Eleanor Finch
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a US government agency that manages public lands, including outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production. Established in 1946, the BLM is the largest land manager in the US, overseeing 245 million acres of public land and 700 million acres of mineral estate. The BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for current and future generations, managing multiple land uses and conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources. With roots tracing back to the years after America's independence, the BLM's role has evolved over time, reflecting shifting values and attitudes towards public lands. So, is the Bureau of Land Management a constitutional department?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Formation | 1946 |
| Parent Department | Department of the Interior |
| Area of Operation | Western States |
| Focus | Long-term management and preservation of land |
| Land Managed | 245 million acres of surface land (one-tenth of America's land base) |
| Mineral Estate Managed | 700 million acres |
| Mission | To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations |
| Role | Manages outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production on public lands |
| Law Enforcement | Functions as a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Government |
| Number of Law Enforcement Rangers and Special Agents | 300 |
| Conservation | Manages 221 wilderness areas, 23 national monuments, and 636 other protected areas as part of the National Landscape Conservation System |
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What You'll Learn
The BLM's mission
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was created in 1946 by President Harry S. Truman. The BLM is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that manages more than 245 million acres of public lands in the United States, which is about one-tenth of the country's landmass.
The BLM's multiple-use and sustained yield mission is directed by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). This act instructs the BLM to manage public lands for multiple uses while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources. The BLM must balance the myriad land uses under its management, which can be complex and challenging due to conflicting interests.
The BLM also oversees the National Landscape Conservation System, which constitutes about 12% of the lands it manages. The BLM functions as a federal law enforcement agency, with law enforcement rangers and special agents trained through Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). The BLM is committed to improving the health and productivity of the land, cultivating community-based conservation, and promoting traditional land uses such as responsible energy development, timber harvesting, grazing, and recreation.
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History of the BLM
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was established in 1946, but its roots go back to the years after America gained independence and began acquiring additional lands. Initially, these lands were used to encourage homesteading, westward migration, and economic benefits to the national treasury and citizens.
The General Land Office (GLO) was created in 1812 to support these national goals. Over time, values and attitudes regarding public lands shifted, and President Harry S. Truman proposed merging the GLO with another agency, the U.S. Grazing Service, to form the BLM. This proposal was outlined in "Reorganization Plan 3 of 1946," with the goal of increasing efficiency and developing uniform policies for managing public lands.
In 1946, the Grazing Service and the General Land Office were merged to create the BLM within the Department of the Interior. This new agency took several years to integrate and reorganize, shifting its focus from land disposal to long-term land management and preservation. The BLM's mission, principally defined in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), is to manage public land resources for multiple uses while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources.
Today, the BLM is the nation's largest land manager, overseeing more than 245 million acres of surface land and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. The BLM manages a diverse array of lands, including wilderness areas, national monuments, protected areas, scenic rivers, and historic trails. The agency's mandate includes managing public lands for energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting while ensuring the sustainability and productivity of these lands for present and future generations.
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The BLM's management of public land
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was created in 1946 by combining the United States General Land Office and the Grazing Service. The BLM manages more surface land (245 million acres or one-tenth of America's land base) and subsurface mineral estate (700 million acres) than any other government agency in the United States. Most BLM public lands are located in 12 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
The BLM's mission is to manage public land for multiple uses while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources. This includes managing outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production on public lands. The BLM also works to protect wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands and to ensure that its Resource Management Plans meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The BLM's multiple-use mandate includes managing renewable energy development (solar, wind, and other sources), conventional energy development (oil and gas, coal), hardrock mining (gold, silver, and others), timber harvesting, and outdoor recreation (such as camping, hunting, rafting, and off-highway vehicle driving). The BLM also manages 221 wilderness areas, 29 national monuments, and about 636 other protected areas as part of the National Conservation Lands, totaling about 36 million acres.
The BLM's conservation mission includes preserving specially designated landscapes, such as those comprising the 35 million-acre system of National Conservation Lands, protecting wild horse and burro rangeland, conserving wildlife, fish, and plant habitats, preserving Native American and "Old West" artifacts, and protecting paleontological resources. The BLM also works with other federal agencies to fight wildland fires that threaten public safety, ecosystems, animal and plant habitats, and recreation areas.
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The BLM's law enforcement function
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Government. The BLM's law enforcement function is carried out by its Office of Law Enforcement and Security, which has around 300 full-time staff.
The BLM's law enforcement rangers and special agents are trained through Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC). These rangers carry firearms and defensive equipment, make arrests, execute search warrants, complete reports, and testify in court. They are tasked with establishing a regular and recurring presence on public lands, roads, and recreation sites, with a focus on the protection of natural and cultural resources, other BLM employees, and visitors.
The BLM's law enforcement officers have diverse responsibilities due to the variety of landscapes and resources they oversee. These include grassland, forest, high mountain, arctic tundra, and desert landscapes, as well as timber, forage, energy, minerals, recreation areas, wild horse and burro herds, fish and wildlife habitats, wilderness areas, national monuments, and archaeological and paleontological sites.
The BLM's law enforcement program plays an integral role in ensuring public safety and fulfilling the BLM's "multiple use" mission. This involves investigating crimes such as vandalism and looting of archaeological, paleontological, and culturally significant sites, supporting emergency responses in challenging and remote settings, and providing a safe environment for employees and visitors to public lands.
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The BLM's role in conservation
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a US government agency that manages more surface land (245 million acres) and subsurface mineral estates (700 million acres) than any other agency in the country. The BLM's mission is to manage public land for multiple uses while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources.
In addition to these conservation efforts, the BLM also works with other federal agencies to fight wildland fires that threaten public safety, ecosystems, animal and plant habitats, and recreation areas. The BLM's conservation work also extends to managing outdoor recreation, mineral development, and energy production on public lands. This includes renewable energy development (solar, wind, etc.), conventional energy development (oil, gas, coal), livestock grazing, hardrock mining, and timber harvesting.
The BLM also proposes new regulations to advance its mission of managing public lands for multiple uses while prioritizing the health and resilience of ecosystems. These regulations include protecting intact landscapes, restoring degraded habitats, and making informed management decisions based on science and data. The BLM's conservation leases aim to promote both protection and restoration on public lands while engaging the public in land management.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a constitutional department formed in 1946 within the Department of the Interior.
The BLM's mission is to "sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." The BLM manages outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production on public lands.
The BLM administers more surface land than any other government agency in the United States, managing 245 million acres of public land (one-tenth of America's land base) and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate.
The BLM was formed in 1946 through the merger of the Grazing Service and the United States General Land Office, which was established in 1812 to oversee the disposition of federal lands. Over time, the BLM's focus shifted from land disposal to the long-term management and preservation of land.
