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<!-- style="width:70%" -->==Renewable energy==
The '''Bureau of Land Management''' ('''BLM''') is an agency within the [[United States Department of the Interior]] responsible for administering [[federal lands]]. Headquartered in [[Washington DC]], and with oversight over {{convert|247.3|e6acre|km2}}, it governs one eighth of the country's landmass.<ref name="stats1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/ |title=Public Land Statistics |publisher=BLM |access-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105050127/http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/ |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

President [[Harry S. Truman]] created the BLM in 1946 by combining two existing agencies: the [[General Land Office]] and the [[United States Grazing Service|Grazing Service]].<ref name="montana3">{{Cite thesis |last=Elliott |first=Clayton R. |title=Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management: Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing (Masters Thesis) |date=August 2010 |publisher=[[University of Montana]] |pages=42–51 |hdl=2027.42/77588|type=Thesis }}</ref> The agency manages the federal government's nearly {{convert|700|e6acre|km2}} of subsurface [[Mineral rights|mineral estate]] located beneath federal, state and private lands severed from their surface rights by the [[Homestead Act of 1862]].<ref name=montana3 /> Most BLM public lands are located in these 12 [[Western United States|western]] states: [[Alaska]], [[Arizona]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Idaho]], [[Montana]], [[Nevada]], [[New Mexico]], [[Oregon]], [[Utah]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Wyoming]].<ref name="cali">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/about_blm/history.print.html |title=History of the BLM: Yesterday and Today |publisher=BLM California |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214504/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/about_blm/history.print.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref>

The mission of the BLM is "to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM.print.html |title=The Bureau of Land Management: Who We Are, What We Do |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214355/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM.print.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref> Originally BLM holdings were described as "land nobody wanted" because homesteaders had passed them by.<ref name=cali /> All the same, ranchers hold nearly 18,000 permits and leases for livestock grazing on {{convert|155|e6acre|km2}} of BLM public lands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/grazing.html |title=Fact Sheet on the BLM's Management of Livestock Grazing |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129063736/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/grazing.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref> The agency manages 221 [[wilderness area]]s, 27 [[National monument (United States)|national monuments]] and some 636 other protected areas as part of the [[National Conservation Lands]] (formerly known as the National Landscape Conservation System), totaling about {{convert|36|e6acre|km2}}.<ref name="BLMconservation">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS.html |title=National Conservation Lands |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122114910/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS.html |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref> In addition the National Conservation Lands include nearly 2,400 miles of [[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|Wild and Scenic Rivers]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/wild-and-scenic-rivers |title=Programs: National Conservation Lands: Wild and Scenic Rivers {{!}} BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT |date=September 30, 2016 |website=www.blm.gov |language=en |access-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207122507/https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/wild-and-scenic-rivers |archive-date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and nearly 6,000 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails |title=Programs: National Conservation Lands: National Scenic and Historic Trails {{!}} BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT |date=September 30, 2016 |website=www.blm.gov |language=en |access-date=October 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130010204/https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/national-scenic-and-historic-trails |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are more than 63,000 oil and gas wells on BLM public lands. Total energy leases generated approximately $5.4 billion in 2013, an amount divided among the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]], the states, and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] groups.<ref name="stats2">See Part 3 of the BLM's Public Land Statistics, "Commercial Uses and Revenue Generated"</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas.html |title=Oil and Gas |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214615/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy.html |title=New Energy for America |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206051031/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy.html |archive-date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:US federal land.agencies.svg|thumb|This map shows land owned by different federal government agencies. The yellow represents the Bureau of Land Management's holdings.]]
[[Image:Simpson Park.jpg|thumb|Horses crossing a plain near the Simpson Park Wilderness Study Area in central [[Nevada]], managed by the Battle Mountain BLM Field Office]]
[[Image:Snake River Canyon edited.jpg|thumb|Snow-covered cliffs of Snake River Canyon, [[Idaho]], managed by the Boise District of the BLM]]
The BLM's roots go back to the [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] and the [[Northwest Ordinance]] of 1787.<ref name="gpo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-DOI-BLM-PUBLAND-1996/html/GPO-DOI-BLM-PUBLAND-1996-2.htm |title=The BLM: The Agency and its History |publisher=GPO |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126080757/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-DOI-BLM-PUBLAND-1996/html/GPO-DOI-BLM-PUBLAND-1996-2.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> These laws provided for the survey and settlement of the lands that the original [[Thirteen Colonies]] ceded to the federal government after the [[American War of Independence|American Revolution]].<ref name=gpo /> As additional lands were acquired by the United States from [[Spanish Empire|Spain]], [[Kingdom of France|France]] and other countries, the [[United States Congress]] directed that they be explored, surveyed, and made available for settlement.<ref name=gpo /> During the Revolutionary War, military bounty land was promised to soldiers who fought for the colonies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m804.pdf |title=Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files (p. 7) |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration (1974) |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213090214/http://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m804.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the war, the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Paris of 1783]], signed by the United States, the [[UK]], [[France]], and [[Spain]], ceded territory to the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/parisno.asp |title=British-American Diplomacy Treaty of Paris – Hunter Miller's Notes |publisher=The Avalon Project at Yale Law School |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516033713/http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/parisno.asp |archive-date=May 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Black, Jeremy. ''British foreign policy in an age of revolutions, 1783–1793'' (1994) pp 11–20</ref> In the 1780s, other states relinquished their own claims to land in modern-day [[Ohio]].<ref name=Ohio /> By this time, the United States needed revenue to function<ref name="landord">Vernon Carstensen, "Patterns on the American Land." ''Journal of Federalism,'' Fall 1987, Vol. 18 Issue 4, pp 31–39</ref> and land was sold as a source of income for the government.<ref name=landord /> In order to sell the land, surveys needed to be conducted. The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] instructed a geographer to oversee this work as undertaken by a group of surveyors.<ref name=landord /> The first years of surveying were completed by trial and error; once the territory of Ohio had been surveyed, a modern public land survey system had been developed.<ref name="White 1991">{{Cite book |last=White |first=C. Albert |title=A history of the rectangular survey system |publisher=Government Printing Office |year=1991 |location=Washington, DC}}</ref> In 1812, Congress established the [[General Land Office]] as part of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Department of the Treasury]] to oversee the disposition of these federal lands.<ref name="Ohio">A History of the Rectangular Survey System by C. Albert White, 1983, Pub: Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management: For sale by G.P.O.</ref> By the early 1800s, promised bounty land claims were finally fulfilled.<ref name=war2 />

