Oversight of the Bureau of Land Management

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to oversee the Bureau of Land Management, focusing on balancing land conservation with resource development.

By Kell Harpole June 14, 2024

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SUBJECT: Oversight of the Bureau of Land Management

DATE: June 13, 2024

OVERVIEW: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to conduct oversight of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The hearing focused on the balance between land conservation and resource development, as well as the efficiency of permitting processes for mining and renewable energy projects.

HEARING RECORDING LINK: https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2024/6/full-committee-hearing-to-conduct-oversight-of-the-bureau-of-land-management

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Witnesses

  • The Honorable Tracy Stone-Manning, Director, Bureau of Land Management

Key Themes & Highlights

  • Republican Concerns:
    • Permitting and Regulatory Burdens: Republicans, led by Senators Barrasso and Lee, criticized BLM for burdensome regulations and permitting delays, arguing these hinder both traditional energy projects and the development of renewable energy. They emphasized the negative economic impacts on states like Wyoming and Alaska.
    • Resource Development: There was a strong emphasis on the need for more access to federal lands for mining and energy development. Republicans highlighted how current policies restrict vital resource extraction, harming local economies and national energy independence.
    • Accusations Against Leadership: Republicans, including Senators Hawley and Risch, questioned Ms. Stone-Manning's past activities and her credibility, accusing her of being involved in eco-terrorism and mismanagement of public lands.
  • Democratic Concerns:
    • Balance Between Development and Conservation: Democrats, including Senators Heinrich and Cortez Masto, supported BLM’s efforts under Ms. Stone-Manning to balance resource development with environmental protection. They acknowledged the need for efficient permitting but emphasized the importance of sustainable practices.
    • Permitting Efficiency: While supporting the witness, Democrats pointed out the need for improved staffing and resources to handle permitting backlogs, particularly for renewable energy projects.
    • Environmental Stewardship: Democrats praised BLM’s focus on landscape health and conservation, arguing that sustainable management of public lands benefits future generations and aligns with long-term economic interests.
  • Witness Testimonies:
    • Ms. Tracy Stone-Manning: Defended BLM’s dual focus on landscape conservation and facilitating green development. She highlighted increases in green development permits and efforts to ensure that BLM lands remain healthy and productive for future generations.
  • Contentious Points:
    • Republicans: Emphasized concerns about BLM regulations economically stifling mining and energy sectors along with advocating for the reduction of federal supervision over targetted land grants to promote internal businesses and local growth. Republican representatives also indicated concerns over the prioritization of land use policies directed towards environmental concerns instead of agricultural development, which claims to have negative impacts among rural communities. 
    •  Democrats: Focused on Tracy Stone-Mannings involvement with recent issues regarding eco-terrorism. Emphasized the gravitas of BLM’s permitting on government lands, advocating for the importance of environmental preservation and biodiversity at the expense of potential commercial benefits. 
  • Key Discussions:
    • Permitting and Regulatory Reform: Both parties agreed on the necessity of permitting reform, though they differed on specifics. Republicans focused on reducing restrictions to boost economic growth, while Democrats emphasized the need for sustainable and balanced development.
    • Economic Impact of Land Management: There was bipartisan concern about the economic impact of land management policies, with discussions on how best to manage resources to benefit both the environment and local economies.
    • Role of BLM in Energy Transition: The role of BLM in facilitating the energy transition was a key point, with debates on how to balance fossil fuel development with the expansion of renewable energy projects.

In-Depth Notes

  • Senator Manchin: There must be permitting reform for mining, or most green technology projects, like solar, will continue to be canceled. New mines must be built, even on BLM lands.
  •  Senator Barrasso: Wyoming is mostly owned by federal land and is being harmed by these stringent mining regulations. We can't achieve a carbon-free grid without access to some of the most resource-rich lands in America. Ms. Stone-Manning’s actions harm oil and gas development and negatively impact Americans who rely on federal land.
  •  Ms. Stone-Manning: The BLM focuses on landscape health in two ways: by making the landscapes they regulate cleaner to save them for future generations and by significantly increasing green development permitting on BLM lands.
  •  Senator Heinrich: Commended Ms. Stone-Manning but noted that there is still a slowdown in permitting due to understaffing in the New Mexico BLM branch.
  •  Senator Barrasso: The Rock Springs Plan will devastate Wyoming by locking up extensive federal land, making it unusable. He emphasized the difficulty of advancing green development when new mines, essential for the transition to green technology, aren’t being permitted.
  • Senator Cortez Masto: Highlighted the need for a balance between human actions and nature’s responses. Criticized BLM's management of federal regulations and pointed out the significant backlog delaying development plans, including those for renewables.
  • Senator Lee: Criticized the BLM for managing lands like a museum where people can look but not touch. Argued that the conservation rule cannot be fairly reconciled with FLPMA.
  • Senator Hickenlooper: Raised concerns that the new rule could hinder renewable development. Stressed the need to manage mining permits to ensure resource security from potential adversaries like China.
  • Senator Murkowski: Restricting programs in Alaska is harming oil and gas production. Suggested cutting BLM funds until they balance production with protection. Highlighted how projects in Alaska have stalled due to BLM’s excessive workload.
  • Senator Wyden: Discussed how grazing flexibility ties into conservation and its importance to rural communities in Oregon.
  • Senator Risch: Expressed Idaho's opposition to large wind projects and criticized BLM for abusing public lands.
  • Senator Hoeven: Criticized BLM for restricting private owners’ mineral rights, as BLM owns the land but not the mineral rights beneath, effectively preventing private owners from accessing their resources. Also pointed out violations of the law of multiple use in BLM's mitigation leases.
  • Senator Hawley: Accused Ms. Stone-Manning of involvement in tree spiking, which endangers workers, violating her pledge that she had not committed any crimes. Detailed how she placed 500 pounds of spikes in trees in Idaho and sent a threatening letter to the Forest Service. Ms. Stone-Manning claimed she was coerced into sending the letter and did not want to be involved, but the risk to people was significant.
  • Senator Daines: Criticized BLM's oil and gas rules for locking out small producers and blocking all coal production in the US. Mentioned the negative impact of the Keystone pipeline shutdown on Montanans.
  • Senator Murkowski Pointed out that a 2020 draft cost around 5 million for BLM to produce, yet it failed. Criticized BLM for investing time and money into ineffective projects and poor prioritization, compounded by a lack of manpower.
  • Senator Manchin: There must be permitting reform for mining, or most green technology projects, like solar, will continue to be canceled. New mines must be built, even on BLM lands.