Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress Deputy Director for Public Lands Nicole Gentile issued the following statement on the Senate’s vote to restrict public input on public land planning. The Senate overturned the Final Land Use Planning Rule, or Planning 2.0 which makes the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s land use planning process faster and more inclusive, giving all users opportunities to weigh in early on in planning.
Congress is trying to cut local communities out of decisions about their public lands and once again tilting the balance on public lands toward mining, drilling, and well-connected special interests. By rolling back rules that improved public input and reduced conflicts on public lands, Congress is locking the government and the American public into a 40-year-old planning process that is universally criticized as outdated and ineffective.
Related resources:
Protect Local Communities’ Voices in Public Lands Management by Ryan Richards
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.