Bureau of Land Management

Following are PEER news releases, white papers, surveys and other activities for Bureau of Land Management:
News Releases
September 30, 2009  MOJAVE OFF-ROAD PLAN STRUCK DOWN IN FEDERAL COURT — BLM Told to Redesign Bush-Era ORV Plan for Mojave Desert Federal Lands
February 4, 2009  CALIFORNIA DESERT WINS NEW PROTECTION VIA FEINSTEIN AMENDMENT — Lion’s Share of CDCA Included in Landscape Conservation System by Omnibus Bill
November 18, 2008   CALIFORNIA DESERT’S SIX MILLION ACRE QUESTION MARK — Bill Establishing Landscape Conservation System Fudges on CDCA Inclusion
September 2, 2008  BLM WHISTLEBLOWER WINS APPEAL OVER TOXIC NEVADA MINE — Labor Department Confirms Retaliatory Firing in Violation of Anti-Pollution Laws
May 13, 2008  OFF-ROADERS BOOTED FROM ARIZONA MONUMENT DUE TO ABUSES — Section of Sonoran Desert National Monument Off-Limits to ORVs for Two-Years
January 30, 2008  BLM DROPS DESERT ROAD PLAN FOR FURNACE CREEK — California Desert Wilderness Protected from Ravages of Off-Road Vehicles
December 11, 2007  OFF-ROAD VIOLATIONS OUT OF CONTROL, SAY FEDERAL RANGERS — In First-Ever Survey Southwest Rangers Call for Tougher Penalties
December 5, 2007  OFF-ROAD ABUSE TEARING UP NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ARIZONA — Sonoran Desert National Monument Overwhelmed by Off-Road Traffic and Impacts
October 30, 2007  CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS SEEK PROTECTION FOR UTAH'S PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND ROADLESS AREAS — Request directed at Secretary Kempthorne for the Bureau of Land Management's proposed off-road vehicle travel plans
September 18, 2007  JUDGE DENIES OFF-ROAD VEHICLE ACCESS TO SURPRISE CANYON — Unique Oasis in Death Valley National Park Saved
July 19, 2007  BLM SEES WORSENING OFF-ROAD CRISIS RISKING VISITOR SAFETY — Ranger Ordered to Ignore Emergency in “Near Riot” at Utah’s Little Sahara
July 11, 2007  OFF-ROADING BECOMING MONSTROUS LAW ENFORCEMENT HEADACHE — Off-Road Crime Outstripping All Other Violations Combined on Public Lands
May 23, 2007  “NEAR RIOT CONDITIONS” IN UTAH OFF-ROAD GATHERING — Irresponsible ORV Use Becoming Major Law Enforcement Challenge
April 30, 2007  BLM SUICIDE UNDERSCORES BUREAUCRATIC INHUMANITY — Inspector General Reports and Workplace Survey Show Imploding Interior Morale
March 19, 2007  RARE BUTTERFLY PROTECTED BY EMERGENCY OFF-ROAD VEHICLE CLOSURE IN SAND MTN NEVADA —

September 28, 2006  ALGODONES DUNES TO STAY PROTECTED FROM ORV ABUSE — Court Enjoins Access until Environmental Reviews Completed
September 1, 2006  BLM WHISTLEBLOWER WINS RULING ON TOXIC NEVADA MINE — BLM Illegally Fired Manager for Disclosing Pollution Dangers
March 14, 2006  ALGODONES DUNES WILL STAY PROTECTED — Court Rejects Bush Administration Bid for Off-Road Lobby
January 30, 2006  BLM GIVES BACK $700,000 IN FEDERAL CLEANUP FUNDS FOR NEVADA — Agency Acquiesced to Atlantic Richfield’s Plan for Anaconda Mine Remediation
January 5, 2006  GROUPS MOVE TO PROTECT GREAT BASIN DUNES BUTTERFLY AND HABITAT — Bush Interior Department Failing To Protect Sand Mountain Blue From Off-Road Vehicle Excess
August 29, 2005  BLM DIRECTOR URGED RANCHERS TO SUE HER AGENCY — Kathleen Clarke Tried to Block Award of Grazing Permit to Grand Canyon Trust
January 5, 2005  COURT RULES BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S OFF-ROAD PLAN IS ILLEGAL THREAT TO DESERT WEB-OF-LIFE — To help recovery, off-road vehicles ordered off 572,000 acres of desert tortoise critical habitat
November 11, 2004  BLM MANAGER FOR ANACONDA MINE FILES WHISTLEBLOWER CHARGE — Abrupt Termination Due to Raising Pollution and Safety Problems
August 3, 2004  BUSH ADMINISTRATION HACKS DUNES ENDANGERED SPECIES CRITICAL HABITAT — Local FWS biologists' science-based proposal gutted
August 3, 2004  WYOMING WILD HORSE HERD ON BRINK OF STARVATION — Emergency Removal of Horses But Not Cattle Inspector General Report on Grazing Enforcement Stalled
July 19, 2004  CONSERVATIONISTS MOVE TO PROTECT 16 ALGODONES DUNES ENDEMIC SPECIES FROM BUSH OFF-ROAD PLAN — BLM's plan to open 86% to off-roading puts rare desert wildlife at risk of extinction