In the 19th century, other bounty land and homestead laws were enacted to dispose of federal land.<ref name=gpo /><ref name="war2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m804.pdf |title=Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files (p. 3) |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration (1974) |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213090214/http://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m804.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Several different types of patents existed.<ref name="NARA">{{Cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/049.html |title=Records of the Bureau of Land Management [BLM] (Record Group 49) 1685–1993 (bulk 1770–1982) |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129015947/http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/049.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> These include cash entry, credit, homestead, Indian, military warrants, mineral certificates, private land claims, railroads, state selections, swamps, town sites, and town lots.<ref name=NARA /> A system of local land offices spread throughout the territories, patenting land that was surveyed via the corresponding [[Surveyor General of the Northwest Territory|Office of the Surveyor General]] of a particular territory.<ref name=NARA /> This pattern gradually spread across the entire United States.<ref name="White 1991" /> The laws that spurred this system with the exception of the [[General Mining Law of 1872]] and the [[Desert Land Act]] of 1877 have since been repealed or superseded.<ref name=varied />

In the early 20th century, Congress took additional steps toward recognizing the value of the assets on public lands and directed the [[Executive Branch]] to manage activities on the remaining public lands.<ref name="varied">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM/History.print.html |title=BLM and Its Predecessors: A Long and Varied History |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126221553/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM/History.print.html |archive-date=November 26, 2014 |access-date=November 14, 2014}}</ref> The [[Mineral Leasing Act of 1920]] allowed leasing, exploration, and production of selected commodities, such as [[coal]], [[Petroleum|oil]], [[Natural gas|gas]], and [[sodium]] to take place on public lands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/vernal_fo/lands___minerals.Par.6287.File.dat/MineralLeasingAct1920.pdf |title=Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 As Amended |publisher=BLM |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232809/http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/vernal_fo/lands___minerals.Par.6287.File.dat/MineralLeasingAct1920.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Taylor Grazing Act]] of 1934 established the [[United States Grazing Service]] to [[Rangeland management|manage the public rangelands]] by establishment of advisory boards that set grazing fees.<ref>{{Cite journal |editor1-last=Wishart |editor1-first=David J. |editor1-link=David J. Wishart|title=Taylor Grazing Act |url=http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.ag.071 |journal=Encyclopedia of the Great Plains |publisher=[[University of Nebraska-Lincoln]] |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021203/http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.ag.071 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="montana">{{Cite thesis |last=Elliott |first=Clayton R. |title=Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management: Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing (Masters Thesis) |date=August 2010 |publisher=[[University of Montana]] |page=45 |hdl=2027.42/77588|type=Thesis }}</ref> The [[Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands|Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act]] of 1937, commonly referred as the O&C Act, required sustained [[yield management]] of the timberlands in western Oregon.<ref name="ochistory">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/or/files/OC_History.pdf |title=O&C Sustained Yield Act: the Law, the Land, the Legacy |publisher=Bureau of Land Management |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024061002/http://www.blm.gov/or/files/OC_History.pdf |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1946, the [[Grazing Service]] was merged with the [[General Land Office]] to form the Bureau of Land Management within the [[Department of the Interior]].<ref name=varied /> It took several years for this new agency to integrate and reorganize.<ref>{{Cite book |last=James |first=Muhn |url=https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |title=Opportunity and Challenge: The Story of BLM |date=September 1988 |publisher=BLM |location=Denver |page=52 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731005148/https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the end, the Bureau of Land Management became less focused on land disposal and more focused on the long term management and preservation of the land.<ref name=varied /> The agency achieved its current form by combining offices in the western states and creating a corresponding office for lands both east of and alongside the [[Mississippi River]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=James |first=Muhn |url=https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |title=Opportunity and Challenge: The Story of BLM |date=September 1988 |publisher=BLM |location=Denver |pages=160–172 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731005148/https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a matter of course, the BLM's emphasis fell on activities in the western states as most of the mining, land sales, and federally owned areas are located west of the Mississippi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=James |first=Muhn |url=https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |title=Opportunity and Challenge: The Story of BLM |date=September 1988 |publisher=BLM |location=Denver |pages=104–106 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731005148/https://archive.org/stream/opportunitychall00muhn/opportunitychall00muhn_djvu.txt |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

BLM personnel on the ground have typically been oriented toward local interests, while bureau management in Washington are led by presidential guidance.<ref name="montana2">{{Cite thesis |last=Elliott |first=Clayton R. |title=Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management: Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing (Masters Thesis) |date=August 2010 |publisher=[[University of Montana]] |pages=5, 51–52 |hdl=2027.42/77588|type=Thesis }}</ref> By means of the [[Federal Land Policy and Management Act]] of 1976, Congress created a more unified bureau mission and recognized the value of the remaining public lands by declaring that these lands would remain in public ownership.<ref name=gpo /> The law directed that these lands be managed with a view toward "multiple use" defined as "management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/43/1702 |title=43 U.S. Code § 1702(c) |publisher=Legal Information Institute |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012755/http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/43/1702 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration in the 1980s, Republicans have often given priority to local control and to grazing, mining and petroleum production, while Democrats have more often emphasized environmental concerns even when granting mining and drilling leases.<ref>James R. Skillen, ''The Nation's Largest Landlord'' (2009)</ref> In September 1996, then President [[Bill Clinton]] used his authority under the [[Antiquities Act]] to establish the [[Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument]] in southern Utah, the first of now 20 national monuments established on BLM lands and managed by the agency.<ref name=BLMconservation/> The establishment of Grand Staircase–Escalante foreshadowed later creation of the BLM's [[National Landscape Conservation System]] in 2000. Use of the Antiquities Act authority, to the extent it effectively scuttled a coal mine to have been operated by [[UtahAmerican Energy|Andalex Resources]], delighted recreation and conservation enthusiasts but set up larger confrontations with state and local authorities.<ref name="headwaters">{{Cite web |url=http://www.headwatersnews.org/p.021302.html |title=San Rafael Swell monument proposal could prove that Bush realizes the importance of a fair and public process |last=Mathew Barrett Gross |date=February 13, 2002 |publisher=Headwaters News, [[University of Montana]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126105007/http://www.headwatersnews.org/p.021302.html |archive-date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=January 16, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Lee |url=http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/902865/Ortons-bill-would-erase-power-to-declare-permanent-monument.html |title=Orton's bill would erase power to declare permanent monument |date=September 27, 1996 |work=[[Deseret News]] }} {{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Under the Trump administration, the BLM offered millions of acres of available Federal lands for 10-year leases for commercial development, potentially in oil and gas and mining, with the stated goal of "promoting American energy security".<ref name="BLM_20190530" /> The BLM holds quarterly oil and gas lease sales.<ref name="BLM_20190530">{{Cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/press-release/september-2019-oil-and-gas-lease-sale |title=BLM seeks comments on parcels offered in September 2019 oil and gas lease sale |date=May 30, 2019 |format=Text |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531184646/https://www.blm.gov/press-release/september-2019-oil-and-gas-lease-sale |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to a June 18, 2018 article in ''The Atlantic'', under the tenure of then-[[United States Secretary of the Interior]], [[Ryan Zinke]] "practically gave away hundreds of thousands of acres of open land across the West, leasing it to energy companies for pennies on the dollar."<ref name="theatlantic_Nazaryan_20190618">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/chaos-works/591688/ |title=Trump Uses Chaos to Get Stuff Done |last=Nazaryan |first=Alexander |date=June 18, 2019 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618121603/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/chaos-works/591688/ |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'' reported that in March 2019, the price per acre for leases near the [[Golden Spike National Historical Park]], in Utah were "$1.50 an acre for the next two years".<ref name="sltrib_20190327">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/03/27/blm-leases-acres-public/ |title=BLM leases 135,000 acres of public land to oil and gas companies in massive auction |date=March 27, 2019 |website=The Salt Lake Tribune |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328210115/https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/03/27/blm-leases-acres-public/ |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> By September 11, 2018, the Department of Interior was offering 2.9 million acres to be leased to commercial operations including drilling for oil and gas and mining in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and other states where public land is not protected by a national park or monument designation.<ref name="yahoo_20180911">{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-rushes-lease-federal-lands-090041852.html |title=Trump administration rushes to lease federal lands |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731005149/https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-rushes-lease-federal-lands-090041852.html |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The BLM's May 30, 2019 statement proposed an additional 183,668 acres on "lands managed by the Canyon Country, Color Country, Green River, and West Desert districts" that would be listed for the quarterly oil and gas lease sale on September 10, 2019.<ref name="BLM_20190530" /> In their May 2019, September lease offerings, the BLM said that they had "245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska" and across the United States another "700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate" is under their management. The statement also said that these "diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017" while supporting over 468,000 jobs".<ref name="BLM_20190530" />

On August 4, 2020, President Trump signed the [[Great American Outdoors Act]] into law, committing up to $1.9 billion from energy development revenues to the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund each year for five years for needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and American Indian schools. The Act also committed $900 million a year in royalties from offshore oil and natural gas to permanently fund the [[Land and Water Conservation Fund]] investments in conservation and recreation opportunities across the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Share President Trump Signs Most Historic Conservation Funding Legislation in U.S. History |url=https://www.doi.gov/blog/president-trump-signs-most-historic-conservation-funding-legislation-us-history |website=U.S. Department of the Interior |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=15 October 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Trump signs $3-billion-a-year plan to boost conservation, parks |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-08-04/trump-signs-3b-a-year-plan-to-boost-conservation-parks |access-date=15 October 2020 |agency=The Associated Press |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 4, 2020}}</ref>

