The state joins Wyoming in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management.
The Public Lands Rule, according to the BLM, restores balance in the management of public lands by putting conservation on par with commercial uses — like oil and gas, grazing, mining and logging. The rule also creates “restoration and mitigation leases,” through which the agency can lease degraded public land for rehabilitation by states, nonprofits or developers.
That law directs the BLM to manage public lands for the “multiple use” and sustained yield” of natural resources. The lawsuit argues that conservation is not considered a “use” under that law. A spokesperson for the BLM said that the agency did not have a statement on the lawsuit. The U.S. Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The rule enables the agency to lease degraded public land for restoration. For example, a nonprofit or conservation district could lease land to rehabilitate wildlife habitats under the BLM’s oversight. Or, a company already leasing public land for commercial use could apply for a mitigation lease to offset their impact.