04.18.24

Grijalva Praises Biden Administration Action to Protect Public Lands, Balance Multiple Uses

WASHINGTON – House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Public Lands Rule, which will better balance the agency’s multiple-use mandate by putting conservation on equal footing with oil, gas, and mineral extraction on our public lands.

“The Public Lands Rule is a win for the American people who overwhelmingly want to protect our nation’s rich natural and cultural heritage and ensure a safer, healthier climate future for our children and grandchildren,” said Ranking Member Grijalva. “Oil, gas, and mining companies have had the upper hand on our public lands for far too long. I’m grateful to President Biden and Secretary Haaland for pursuing the will of the people, not the incessant demands of polluters, as we move towards a more balanced and measured future for our public lands.”

BLM’s Public Lands Rule is nearly universally popular; a recent analysis found that 92% of public comments submitted on the proposed rule were supportive. The support for the rule reflects a broader sentiment about conservation and public lands among most Americans. In the West, for example, where the vast majority of BLM lands are located, 82% of voters across the political spectrum support a national goal of conserving America’s public lands and waters over the next decade.