Governor Gianforte Blasts BLM's Unlawful Federal Overreach With Conservation Rule

Press Release

"The Rule's creation of "conservation leases' conflicts with the Taylor Grazing Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Public Rangelands Improvement Act. This Rule is nothing more than a revival of the 1995 conservation use rule, already stricken by the courts as unlawful."

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"Montana's forests are emitting more carbon than they capture, the core fire season is 40 days longer than it was 30 years ago, and the forest products industry continues to struggle amid record lumber prices. Over 64 percent of forested lands in Montana are federally owned, and of that federal ownership, 53 percent are not available for active management due to existing use designations."

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"This rule allows the BLM to treat an area as an ACEC without any formal land use planning, stakeholder engagement, or public process. Apart from being legally rife, such an impenetrable, dictatorial procedure is just bad policy.

"It is unclear under what authority the BLM believes it can pursue land acquisition. More troubling is the BLM's belief that it can prioritize acquisition based on ACECs, rather than other factors, such as whether it can fulfill its multiple use, sustained yield mandate."

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"I ask that the BLM reconsider its inconsistent position here, withdraw the rule, and engage with States and stakeholders in a transparent and inclusive NEPA process they deserve."

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