Also in August 2020, the BLM headquarters was relocated to [[Grand Junction, Colorado]], by an order signed by Interior Secretary [[David Bernhardt]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Staff|url=https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-secures-site-western-leadership-office|title=BLM secures site for Western leadership office|website=BLM.gov|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref> The relocation was praised by Republican Western politicians but criticized by Democrats as a move to weaken the agency through the loss of experienced staffers, who opted to stay in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Donoghue |first=Amy Joi |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Bureau of Land Management officially relocates to new home in Colorado |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/8/11/21363659/bureau-of-land-management-headquarters-relocated-colorado-blm-grand-junction |work=[[Deseret News]] |access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Beitsch |first=Rebecca |date=August 10, 2020 |title=Interior finalizes public lands agency HQ move out West over congressional objections |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/511371-interior-finalizes-public-lands-agency-hq-move-out-west-over |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref> Some ranchers were concerned about the isolation of Grand Junction compared to other Western cities, having limited flights and road access.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Grand Junction is 'darn hard to get to': ranchers split on public lands agency's move west {{!}} Environment {{!}} The Guardian|url=https://amp.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/11/bureau-land-management-public-lands-west-colorado|access-date=2020-12-23|website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref> After the announcement, 87% of D.C.-based employees left, prompting former lead career BLM official Steve Ellis to state "the bureau lost a tremendous amount of expertise...[of] very seasoned people."<ref>{{cite news |last=Beitsch |first=Rebecca |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Bureau of Land Management exodus: Agency lost 87 percent of staff in Trump HQ relocation |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/536384-blm-exodus-agency-lost-87-percent-of-staff-in-trump-relocation |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref>

On September 17, 2021, Secretary [[Deb Haaland]] announced that the headquarters would be moved back to Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1438965957809016837|user=USInteriorPress|title=Today, @SecDebHaaland announced next steps to rebuild and strengthen @BLMNational, including plans to restore the n…|date=September 17, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1438966794656567296 |user=SecDebHaaland |title=The Bureau of Land Management is critical to the nation’s efforts to address the climate crisis and expanding acces… |date=September 17, 2021 |bot=TweetCiteBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/17/politics/bureau-of-land-management-headquarters-return-washington/index.html|title = Bureau of Land Management headquarters to return to Washington, DC|website = [[CNN]]}}</ref>

Under the Biden administration, the BLM is working on a pilot project called "outcomes-based grazing," to see if cattle grazing can help achieve conservation, agency director [[Tracy Stone-Manning]] said in an interview published in April 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=April 15 |first=Kylie Mohr Interview |last2=Now |first2=2022 From the print edition Like Tweet Email Print Subscribe Donate |date=2022-04-15 |title=Cows, coal and climate change: A Q&A with the new BLM director |url=https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/north-bureau-of-land-management-cows-coal-and-climate-change-a-q-a-with-the-new-blm-director |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=www.hcn.org |language=en-us}}</ref>

In June of 2022, the BLM finalized two acquisitions in Colorado and Wyoming, acquiring over 40,000 acres of previously inaccessible land. The acquisition in Wyoming for 35,670 acres is the agency's largest ever purchase in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=BLM acquires 35,670 acres near Casper in agency's largest ever Wyoming land purchase |url=https://oilcity.news/community/2022/06/01/blm-acquires-35670-acres-near-casper-in-agencys-largest-ever-wyoming-land-purchase/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=Oil City News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=New BLM land acquisitions open up nearly 40,000 acres of public land |url=https://www.gohunt.com/content/news/new-blm-land-acquisition-open-up-nearly-40k-acres-of-public-land |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=www.gohunt.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Programs==
[[File:Public Lands Held by the National Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.svg|thumb|Most of the public lands held by the Bureau of Land Management are located in the western states.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2007/western-states-data-public-land.htm# |title=Western States Data Public Land Acreage (Forest Service & BLM) from November 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727120656/http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/2007/western-states-data-public-land.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |access-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref>]]

