The Bureau of Land Management unveiled Monday the members of a newly formed advisory committee designed to help oversee implementation of BLM’s controversial public lands rule that emphasizes conservation and Native American collaboration.
But Monday’s announcement, one week ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, highlights questions over the rule’s fate in the new administration, and potentially the future of the 15-member advisory panel and whether it will hold its inaugural meeting as planned next month.
Trump has vowed to open federal lands to more oil and gas leasing and mining activity, and to undo Biden administration rules and regulations that hamper that overarching goal.
The conservation and landscape health rule, which BLM began to implement in June, seeks to elevate conservation on par with other uses of bureau lands, such as energy development and recreation. BLM has said it is needed to help address the growing threats to rangelands from climate warming, including drought conditions and increased wildfire activity.
