Overhaul of public lands grazing regulations seeks to cut public involvement
The Bureau of Land Management is proposing a major overhaul of public lands grazing regulations that would expand livestock access while reducing opportunities for public oversight. Critics argue the move prioritizes ranching interests over environmental health and transparency.
Why it matters
Changes to these regulations could significantly impact the ecological health of 155 million acres of Western public land and set a precedent for reduced public participation in federal land management.
free range Overhaul of public lands grazing regulations seeks to cut public involvement For the first time since 1995, the Bureau of Land Management is rewriting its grazing regulations.
5 Cattle graze on US Forest Service land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. Credit: Photo by William Campbell/Corbis via Getty Images Cattle graze on US Forest Service land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana. Credit: Photo by William Campbell/Corbis via Getty Images Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav The federal government is rewriting its rules governing ranching on public lands to increase the number of cattle, sheep, and other livestock grazing on 155 million acres in the West, an area twice the size of New Mexico.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in