* '''Grazing'''. The BLM manages livestock grazing on nearly {{convert|155|e6acre|km2}} million acres under the [[Taylor Grazing Act of 1934]].<ref name="blmgrazing">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/grazing.html |title=Fact Sheet on the BLM's Management of Livestock Grazing |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129063736/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/grazing.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> The agency has granted more than 18,000 permits and leases to ranchers who graze their livestock, mostly cattle and sheep, at least part of the year on BLM public lands.<ref name=blmgrazing/> Permits and leases generally cover a 10-year period and are renewable if the BLM determines that the terms and conditions of the expiring permit or lease are being met.<ref name=blmgrazing/> The federal grazing fee is adjusted annually and is calculated using a formula originally set by Congress in the [[Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978]].<ref name=blmgrazing/> Under this formula, the grazing fee cannot fall below $1.35 per [[animal unit]] month (AUM), nor can any fee increase or decrease exceed 25 percent of the previous year's level.<ref name=blmgrazing/><ref>An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month.</ref> The grazing fee for 2014 was set at $1.35 per AUM, the same level as for 2013.<ref name=blmgrazing/> Over time there has been a gradual decrease in the amount of grazing that takes place on BLM-managed land.<ref name=blmgrazing/> Grazing on public lands has declined from 18.2 million AUMs in 1954 to 7.9 million AUMs in 2013.<ref name=blmgrazing/>
* '''Mining'''. Domestic production from over 63,000 Federal onshore [[oil well|oil]] and [[gas well]]s on BLM lands accounts for 11 percent of the [[natural gas]] supply and five percent of the [[petroleum|oil]] supply in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas.html |title=Oil and Gas |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127214615/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> BLM has on record a total of 290,000 mining claims under the [[General Mining Law of 1872]].<ref name="blmmining">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/regulations/mining_claims.html |title=Mining Laws |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021439/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/regulations/mining_claims.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> The BLM issues permits for oil and gas, coal, strategic minerals, and [[renewable energy]] resources such as wind, geothermal and solar to be developed on public lands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals |title=Programs: Energy and Minerals |date=August 17, 2016 |website=www.blm.gov |access-date=May 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427230817/https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals |archive-date=April 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The total mining claims on lands owned by the BLM has decreased while the number of rejected claims has increased. Among the over 3.8 million mining claims overseen by BLM just over 10% of claims still active, of which Nevada has the most at 203,705 and California has 49,259.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thediggings.com/usa/blm-admin-areas |title=Bureau of Land Management Administrative Areas |website=The Diggings |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423021214/https://thediggings.com/usa/blm-admin-areas |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Coal leases'''. The BLM holds the coal mineral estate to more than {{convert|570|e6acre|km2}} where the owner of the surface is the federal government, a state or local government, or a private entity.<ref name="coal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/coal_and_non-energy/coal_lease_table.html |title=Total Federal Coal Leases in Effect, Total Acres Under Lease, and Lease Sales by Fiscal Year Since 1990 |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128211348/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/coal_and_non-energy/coal_lease_table.html |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> As of 2013, the BLM had competitively granted 309 leases for coal mining to {{convert|474,252|acre|ha}}, an increase of {{convert|13,487|acre|ha}} or nearly 3% increase in land subject to coal production over ten years' time.<ref name=coal/>
* '''Recreation'''. The BLM administers {{convert|205498|mi|km}} of fishable streams, {{convert|2.2|e6acre|km2}} of [[lake]]s and [[reservoir (water)|reservoirs]], {{convert|6600|mi|km}} of floatable rivers, over 500 boating access points, 69 [[National Back Country Byway]]s, and 300 Watchable Wildlife sites.<ref name="outfit">{{Cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp106&sid=cp106yWjtd&refer=&r_n=sr491.106&item=&&&sel=TOC_54547& |title=Senate Report 106-491 – OUTFITTER POLICY ACT OF 1999 |website=congress.gov/ |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=November 15, 2014 }} {{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The agency also manages {{convert|4500|mi|km}} of [[National Scenic Trail|National Scenic]], [[National Historic Trail|National Historic]] and [[National Recreation Trail]]s, as well as thousands of miles of multiple use trails used by motorcyclists, hikers, [[equestrians]], and mountain bikers.<ref name=outfit/> In 2013, BLM lands received an estimated 61.7 million recreational visitors.<ref name="stats">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls13/pls2013.pdf |title=PUBLIC LAND STATISTICS 2013 Volume 198 |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128175702/http://www.blm.gov/public_land_statistics/pls13/pls2013.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref> Over 99% of BLM-managed lands are open to hunting, recreational shooting opportunities, and fishing.
*'''Conservation'''. The National Landscape Conservation System preserves a variety of lands protected from development.
* '''California Desert Conservation Area'''. The California Desert Conservation Area covers {{convert|25|e6acre|km2}} of land in [[southern California]] designated by Congress in 1976 by means of the [[Federal Land Policy and Management Act]].<ref name="CDCA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/cdca_q_a.html |title=IntIntroduction: The California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021437/http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/cdca_q_a.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> BLM is charged with administering about {{convert|10|e6acre|km2}} of this fragile area with its potential for [[multiple use]]s in mind.<ref name=CDCA/>
* '''Timberlands'''. The Bureau manages {{convert|55|e6acre|km2}} of [[forest]]s and [[woodland]]s, including {{convert|11|e6acre|km2}} of commercial forest and {{convert|44|e6acre|km2}} of woodlands in 11 western states and [[Alaska]].<ref name="gaotimber">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03615.pdf |title=BLM PUBLIC DOMAIN LANDS: Volume of Timber Offered for Sale Has Declined Substantially Since Fiscal Year 1990 |publisher=GAO |access-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924045237/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03615.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{convert|53|e6acre|km2}} are productive forests and woodlands on public domain lands and {{convert|2.4|e6acre|km2}} are on [[Oregon and California Railroad Revested Lands|O&C lands]] in western Oregon.<ref name=gaotimber/>
[[File:Calm Before the Storm (8555289958).jpg|thumb|Fatigued BLM Firefighters taking a break after a fire in Oregon in 2008]]
* '''Firefighting.''' Well in excess of 3,000 [[full-time equivalent]] firefighting personnel work for BLM.<ref name="BLMfire">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/nifc/operations.Par.46522.File.dat/ProgramSummaries.pdf |title=2014 National and State Fire Preparedness Program Summaries |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021422/http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/nifc/operations.Par.46522.File.dat/ProgramSummaries.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref> The agency fought 2,573 fires on BLM-managed lands in fiscal year 2013.<ref name=stats/>
* '''Mineral rights on Indian lands'''. As part of its trust responsibilities, the BLM provides technical advice for minerals operations on {{convert|56|e6acre|km2}} of Indian lands.<ref name="blmMinerals">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM/subsurface.print.html |title=Mineral and Surface Acreage Managed by the BLM |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116042146/https://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/About_BLM/subsurface.print.html/ |archive-date=November 16, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref>
* '''Leasing and Land Management of Split Estates'''. A split estate is similar to the [[broad form deed]]s used, starting in the early 1900s. It is a separation of mineral rights and surface rights on a property. The BLM manages split estates, but only in cases when the "surface rights are privately owned and the rights to the minerals are held by the Federal Government."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/oil-and-gas/leasing/split-estate |title=LEASING AND MANAGEMENT OF SPLIT ESTATE |website=Bureau of Land Management |access-date=May 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223001058/https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/oil-and-gas/leasing/split-estate |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* '''Cadastral surveys'''. The BLM is the official record keeper for over 200 years' worth of [[cadastral survey]] records and plats as part of the [[Public Land Survey System]].<ref name="surveys">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/cadastralsurvey/cadastral_history.html |title=Cadastral History |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113090104/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/cadastralsurvey/cadastral_history.html |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> In addition, the Bureau still completes numerous new surveys each year, mostly in [[Alaska]], and conducts resurveys to restore obliterated or lost original surveys.<ref name=surveys/>
* '''Abandoned mines'''. BLM maintains an inventory of known [[abandoned mines]] on the lands it manages.<ref name="blmmines">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands.html |title=Abandoned Mine Lands |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021319/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> As of April 2014, the inventory contained nearly 46,000 sites and 85,000 other features.<ref name=blmmines/> Approximately 23% of the sites had either been remediated, had reclamation actions planned or underway, or did not require further action. The remaining sites require further investigation.<ref name=blmmines/> A 2008 [[Inspector General]] report alleges that BLM has for decades neglected the dangers represented by these abandoned mines.<ref name="IGmines">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/aml/OIG-DOI_AML_Audit-FINAL-2008-0717.pdf |title=Abandoned Mine Lands in the Department of the Interior |publisher=Department of the Interior IG |access-date=November 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035048/http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/aml/OIG-DOI_AML_Audit-FINAL-2008-0717.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Energy corridors'''. Approximately {{convert|5000|mi}} of energy corridors for [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]]s and [[transmission line]]s are located on BLM-managed lands.<ref name="apps1.eere.energy.gov" />
* '''Helium'''. BLM operates the [[National Helium Reserve]] near Amarillo, Texas, a program begun in 1925 during the time of the [[Zeppelin]] Wars.<ref name="slatehelium">{{Cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/10/02/federal_helium_reserve_to_stay_open_for_now_congress_approves_responsible.html |title=Our Government May Be Shut Down, but at Least Our Helium Reserve Won't Be ... for Now |last=Krule |first=Miriam |website=slate.com |date=October 2, 2013 |publisher=Slate |access-date=November 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127142144/http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/10/02/federal_helium_reserve_to_stay_open_for_now_congress_approves_responsible.html |archive-date=November 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Though the reserve had been set to be moved to private hands, it remains subject to oversight of the BLM under the provisions of the unanimously-passed Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act of 2013.<ref name=slatehelium/><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/opinion/collins-an-ode-to-helium.html |title=Opinion - An Ode to Helium |last=Collins |first=Gail |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 3, 2013 |access-date=February 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109120852/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/opinion/collins-an-ode-to-helium.html |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Revenue and fees'''. The BLM produces significant revenue for the United States budget.<ref name="bisson">{{Cite web |url=http://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2009/upload/FY2009BLMBudgetTestimony.pdf |title=Statement of Henri Bisson, Deputy Director Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior Before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Hearing on the FY 2009 Budget Request of the Bureau of Land Management February 27, 2008 |publisher=Department of the Interior |access-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128080826/http://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2009/upload/FY2009BLMBudgetTestimony.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2009, public lands were expected to generate an estimated $6.2 billion in revenues, mostly from energy development.<ref name=bisson/> Nearly 43.5% of these funds are provided directly to states and counties to support roads, schools, and other community needs.<ref name=bisson/>