April 23, 2004  PETITION FILED TO LIST NEVADA BUTTERFLY AS ENDANGERED SPECIES — Bush BLM failing to protect Sand Mountain blue from intensive off-road vehicle harm
January 6, 2004  BLM PLAYING MILLION DOLLAR GAME OF "MUSICAL CHAIRS" — Marsing Move to Force Boise Staff Resignations
August 29, 2003  BLM STALLS SAND MOUNTAIN PLAN AS BUSY WEEKEND APPROACHES — Bush Administration Working Only With Off-roaders
August 12, 2003  ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICIANS LABEL INDUSTRY RALLY A "CONGRESSIONAL HEARING" — Reps. Pombo & Radanovich Allow Only Industry Groups and Hostile Local Politicians; Greens Boycott
August 5, 2003  WILDLIFE AGENCY PROPOSES 52,780 ACRES OF ALGODONES DUNES FOR CRITCIAL HABITAT PROTECTION — Biologists' Science-based Approach Recognizes Off-road Threats and BLM Plan Failures
July 23, 2003  BLM CONTRACTING OUT LAND USE PLANS — Contractors More Costly, "Operating on Their Own Agenda"
July 22, 2003  BLM SERVES OFF-ROAD INDUSTRY BY ALLOWING UNRESTRICTED USE AT NEVADA'S SAND MOUNTAIN — Administration Ignores Law, Recommendations by Staff, Wildlife Agencies, Conservationists and Local Tribe
July 2, 2003  BUSH PLAN TO ROLL BACK DUNES CONSERVATION FACES BROAD CHALLENGE — Twelve Groups, Local Citizens Target BLM Off-road Plan
June 25, 2003  FEDERAL COURT UPHOLDS OFF-ROAD VEHICLE BAN AT ALGODONES DUNES — Industry Loses Anti-environmental Lawsuit
June 24, 2003  BUSH ADMINISTRATION FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO CALIFORNIA DESERT OFF-ROAD PLAN — BLM's Plan Would Interfere With Conservation, Wildlife and Air Quality
May 23, 2003  SECRETARY NORTON IGNORES BALANCE AND BEST SCIENCE WITH PERMIT TO OPEN DUNES HABITAT TO ORVS — BLM's Final Plan is Even Worse than Bad Draft; Conservationists Will Sue
May 9, 2003  BLM USING FIRE, RANGE, AND WILDLIFE FUNDS FOR REDECORATION — Group Calls For Audit of Décor Makeover in Winnemucca, Nevada Office
January 20, 2003  INTERIOR PLEDGES TO REFORM LAND EXCHANGES — Critics Skeptical Whether Steps Remove Politics and Prevent Scams
December 19, 2002  INVESTIGATION SUBJECT LEADS BLM LAND EXCHANGE REVIEW — Appraisers Told to Avoid Putting Findings in Writing
September 6, 2002  BUSH ADMINISTRATION FACES LEGAL CHALLENGE TO 5.5M ACRE CALIFORNIA DESERT LAND PLAN — BLM's NECO Plan Reduces Conservation, Harms Desert Tortoise, Biodiversity and Wilderness
August 19, 2002  LAND EXCHANGE WILL COST U.S. $100 MILLION — Federal Appraisers Blow the Whistle on Utah Land Deal
August 5, 2002  U.S. PLANS TO GIVE AWAY LARGE OIL AND COAL HOLDINGS IN UTAH — Federal Minerals Expert Criticizes Proposed Utah Land Exchange
May 2, 2002  OIL INDUSTRY PRIVATE MEETING WITH TOP INTERIOR OFFICIALS — Industry to Air Complaints About BLM Managers
March 27, 2002  DRAFT BLM PLAN COULD OPEN 40,000 DUNE ACRES TO MOTORIZED DESTRUCTION —

March 6, 2002  BLM IDAHO DIRECTOR FORCED TO RESIGN — Senator Craig Behind Ouster
January 30, 2002  BLM REASSIGNS KEY SO. CAL. MANAGER AFTER POLITICAL PRESSURE BY OFF-ROAD AND GRAZING INTERESTS — Employee Reassigned
December 20, 2001  CONSERVATIONISTS TAKE TO THE SAND IN DUNES DEFENSE MISSION — Environmental Monitoring At Dunes Stepped Up Over Holidays
December 17, 2001  BLM RANGERS FILE OSHA COMPLAINT — Ranger Runover by Vehicle
September 26, 2001  PUBLIC PROTECTION DUTIES IMPEDED, BLM RANGERS SAY — ORVs Damaging Public Lands
September 7, 2001  U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PUTS MOJAVE GRAZING RESTRICTIONS IN FULL EFFECT TO BENEFIT TORTOISE — CONSERVATION GROUPS BACK BLM
July 23, 2001  CONSERVATION GROUPS BACK U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT — MOVE TO PROTECT DESERT WILDLIFE BY LIMITING LIVESTOCK GRAZING ON PUBLIC LANDS
May 29, 2001  BLM CLOSES SURPRISE CANYON TO OFF-ROAD VEHICLES — Protects Rare Species, Wilderness Values & Water Quality
May 1, 2001  BLM VIOLATES COURT ORDER ON TORTOISE PROTECTION — Federal Judge Gives Secretary Norton Two Weeks to Comply
March 29, 2001  BUSH & NORTON'S BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT IGNORING GRAZING AGREEMENT TO PROTECT DESERT TORTOISE — Environmentalists Ask Court to Hold BLM in Contempt for Failure to Comply with Court Order
