Bureau of Land Management Taking Steps to Improve Grazing

Late last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced it is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement on new grazing regulations.  The Bureau’s Notice of Intent will appear in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Federal Lands Committee and the PLC’s Grazing Regulations Working Group both call this a “once-in-a-generation opportunity for BLM permittees to set the record straight.”  The groups said they’ve endured Bruce Babbitt’s “Range Reform” for more than 25 years, with the land, native grasses, and local ranching families suffering as a result.  The groups both say this is a great first step to righting that wrong and can’t emphasize enough how important it is for ranchers to submit comments and participate in the meetings.

The BLM will host a variety of meetings across the west to discuss their proposals:

• Miles City, MT: February 6, at the Sleep Inn and Suites, 1006 S. Haynes Ave., from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Las Cruces, NM: February 11 at the Las Palmas Grill, 201 East University Ave., from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Elko, NV: February 18 at the Elko Convention Center, 700 Moren Way, from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• Casper, WY: February 20, at the Casper Events Center, 1 Events Dr., from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Comments on the proposed regulation revisions may be submitted in writing until February 28.  To make your thoughts known, visit the BLM's Website.

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