==National Landscape Conservation System==
Established in 2000, the [[National Landscape Conservation System]] is overseen by the BLM.<ref name="wilderness">{{Cite web |url=http://wilderness.org/article/national-landscape-conservation-system |title=National Landscape Conservation System |publisher=The Wilderness Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130045642/http://wilderness.org/article/national-landscape-conservation-system |archive-date=November 30, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref> The National Landscape Conservation System lands constitute just about 12% of the lands managed by the BLM.<ref name=wilderness/> Congress passed Title II of the [[Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009]] (Public Law 111-11) to make the system a permanent part of the public lands protection system in the United States.<ref name=wilderness/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr146 |title=H.R. 146 (111th): Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 |publisher=Govtrack.us |access-date=November 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129055523/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/111/hr146 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> By designating these areas for conservation, the law directed the BLM to ensure these places are protected for future generations, similar to [[national park]]s and [[wildlife refuge]]s.<ref name=wilderness/>

{|class="wikitable sortable" <!-- style="width:70%" -->
!Category
!Unit type
!Number
!BLM acres
!BLM miles
|--
|| '''[[National Landscape Conservation System|National Conservation Lands]]'''
|| [[National monument (United States)|National Monuments]]
|| 27
|| {{convert|5,590,135|acre|km2}}
||
|--
|| '''[[National Landscape Conservation System|National Conservation Lands]]'''
|| [[National Conservation Area]]s
|| 16
|| {{convert|3,671,519|acre|km2}}
||
|--
|| '''[[National Landscape Conservation System|National Conservation Lands]]'''
|| [[National Landscape Conservation System#Other|Areas Similar to National Conservation Areas]]
|| 5
|| {{convert|436,164|acre|km2}}
||
|--
|| '''[[Wilderness Act|Wilderness]]'''
|| [[National Wilderness Preservation System|Wilderness Areas]]
|| 221
|| {{convert|8,711,938|acre|km2}}
||
|--
|| '''[[Wilderness Act|Wilderness]]'''
|| [[Wilderness Study Area]]s
|| 528
|| {{convert|12,760,472|acre|km2}}
||
|--
|| '''[[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|National Wild and Scenic Rivers]]'''
|| [[National Wild and Scenic Rivers System|National Wild and Scenic Rivers]]
|| 69
|| {{convert|1,001,353|acre|km2}}
|| {{convert|2,423|mile|km}}
|--
|| '''[[National Trails System]]'''
|| [[National Historic Trail]]s
|| 13
||
|| {{convert|5,078|mile|km}}
|--
|| '''[[National Trails System]]'''
|| [[National Scenic Trail]]s
|| 5
||
|| {{convert|683|mile|km}}
|--
||
|| '''Totals'''
|| 877
|| About {{convert|36|e6acre|km2}} (some units overlap)
|| {{convert|8,184|mile|km}}
|}

