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Sportsmen Working to Improve BLM Energy Leasing

A hunter with his mule deer, taken from public lands in Montana. Changes to federal leasing practices on these lands would benefit fish, wildlife and our sporting traditions. Photo courtesy David Thorstenson.

The Bureau of Land Management recently identified numerous shortfalls in its current oil and gas leasing process and indicated that it soon will be modifying its approach.

Over the past decade, many of our prized sporting destinations have suffered because federal agencies haven’t done adequate upfront planning to minimize impacts on to fish and wildlife populations and hunting and fishing opportunities. Big-game populations in places like the Pinedale Anticline in Wyoming have significantly declined; much of the reason is attributable to the way energy development was pursued. Other valuable habitat such as the Middle Yellowstone of Montana, the Book Cliffs of Utah and the Paradox Basin of Colorado are at risk of similarly irresponsible development due to a leasing process that currently is severely compromised.

Your involvement today can assure that valued public-lands hunting and fishing destinations will be developed in ways that will conserve their valuable habitat and fish and wildlife populations. Tell the BLM that sportsmen want an oil and gas leasing program that is better balanced with other multiple uses such as hunting and fishing.

February 09, 2010

Subject:

Dear Mr. Secretary,

I am a sportsman who values public-lands hunting and fishing. I am writing to urge you to make meaningful changes to the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas leasing process.

Specific improvements to the current approach to minerals leasing are an essential step toward balancing energy development on public lands with fish and wildlife management. An Oct. 7, 2009, BLM leasing report that evaluated 77 Utah lease parcels identified shortcomings in the BLM’s leasing process. I’d like to offer some suggestions for moving forward.

The report notes several issues that should be addressed and makes recommendations for their resolution. Many are consistent with what sportsmen have promoted and merit your support. I urge you to incorporate them into the leasing process for the benefit of fish, wildlife and our hunting and fishing traditions. Below are some specific recommendations:

• Require an interdisciplinary field review of proposed lease parcels before leasing.
• Limit the scope of oil and gas lease offerings to ensure opportunity to complete necessary field reviews.
• Better coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders to develop a joint vision for how to manage public lands and resources.
• Ensure greater interdisciplinary participation in identifying lease parcels to be offered before commitment to offering acreage for leasing. 
• Apply consistent and effective application of lease stipulations intended to protect fish and wildlife and clearly defined policy for granting exceptions, modifications and waivers for these protective stipulations. 
• Provide clarification and guidance regarding the rights forged through lease issuance and outlined federal authority on post-lease management actions. 
• Follow through with adequate tracking of the implementation of resource management plans, promotion of better understanding of RMP parameters, annual updates of RMP information and data, and new employee training regarding the content and application of RMP decisions.

I believe these changes, if implemented, would better balance energy development with fish and wildlife management for the benefit of sportsmen and the future of conservation. You have the opportunity through secretarial direction to make these much-needed improvements. I urge you to act swiftly and decisively in the name of multiple-use land management.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

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