Congress Shouts Down Local Voices by Striking Down Western Land Management Plans

DENVER - The U.S. Senate's votes to cancel land management plans in Montana and North Dakota invalidates plans shaped by local stakeholders, undermines multiple-use strategies, and bars public land agencies from crafting future, similar stewardship strategies. The Senate's votes follow a similar outcome in the U.S. House of Representatives in September.

"Congress has spoken the final word on these land management plans, but in doing so it has effectively shouted down local stakeholders, public lands stewards, and outdoor recreationists. Using the Congressional Review Act to nullify resource management plans jeopardizes effective and balanced land stewardship, set an egregious precedent, and creates immense uncertainty for all public lands users," said David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation. "The Congressional Review Act is a blunt tool. Hunters, anglers, hikers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities would be better served if Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his eventual successors used the scalpel of existing regulatory processes to modify resource management plans."

"It's a sad day for Montana and anyone who cares about the future of our public lands," said Frank Szollosi, executive director for the Montana Wildlife Federation. "This vote, instigated over the objections of hunters, anglers, and ranchers, among others, will lead to unprecedented instability and uncertainty for everyone. And that will not be limited to hunters, whose access to public lands is now in serious jeopardy. Oil companies, ranchers, and outfitters who operate on BLM lands could see their leases and recreation permits thrown into legal limbo."

The Senate is expected to vote in the coming days to repeal the Central Yukon Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act.