The fight is growing in the U.S. Western states against a new proposal by the federal Bureau of Land Management to make “nature"—meaning absence of humans—a higher priority than economy. In April, the BLM proposed a new rule, which will modify the “multiple use” section of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and add the category of “conservation” as a land use, with the same status as the traditional grazing, public (recreational) use, oil and gas and mineral projects.
The governors of Wyoming and South Dakota, and many U.S. Congressmen have joined farm, energy and other interests to demand this rule not go through. It is still in the public comment period.
