautiful for All Co-Chairs, Mark Magaña, Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network said, “Today, we celebrate the Biden Harris Administration’s announcement of the draft Bureau of Land Management Public Lands rule. Earlier this year, our coalition released a policy agenda with twenty actions that this Administration and Congress can take to advance the goal of conserving 30% of US lands, freshwater and ocean by 2030 through a Justice40 lens. In just two months, we have seen action by the Biden Administration on several priorities. BLM lands represent nearly 40% of America’s most iconic and vital public lands. Prioritizing conservation and Tribal co-stewardship in the BLM mission will buffer nearly 250 million acres against the worst impacts of climate change, including wildfire and extreme weather. It will help safeguard clean water, air and wildlife habitat while regenerating a diverse and passionate agency workforce which is essential to protecting public health and cultural connections to the land. The Public Lands Rule is a crucial step towards achieving the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative goals–and rural, frontline, and communities of color will need continued support to protect lands that run deep in their culture and stories.”

Tara Thorton, Deputy Director for the Endangered Species Coalition said, “Today’s historic announcement by the Biden Administration to “rebalance” the mission of the Bureau of Land Management couldn’t come soon enough. As we face a biodiversity crisis that scientists estimate could spell the extinction for millions of species in the next several decades, protecting these public lands will offer a lifeline to those most vulnerable species.”

Jerry Otero, Policy Director, Grand Canyon Trust said, “The America the Beautiful for All Public Lands Group supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking that modernizes outdated land management policies. This rulemaking moves us in the right direction to provide needed policy balance for co-management and co-stewardship, reducing pollution on public lands, protecting sensitive cultural resources, and creating meaningful opportunities for historically excluded at risk communities. This effort will help advance the America the Beautiful for All Coalition mission, a once in a generation opportunity to protect and preserve public lands and reduce climate change causing carbon emissions by 2030.”

ARIZONA

Jim McCarthy, City of Flagstaff Council Member, said, “Many of our Western communities are being devastated by the impacts of the climate crisis. As a result, many of the areas important to Westerners and visitors are at risk of being unnecessarily degraded or lost, especially since many of the BLM lands in our communities are not permanently protected. We hope that through this rulemaking process, as the largest land manager in the nation, the Bureau of Land Management will play a leading role in protecting more of these lands and waters, and in turn, our communities for the future.”

Matthew Nelson, Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association said, “In 2023, it’s time that land management agencies like the BLM prioritize recreation and conservation to support healthy communities and Arizona’s $21 billion annual outdoor recreation economy. People love Arizona for its deserts, canyons, mountains and forests, and we are very encouraged to see the BLM taking their responsibility of stewardship of public lands, waters and cultural resources seriously.”

Kelly Burke, Executive Director of Arizona Wild said, “Local Arizona officials and the Biden administration have set significant conservation goals, to ensure we stave off the worst impacts of the climate and nature crisis, especially for our vulnerable watershed. We can’t reach these goals without the largest land manager playing a significant role in the effort.  This new Public Lands Rule directs the BLM to do just that – making conservation the priority now and into the future.”

CALIFORNIA

Ryan Henson, Policy Director of California Wilderness Coalition said, “Building off of the priorities laid out in the Public Lands Rule, the BLM has a once-in-a generation opportunity to enact a new management plan that protects lands across Northern California. By making conservation a priority, the BLM will become a leader in the on-going effort to protect places like English Ridge and the South Fork of the Eel River here in California.  Both are areas that our congressional leaders have proposed for protection and local communities have championed for decades.” 

David Polivy, Vice Mayor, Town of Truckee, California said, “Our nation’s protected public lands are tremendous assets to our Western communities. They play a critical role in our way of life and support our outdoor recreation and tourism economies, health, and well-being. They help make the communities where we live what they are while contributing to a healthier and better tomorrow for future generations. We must protect and restore more of these Bureau of Land Management lands and hope this rule-making process will be an opportunity for western voices to be heard.”

