Heinrich Leads Letter Opposing Interior’s Wilderness Policy Review, Another Ploy by the Trump Administration to Weaken Public Lands Protections

Heinrich, colleagues: "Given this administration's obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands"

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led nine colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum strongly opposing Interior's wilderness management policy review, which may threaten the wilderness character of public lands and disqualify them for future designation by Congress - undermining Congress' role in wilderness management, and placing nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk.

Heinrich was joined by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).

"Lands with wilderness characteristics, wilderness study areas, and designated wilderness areas protect millions of acres of intact habitat, watersheds, ecological and cultural resources, scenic and backcountry values. The undisturbed nature of the entire wilderness system protects whole swaths of habitat and protects migration corridors that aid in the protection of endangered species from the Canada Lynx to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker," Heinrich and his colleagues wrote. "These areas are some of the best places to fish, hunt, hike, or backpack. They are unparalleled and protected for the sake of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation and are beloved lands."

Since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has had the authority to designate wilderness areas to protect and conserve some of this country's wildest places. Congress also has the authority to decide not to designate certain areas as wilderness and release them for general use. The agencies under Burgum's jurisdiction can identify lands with wilderness characteristics; but each agency is required to manage these lands with the goal of protecting their wilderness characteristics. But regardless of how they are selected, the final decision about designation rests with Congress.

"It is atypical for the Interior Department to conduct land management planning by asking for comment on its agencies' general operating procedures. And given this Administration's obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands," the lawmakers continued. "This sweeping review comes in addition to the Administration's efforts to strip protections from national monuments and cultural resource areas, sell vast amounts of public lands in the West, repeal Roadless Rule protections, and change how travel management is developed on public lands."

The lawmakers went on, vocalizing concern that the Department's proposed management changes place nearly 200 million acres of public lands at risk, "The management changes that you are seeking will threaten the wilderness character of these lands and may disqualify them for future designation by Congress. Not only does this undermine Congress' role in wilderness management, but it places nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk. Further, we respectfully request that your Department consider the 60-year history of wilderness management in this country before taking extreme actions that will jeopardize some of our most valued lands. These lands must be managed at the non-impairment standard so that they can remain untrammeled."

Read the full text of the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Burgum,

We write to express our deep concern about the Interior Department's review of its wilderness management policies. Lands with wilderness characteristics, wilderness study areas, and designated wilderness areas protect millions of acres of intact habitat, watersheds, ecological and cultural resources, scenic and backcountry values. The undisturbed nature of the entire wilderness system protects whole swaths of habitat and protects migration corridors that aid in the protection of endangered species from the Canada Lynx to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. The security from pollution protects millions of acres of headwaters and clean water that benefit communities across the country. Further, wilderness and future wilderness areas contribute to the vastness of the outdoor recreation economy, inviting visitors to enjoy the wildness of the areas. These areas are some of the best places to fish, hunt, hike, or backpack. They are unparalleled and protected for the sake of solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation and are beloved lands.

Since the passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress has had the authority to designate wilderness areas to protect and conserve some of this country's wildest places. Congress also has the authority to decide not to designate certain areas as wilderness and release them for general use. The agencies under your jurisdiction can identify lands with wilderness characteristics; but each agency is required to manage these lands with the goal of protecting their wilderness characteristics. But regardless of how they are selected, the final decision about designation rests with Congress.

It is atypical for the Interior Department to conduct land management planning by asking for comment on its agencies' general operating procedures. And given this Administration's obsession with development and disposal of public lands, it seems clear that this comment period is really just a ploy to weaken protections for public lands. This sweeping review comes in addition to the Administration's efforts to strip protections from national monuments and cultural resource areas, sell vast amounts of public lands in the West, repeal Roadless Rule protections, and change how travel management is developed on public lands. Opening five different comment periods for three different agencies to solicit changes to a myriad of wilderness policies only creates confusion. Soliciting comments on how designated wilderness is managed by the Bureau of Land Management is not in line with the Wilderness Act or the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

The management changes that you are seeking will threaten the wilderness character of these lands and may disqualify them for future designation by Congress. Not only does this undermine Congress' role in wilderness management, but it places nearly 200 million acres of public land at risk.

Lands with wilderness characteristics and parcels that qualify for future designation need to be properly stewarded until Congress decides their permanent status. Each of these areas have management plan that were developed with public input and comments specific to the landscape. Opening a general comment period does not compare to the qualified review, public engagement, and specificity that each unit of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, or the Fish and Wildlife Service receives in land management planning.

Therefore, we write in opposition to any policy changes that place congressionally designated wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, lands with wilderness characteristics, or lands that agencies have identified as eligible or suitable for designation, at risk. Further, we respectfully request that your Department consider the 60-year history of wilderness management in this country before taking extreme actions that will jeopardize some of our most valued lands. These lands must be managed at the non-impairment standard so that they can remain untrammeled.

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