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BLM Director Bob Abbey Online video image from the Natural Resources Committee hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday (March 1, 2011), during a Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Administration’s "Wild Lands" order, Chairman Doc Hastings questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Bob Abbey on the Administration’s legal authority to prioritize "Wild Lands" above other multiple-uses of BLM lands.

Under the Secretarial Order No. 3310, Secretary Salazar directed BLM to re-review its land inventories to further identify lands with wilderness characteristics. Under the Secretary’s order, these lands would be designated as Wild Lands and the agency’s Resource Management Plans would be adapted to reflect this new category. Except in Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas, most BLM land is managed for multiple-uses in order to obtain both economic and conservation benefits as required by law. By focusing solely on Wilderness values in the Secretary’s directive the Administration is elevating Wilderness areas above other multiple-purpose uses.

Director Abbey admitted that the Administration does not have statutory authority to elevate "Wild Lands" above other uses. When questioned, Abbey states, "I’m not sure it exists statutorily."

Related Links BLM bypasses Congress to effectively designate new wilderness areas - December 27, 2010 BLM issues guidelines to field managers on Secretarial Order 3310 - Feb. 25, 2011 Wilderness designation proposed for Fremont, New Fork Lakes, Wyoming Range - May 19, 2009 New NREPA wilderness proposal map for Sublette County - April 29, 2009 Y2Y.net - Y2Y - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative