NAFB News Service
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council have serious concerns about a new rule from the Bureau of Land Management.
The proposed rule is titled “Strengthening the Stewardship of America’s Public Lands” and would completely upend BLM’s multiple-use mandate and jeopardizes the agency’s ability to be a good partner to the ranchers who manage millions of acres across the West.
“Ranchers have a reasonable expectation of transparency and predictability when dealing with the Bureau, and this proposed rule falls short on both counts,” said Kaitlynn Glover, executive director of the PLC. “The covert manner in which the rule was developed and announced has left permittees feeling like the rule is either a capitulation to the extremist environmental groups who want to eradicate grazing from the public landscape or a concerted effort to develop rules that preclude ranchers’ input.”
She also said BLM will face serious questions needing answers.