<small>''Source: BLM Resources and Statistics''</small><ref name="monumentsStats">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS/nlcs_resources_.html |title=Resources and Statistics |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021420/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS/nlcs_resources_.html |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |access-date=November 18, 2014}}</ref>

==Law enforcement and security==
[[File:2011-08-04 20 00 00 Susie Fire in the Adobe Range west of Elko Nevada.jpg|thumb|Lightning-sparked wildfires are frequent occurrences on BLM land in Nevada.]]The BLM, through its Office of Law Enforcement & Security, functions as a [[Federal law enforcement in the United States|federal law enforcement agency]] of the United States Government. BLM law enforcement [[park ranger|rangers]] and [[special agent]]s receive their training through [[Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers|Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Law_Enforcement/law_enforcement.Par.26988.File.dat/LErecruit100907.pdf |title=BLM Law Enforcement: Protecting Public Land Resources |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128180050/http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Law_Enforcement/law_enforcement.Par.26988.File.dat/LErecruit100907.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> Full-time staffing for these positions approaches 300.<ref name=green>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs/news_release_attachments.Par.60974.File.dat/FY2015_BLM_Greenbook.pdf |title=FY 2015 BLM Green Book |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128193817/http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/public_affairs/news_release_attachments.Par.60974.File.dat/FY2015_BLM_Greenbook.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}<Page VII-135></ref><ref name="blmLE">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement.html |title=BLM Law Enforcement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128175945/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement.html |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref>

Uniformed rangers enforce laws and regulations governing BLM lands and resources.<ref name="blmrangers">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement/blm_rangers.html |title=BLM Rangers |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128193952/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement/blm_rangers.html |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> As part of that mission, these BLM rangers carry firearms and defensive equipment, make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports and testify in court.<ref name=blmrangers/> They seek to establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands, roads and recreation sites. They focus on the protection of natural and cultural resources, other BLM employees and visitors.<ref name=blmrangers/> Given the many locations of BLM public lands, these rangers use canines, helicopters, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and boats to perform their duties.<ref name=blmrangers/>

By contrast BLM [[special agents]] are [[detective|criminal investigators]] who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the BLM and other statutes under the United States Code.<ref name="BLMSA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement/BLM_Special_Agents.html |title=BLM Special Agents |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128193709/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/law_enforcement/BLM_Special_Agents.html |archive-date=November 28, 2014 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> Special agents are normally plain clothes officers who carry concealed firearms and other defensive equipment, make arrests, carry out complex criminal investigations, present cases for prosecution to local [[United States Attorneys]] and prepare investigative reports.<ref name=BLMSA/> Criminal investigators occasionally conduct internal and civil claim investigations.<ref name=BLMSA/>
{{clearleft}}

==Wild horse and burro program==
{{See also|Mustang|Burro|Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971|List of BLM Herd Management Areas}}
[[Image:TuleHorses.JPG|thumb|[[Mustang]]s run across [[Tule Valley]], Utah]]

The BLM manages [[Mustang (horse)|free-roaming horses]] and [[burro]]s on public lands in ten western states.<ref name=QF/> Though they are [[feral]], the agency is obligated to protect them under the [[Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971]] (WFRHBA).<ref name=QF/> As the horses have few natural predators, populations have grown substantially.<ref name=QF/> WFRHBA as enacted provides for the removal of excess animals; the destruction of lame, old, or sick animals; the private placement or adoption of excess animals; and even the destruction of healthy animals if range management required it.<ref name="iraola">{{Cite journal |last=Roberto |first=Iraola |date=Fall 2005 |title=The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 |url=https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=35+Envtl.+L.+1049&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=25bca7e60e63e8e03c76fa8d795d95be |journal=Environmental Law |publisher=Lewis & Clark Law School |volume=35 |pages=1049–1079 |access-date=November 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012853/https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=35+Envtl.+L.+1049&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=25bca7e60e63e8e03c76fa8d795d95be |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SterbaRevived">Sterba, James P. "Revived Killing of Wild Horses for Pet Food Is Feared." ''New York Times.'' August 3, 1974.</ref> The destruction of healthy or unhealthy horses has almost never occurred.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3796106.pdf |title=Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: A Way Forward |publisher=National Academy of Sciences |page=16 |access-date=November 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070339/http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3796106.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pursuant to the [[Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978]], the BLM has established 179 "herd management areas" (HMAs) covering {{convert|31.6|e6acre|km2}} acres where feral horses can be found on federal lands.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html |title=Wild Horse and Burro Quick Facts |publisher=BLM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131163106/http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |access-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref>

In 1973, BLM began a pilot project on the [[Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range]] known as the Adopt-A-Horse initiative.<ref name="Pitt528">Pitt, Kenneth. "The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act: A Western Melodrama." ''Environmental Law.'' 15:503 at 528 (Spring 1985)</ref> The program took advantage of provisions in the WFRHBA to allow private "qualified" individuals to "adopt" as many horses as they wanted if they could show that they could provide adequate care for the animals.<ref name="Glover11111112">Glover, Kristen H. "Managing Wild Horses on Public Lands: Congressional Action and Agency Response." ''North Carolina Law Review.'' 79:1108 (May 2001).</ref> At the time, title to the horses remained permanently with the federal government.<ref name="SterbaRevived" /> The pilot project was so successful that BLM allowed it to go nationwide in 1976.<ref name="Pitt528" /> The Adopt-a-Horse program quickly became the primary method of removing excess feral horses from BLM land given the lack of other viable methods.<ref name="Glover11111112" /> The BLM also uses limited amounts of contraceptives in the herd, in the form of [[Porcine zona pellucida|PZP]] vaccinations; advocates say that additional use of these vaccines would help to diminish the excess number of horses currently under BLM management.<ref name="RaiaFuture">Raia, Pat (March 1, 2009). [http://www.thehorse.com/articles/22892/blm-horses-whats-their-future "BLM Horses: What's Their Future."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225010226/http://www.thehorse.com/articles/22892/blm-horses-whats-their-future |date=December 25, 2014 }} ''The Horse''. Accessed September 20, 2013.</ref>

