The House Committee has Approved a Bill That Prohibits the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from Proposed Rulemaking

The House Natural Resources Committee recently approved legislation supported by SEMA-Capitol, which aims to direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw the proposed “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule (H.R. 3397). U.S. Representative John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the bill in response to concerns that the proposed rule could limit access to public lands and restrict recreational activities. If passed, the legislation would also prevent the BLM from introducing a similar rule in the future.

SEMA is opposed to the BLM’s current proposed rule, as it allows for broad leasing of lands under vaguely defined conservation leases, incorporates new standards that impact multiple-use decisions, expedites the designation of new Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), and applies land health standards to all public lands. SEMA believes that this undermines the Federal Land Policy and Management Act’s requirement for multiple-use of BLM lands, restricting access for recreational purposes, forest management, energy and mineral development, and grazing.

H.R. 3397 has gained support with 19 co-sponsors in the House, while Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) is leading a similar bill in the Senate with 12 additional co-sponsors. Representative Curtis proposed an amendment during the committee voting session to rename the legislation the “Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act of 2023” and mandates that the BLM director cannot issue a similar rule once it is withdrawn.

SEMA has submitted a comment opposing the BLM’s proposed rule and has joined an Off-Road Business Association (ORBA)-led coalition in expressing concerns over the impact on motorized recreation communities. You can read SEMA’s comment and the coalition letter to the BLM by clicking here.