January 18, 2001  LAWSUIT SETTLED WITH BLM TO PROTECT 11 MILLION ACRES IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT — BLM Agrees to Biologically Strategic Actions for Endangered Species Recovery
October 30, 2000  “Near Riot” Conditions in Desert, Says Government Report — “Unsafe for Family Recreation”; Officers in “Life Threatening Situations”
October 23, 2000  ENVIRONMENTALISTS & BLM AGREE TO PROTECT LARGE AREAS OF ALGODONES DUNES — Peirsons Milkvetch, Colorado Desert Fringe-Toed Lizard, and Other Rare Desert Species to be Protected
March 16, 2000  ENDANGERED SPECIES LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT — BLM Mismanagement Imperils Desert Tortiose and Twenty-three Other Endangered Species
White Papers
Public Trust Betrayed — Employee Critique of Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Management (January 2005)
BLM reports that rangelands are in their best condition ever, and refuses to even acknowledge the problems of overgrazing and industry domination of BLM land. District managers, fisheries and wildlife biologists, and conservations show how these practices damage and exhaust public land, destroy habitats, and degrade adjoining waterways. more >>
Horses to Slaughter — Anatomy of a Coverup within the BLM (April 1997)
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Department of Interior is the agency mandated by law "to protect and manage wild free-roaming horses...as components of the public lands." Yet, the BLM has tolerated and in some instances facilitated the routine and illegal trafficking of wild horses to slaughter. The agency has obstructed efforts by its own law enforcement officers to expose commercial theft of wild horses, fraudulent adoption schemes and fictitious "sanctuary" herds not only to avoid embarrassment but also to maintain the flow of horses off the range. more >>
Land of No Return$ — Bankruptcy of the BLM Public Domain Forestry Program (April 1997)
An 18-month investigation of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Public Domain forestry program by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) reveals that nearly all BLM districts lose money on their timber sale programs. Monetary losses from the BLM's forestry program are roughly equal to the agency's entire forest management budget. Based on current and projected future budget allocations, the program stands to lose more than $30 million over the next five years. more >>
Bureau of Land Mismanagement — Timber Sale Maladministration (March 1997)
Through negligence and outright fraud, nearly half of the timber harvested from the public domain is stolen. BLM's "lump sum" removal techniques result in timber purchasers regularly taking more trees than allowed, in some cases five times the contract volume without additional payment. more >>
Never Mind NEPA — No Laws, No Science, No Problem for the BLM (December 1996)
BLM fails to comply with federal laws when conducting timber sales. The agency's preoccupation with "getting the cut out" violates environmental safeguards and precludes public oversight. more >>
Savage Salvage — The Timber Feeding Frenzy within BLM, Part Three of a Comprehensive Study of the Forestry Program of the Bureau of Land Management (September 1996)
Poor timber sales practices by BLM are aggravating wildlife potential in the West and cutting into healthy forests at an unsustainable rate. A "salvage rider" has allowed prime, young trees to be sold as salvage, while dead or diseased trees are left on site. BLM has allowed harvests to continue at alarming rates. In 1996 BLM gave California, Montana, Washington, and Oregon permission to exceed their sustainable harvest rates by 500%. more >>
Where Timber Beasts Rule the Earth — Overcutting BLM Public Domain Forests (July 1996)
The BLM destroys fragile, transitional public domain forests through over cutting. The agency fails to harvest timber in a sustainable manner, using erroneous data and exceeding maximum allowable cut levels. more >>
Phantom Forests — Part One of a Comprehensive Study of the BLM's Forestry Program (May 1996)
BLM forest inventories and plans are outdated, inaccurate and incomplete despite agency policy. The agency vastly exaggerates the success of reforestation efforts and counts barren tracts as fully restored. more >>