Trump administration wants to cancel Biden-era rule that elevated conservation on public land
By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press BILLINGS Mont AP Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Wednesday proposed canceling a populace land management rule that elevated the importance of conservation as President Donald Trump s administration seeks to open more taxpayer-owned tracts to drilling logging mining and grazing The rule was a key part of efforts under former President Joe Biden to refocus the Interior Department s Bureau of Land Management which oversees about of land in the U S Adopted last year it allowed inhabitants property to be leased for restoration in the same way that oil companies lease land for drilling Industry and agriculture groups were bitterly opposed to the Biden rule and had lobbied Republicans to reverse it States including North Dakota where Burgum served as governor before joining Trump s Cabinet pursued a lawsuit hoping to block the rule FILE Cattle graze along a section of the Missouri River that includes the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument near Fort Benton Mont on Sept AP Photo Matthew Brown File Wednesday s announcement comes amid a flurry of actions since Trump took office aimed at boosting potential production from the federal ruling body s vast land holdings which are concentrated in Western states including Alaska California Nevada New Mexico Utah and Wyoming Interior leaders revealed the Biden rule had sidelined people who depend on community lands for their livelihoods and imposed unneeded restrictions Burgum revealed in a message that it would have prevented thousands of acres from being used for vitality and mineral productions grazing and recreation Overturning it protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on Burgum explained The previous administration s General Lands Rule had the foreseen to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land preventing force and mineral production timber management grazing and recreation across the West Burgum disclosed Environmentalists had largely embraced the rule that was finalized in April Supporters argued that conservation was a long-neglected facet of the land bureau s mission under the Federal Lands Agenda Management Act The administration cannot completely overthrow that statutory authority because they would prefer to let drilling and mining companies call the shots declared Alison Flint senior legal director at The Wilderness Society While the bureau previously issued leases for conservation purposes in limited cases it never had a dedicated project for it Related Articles US homeland shield chief and Belgian prime minister pledge joint efforts to tackle drug smuggling Trump is upsetting the US allies needed to counter China Harris says leaving reelection decision to Biden was recklessness but she defends his abilities Court rules Lisa Cook can remain a Fed governor while fighting Trump s attempt to fire her Trump s strike on alleged Venezuelan drug boat raises questions about his use of military power Critics noted the change under Biden violated the multiple use mandate for Interior Department lands by catapulting the non-use of federal lands meaning restoration leases to a position of prominence The rule also promoted the designation of more areas of critical environmental concern a special status that can restrict enhancement It s given to land with historic or cultural significance or that s central for wildlife conservation In addition to its surface land holdings the land bureau regulates publicly-owned underground mineral reserves such as coal for power plants and lithium for renewable power across more than million square miles million square kilometers The bureau has a history of industry-friendly policies and for more than a century has sold grazing permits and oil and gas leases The pending publication of Burgum s proposal will kick off a -day population comment period House Republicans last week repealed land management plans adopted in the closing days of former President Joe Biden s administration that restricted advancement in large areas of Alaska Montana and North Dakota Interior agents also stated a proposal aimed at increasing mining and drilling in Western states with populations of greater sage grouse Biden administration functionaries proposed limits on progress and prohibitions against mining to help protect the grouse