COLORADO

Keith Baker, Chaffee County Commissioner, Colorado said, “When used wisely, the Bureau of Land Management conservation mechanisms will support our local economies, tourism, and outdoor recreation as well as provide certainty for our rural and gateway communities so we can make long-term investments. We look forward to this rule-making process and modernizing management policies to allow for increased recreational opportunities and access to nature.”

Scott Braden, Colorado Wildlands Project said, “Many of the remaining unprotected wildlands that define the West Slope are managed by the BLM,” said Scott Braden, Director of the Colorado Wildlands Project. “Coloradans have worked tirelessly to protect places like the Dolores River Canyon Country, the Greater Dinosaur,  Vermillion Basin and the Upper Colorado River corridor but haven’t always had a federal partner to help make these protections happen.  Now we do and we look forward to working with the BLM to see these new policies and practices used to help protect the wildlands that support our communities, wildlife and rivers to be resilient in the face of increasing recreational popularity and climate change for generations to come.”

Megan Mueller, Conservation Biologist with Rocky Mountain Wild said, “A strong Rule can benefit wildlife in Colorado, by prioritizing protection of areas of public lands that wildlife call home. For example, the Rule could help protect the most important habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse, a bird that is at risk of extinction and found only in Colorado and Utah.  Gunnison sage-grouse are a favorite among birders who love to watch spring courtship rituals where males dance their hearts out to impress females.  Elk, deer, songbirds, and many other wildlife species depend on the same habitat.  This Rule could help protect this crucial wildlife habitat by designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern."

Peter Hart, Wilderness Workshop Legal Director said, “Here in Western Colorado, we’ve got multiple, major BLM planning efforts underway, covering millions of acres of public lands in multiple Field Offices. Today’s announcement means that conservation is on a level playing field with other uses on BLM lands - something Wilderness Workshop and local communities have long been calling for. I’m encouraged by the BLM’s announcement and hope the agency seizes the opportunity to begin implementing this rule quickly on the ground.”

Alma 'Rosie' Sanchez, Co-chair, Next 100 Colorado said, “Next 100 Colorado supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking--a critical step the agency must take to prioritize balanced management practices in a just and inclusive way. For too long, the BLM has focused on extractive industries that negatively impact communities of color and disadvantaged communities. It is time that antiquated BLM land management policies are modernized to develop an inclusive conservation approach that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of communities and considers the values of communities who have been historically excluded. We hope this rulemaking will provide communities with the necessary tools to safeguard sensitive cultural resources, provide improved access to recreational opportunities, connect people to healthier landscapes, and protect communities of color.”

Kevin Timm, Co-Founder and Co-owner Seek Outside, a Grand Junction-based manufacturer of high performance lightweight tents, backpacks and wood stoves, said, "As an outdoor business owner in Colorado, protected public lands play a critical role in my business and way of life. Protecting more of these BLM lands can help support local economies, local tourism industries and even local manufacturing like our Grand Junction-based outdoor brand while preserving our outstanding opportunities for recreation, including camping, hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing. I strongly encourage the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management to do all that they can to better conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands and waters. By doing so, they will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, equitable access to nature, and safeguard the climate which will ensure that these important public lands continue to offer the unique recreational opportunities that bring millions of Americans to the great outdoors.”

MONTANA

Emily Cleveland, Conservation Director of Wild Montana, said,  “Since the mid-20th century, the BLM has prioritized resource extraction over everything else Montanans cherish about our public lands – healthy wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor recreation, and the lands’ historical, cultural, and spiritual significance. The draft “Public Lands Rule” the Biden administration announced today elevates conservation on public lands and gives Montanans and other Americans a-once-in-a-generation opportunity to align management with the values we hold today. Modernizing public land management can help struggling rural communities thrive and reset the BLM’s priorities towards mitigating the climate crisis we're in.”

