What Is the Bureau of Land Management?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of Interior that administers federal lands. With its headquarters in Grand Junction, Colorado, the BLM governs about one-eighth of the country’s land area. Here, we look at its Mission, Scope, Staffing levels, and Impact on local communities.
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Mission
The BLM’s mission is to conserve public land for multiple uses. These uses range from energy development to recreation and timber harvesting. The agency also works to conserve wildlife habitat and paleontological resources. These assets are vital to communities and families. To help fulfill its mission, the Bureau of Land Management coordinates with other federal agencies to fight wildfires and monitor the use of public lands.
The BLM works to protect public lands across the country. It oversees more public land than any other government agency. This includes the 27 million-acre National Landscape Conservation System and over 700 million acres of the subsurface mineral estate. It also fosters healthy ecosystems and communities by promoting citizen stewardship.
Scope
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is tasked with managing public lands while balancing human needs and environmental quality. It is mandated to use science-based decision-making to protect and sustain our public lands. However, the Bureau must also consider other factors, such as public perceptions, in making decisions on public lands. As a result, the BLM is required to implement guidelines and utilize transparent and collaborative methods for decision-making.
The BLM manages land for multiple uses, including conventional and renewable energy development. Other uses include livestock grazing, timber harvesting, and recreation. Hardrock mining, including the mining of gold, silver, and other metals, is also part of the BLM’s mission. Outdoor recreation uses include hunting, camping, rafting, and off-road vehicle driving.
Staffing levels
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is experiencing a serious shortage of employees. Currently, the department can hire up to 600 new employees during the current budget cycle and another 760 employees in the next budget cycle. This represents a nearly one-fourth increase in staffing. According to the agency’s budget summary, its staffing levels currently stand at 10,592. However, staffing levels have been low for years.
The BLM must increase its staffing levels to achieve its long-term goals and meet the demands of its mission. The agency must develop a long-term strategic plan to better staff and manage its workforce. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently highlighted the near-term impact of inadequate planning for staffing. In addition to disrupting continuity within the agency, a lack of staffing delays planning processes and leaves staff facing confusion and inefficiency in addressing core agency functions.
Impact on communities
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages over 245 million acres of land in the western United States and Alaska. This land is home to many different uses, including timber harvesting and hard rock mining for gold, silver, and other metals. It also manages areas for recreational use, including hunting, fishing, camping, and rafting.
The process of land use planning is complex, requiring a balance between competing interests and the needs of many stakeholders. In order to achieve these goals, BLM management decisions must include public input. A broader public participation process supports more informed decision-making and makes public lands more efficient and responsive to users. But the bureau’s planning process is lengthy, and cumbersome, and often leaves resource users in the dark.