[[File:Wild Burros.jpg|thumb|[[Feral]] burros in [[Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area|Red Rock Canyon]]|left]]

Despite the early successes of the adoption program, the BLM has struggled to maintain acceptable herd levels, as without natural predators, herd sizes can double every four years.<ref name=QF/> As of 2014, there were more than 49,000 horses and burros on BLM-managed land, exceeding the BLM's estimated "appropriate management level" (AML) by almost 22,500.<ref name=QF/>

The Bureau of Land Management has implemented several programs and has developed partnerships as part of their management plan for preserving wild burros and horses in the United States. There are several herds of horses and burros roaming free on 26.9 million acres of range spread out in ten western states. It is essential to maintain a balance that keeps herd management land and animal population healthy. Some programs and partnerships include the Mustang Heritage Foundation, U.S. Border Patrol, Idaho 4H, Napa Mustang Days and Little Book Cliffs Darting Team. These partnerships help with adoption and animal population as well as education and raising awareness about wild horses and burros.<ref>"Programs: Wild Horse and Burro | BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT." BLM.gov Home Page | BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423142712/https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro |date=April 23, 2020 }}. Accessed April 27, 2017.</ref>

==Renewable energy==
[[File:Ivanpah Solar Power Facility from the air 2014.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of [[Ivanpah Solar Power Facility]] located on BLM-managed land in the [[Mojave Desert]]]]
[[File:Ivanpah Solar Power Facility from the air 2014.jpg|thumb|Aerial photograph of [[Ivanpah Solar Power Facility]] located on BLM-managed land in the [[Mojave Desert]]]]


Revision as of 18:18, 23 March 2023

Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management Triangle
Flag of the Bureau of Land Management
Agency overview
FormedDecember 10, 1946; 77 years ago (1946-12-10)
Preceding agencies
JurisdictionUnited States federal government
Headquarters1849 C Street NW, Washington DC 20240
EmployeesOver 10,000[1]
Annual budget$1.31 billion (FY2021)[2]
Agency executive
Parent agencyU.S. Department of the Interior
Websiteblm.gov

Renewable energy

Aerial photograph of Ivanpah Solar Power Facility located on BLM-managed land in the Mojave Desert

In 2009, BLM opened Renewable Energy Coordination Offices in order to approve and oversee wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal projects on BLM-managed lands.[3] The offices were located in the four states where energy companies had shown the greatest interest in renewable energy development: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Wyoming.[3]

  • Solar energy. In 2010, BLM approved the first utility-scale solar energy projects on public land.[4] As of 2014, 70 solar energy projects covering 560,000 acres (2,300 km2) had been proposed on public lands managed by BLM primarily located in Arizona, California, and Nevada.[5] To date, it has approved 29 projects that have the potential to generate 8,786 megawatts of renewable energy or enough energy to power roughly 2.6 million homes.[5] The projects range in size from a 45-megawatt photovoltaic system on 422 acres (171 ha) to a 1,000-megawatt parabolic trough system on 7,025 acres (2,843 ha).[5]
  • Wind energy. BLM manages 20.6 million acres (83,000 km2) of public lands with wind potential.[6] It has authorized 39 wind energy development projects with a total approved capacity of 5,557 megawatts or enough to supply the power needs of over 1.5 million homes.[7] In addition, BLM has authorized over 100 wind energy testing sites.[8]
  • Geothermal energy. BLM manages 59 geothermal leases in producing status, with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts.[9] This amounts to over 40% of the geothermal energy capacity in the United States.[9]
  • Biomass and bioenergy. Its large portfolio of productive timberlands leaves BLM with woody biomass among its line of forest products.[10] The biomass is composed of "smaller diameter materials" and other debris that result from timber production and forest management.[10] Though the use of these materials as a renewable resource is nascent, the agency is engaged in pilot projects to increase the use of its biomass supplies in bioenergy programs.[10]

Directors

See also

References

  1. ^ "Working at BLM". blm.gov. Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Carol Hardy Vincent (June 7, 2021). Bureau of Land Management: FY2021 Appropriations (Report). Congressional Research Service. p. 1. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "US Department of Energy, Bureau of Land Management to Establish Renewable Energy Offices, January 21, 2009". Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  4. ^ Friedman, Gabe (August 6, 2014). "Sun Land". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "BLM Fact Sheet: Renewable Energy: Solar" (PDF). BLM. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "New Energy for America". BLM. Archived from the original on November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  7. ^ "Wind Energy". BLM. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "RENEWABLE ENERGY: Agencies Have Taken Steps Aimed at Improving the Permitting Process for Development on Federal Lands" (PDF). GAO Reports. GAO-13-189: 6. January 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Geothermal Energy". BLM. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Woody Biomass and Bioenergy". BLM. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Record of the Offices, Managers and Organizations of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Grazing Service, General Land Office and O & C Revested Lands Administration 1934–2012" (PDF). Public Lands Foundation. April 2012. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 8, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  12. ^ Johnson was the last Commissioner of the General Land Office (1933–1946)
  13. ^ Retired end of May 2012 "BLM Director Bob Abbey to Retire After 34 Years of Public Service". Department of Interior. May 10, 2012. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ Burr, Thomas (March 15, 2017). "Interior names energy and mineral chief new acting BLM director". Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.

Further reading

External links

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