NEW MEXICO

Santa Fe County Commission Chair Anna Hansen said, “The destruction of petroglyphs within the Caja del Rio ACEC should be a call-to-action for the BLM. It is time to ensure that no further damage is done, and I am hopeful we can honor the stewardship of the Puebloan people and protect these areas for generations to come.”

Jesse Deubel, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation said, "To hunters and anglers in New Mexico, BLM Lands are critical for providing healthy wildlife habitat on large, in-tact landscapes. In addition to harboring sustainable populations of wildlife that many New Mexicans depend on as part of our food supply, the physical, mental and emotional benefits gained by spending time in nature on our collectively owned public lands is priceless. A strong public lands rule will help ensure these experiences remain available for future generations of New Mexicans." 

Julian C. Gonzales Jr., lifelong sportsman, veteran, rancher, multi-generational New Mexican, and New Mexico Wild Grassroots Organizer said, “The Caja del Rio is a profoundly important cultural landscape that sustains traditional Hispano and Tribal cultures still to this day. To not do anything to conserve and protect this place yet reap what we have inherited is a sin. The Caja has to be passed on to my children’s children in better shape than I received it, no questions asked, and this starts with enhanced protections by the BLM.”

Ivan Valdez, Reel Life Santa Fe said, “BLM Lands in New Mexico make up an important part of our local economy. People come from near and far to hike, bike, and more on these lands, and they spend their dollars in our stores, our hotels, and with our outfitter guides. Simply put, small, locally owned businesses like mine depend on BLM lands and we need to protect them.”

NEVADA

Nevada State Assemblyman Howard Watts said, “Many of our communities are located near Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, which include traditional homelands of Indigenous populations, vital watersheds for downstream communities, and outstanding fish and wildlife habitat. They also provide outstanding opportunities for outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing. I was happy to join with over 100 of my colleagues in encouraging the BLM and the administration to do more to protect these important places and we hope the BLM will work with communities across the state to implement these new rules in upcoming plans.”

Russell Kuhlman, executive director of Nevada Wildlife Federation said: “The Nevada Wildlife Federation is excited to see this announcement by the Bureau of Land Management, which stewards 48 million acres of land in our state. Nevada’s outdoor recreation economy supports over 50,000 direct jobs and is a $2.4 billion industry. As we continue to lose 1.3 million acres of sagebrush country every year in the West, it’s important to identify and conserve valuable wildlife habitat that provides outdoor recreation opportunities for our residents and visitors.”

OREGON

Tim Davis with Friends of the Owyhee, said “BLM Lands across Oregon are the backbone of our local economies. People come from near and far to hunt and fish, hike and bike, raft and camp, and more on these lands. And with these activities come critical dollars spent in our stores, our hotels, and with our outfitter guides. A strong BLM Rule will ensure that our local communities can continue to thrive and grow for generations to come.”

Liz Hamilton, the executive director of Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA), said, “The Bureau of Land Management has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect  Oregon’s public lands, including the incredible high desert habitat. This remarkable area where we fish and hunt supports our communities and our way of life. It is time the BLM recognizes the cultural, economic, and environmental necessity of prioritizing conservation as our legacy and gift to future generations.”

Mark Salvo with the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA), said, “The Greater Hart-Sheldon is one of the last sagebrush strongholds left on earth, a place where sage-grouse, pronghorn and countless other wildlife still have intact habitat and wide open spaces they need to thrive. As one of the most threatened ecosystems in North America, we must have the foresight to protect and conserve sagebrush habitats like the Greater Hart-Sheldon wherever possible. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed new rule can help to do just that.”

UTAH

Stephen Bloch, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s Legal Director, said “This is a long overdue step to ‘raise the floor’ for how America’s public lands are managed. For too long, these lands have been focused on short term gain at the expense of long term health. The Bureau of Land Management’s public lands rule aims to level the playing field and make sure our shared lands, water and outstanding places will be here for current and future generations to enjoy. This is especially important in Utah, where the desert ecosystem supporting Utah’s red rock country is under tremendous stress from drought, a dramatically warmer climate, and increasing pressure from development and tourism.”