This episode discusses the final draft of the BLM landscape health and conservation rule, which aims to flood money into the public land system to control management. The rule introduces new types of leases, such as restoration and mitigation leases, and prioritizes areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs). The hosts express concerns about the rule's lack of statutory authority and its potential impact on motorized recreation. They also question the need for the rule, as many of its provisions are already covered by existing laws and programs. The conversation discusses the proposed conservation rule and its potential impact on public lands. The hosts argue that the rule is a power grab by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and gives unilateral authority to state directors to designate Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) without congressional approval. They highlight the potential consequences for grazing allotments and the transfer of wealth from public land users to environmental groups through mitigation funds. They emphasize the need for congressional oversight and support for the West Act.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and recent events
04:46 Legislation and potential legal challenges
09:29 Prioritization of ACECs in the rule
13:44 Concerns about the rule's provisions
23:32 Ulterior motives and the need for the rule
26:57 Unilateral Authority: The Power Grab by the Bureau of Land Management
29:35 Consequences for Grazing Allotments and Public Land Uses
36:23 Wealth Transfer: Mitigation Funds and Environmental Groups
41:21 Vague Criteria: Potential for Abuse in ACEC Designation
48:23 Congressional Oversight and the Need for the West Act