We Need a Public Lands Champion to Lead the BLM, Not Steve Pearce
Nationwide, BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land – including nearly 39 million acres in and around Greater Yellowstone. These lands provide clean drinking water to millions, pump billions of dollars into local economies, offer wide-open spaces for hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. And, these public lands protect wildlife like bison, elk, deer, pronghorn, birds, bears and more.
The Upper Missouri River in Montana. Photo BLM/Bob Wick
Right now, these public lands are at risk. The nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has an anti-public lands track record. Nominee Steve Pearce has tried to sell off public lands seven times. That’s seven times too many to lead an agency tasked with protecting millions of acres of public lands that belong to all Americans. Public lands advocates – tell your Senators to oppose Steve Pearce’s nomination.
Despite millions of Americans repeatedly opposing public land sales over the past year, Pearce’s nomination sends the message that our public lands are at risk. Once large pieces of our national lands are sold and developed, the public will never again have access to our lands for outdoor recreation, ranching, hunting, fishing, and the family traditions treasured by millions of Americans. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Recent surveys in Idaho and Montana underscore that Pearce is a bad choice to lead the BLM.
An overwhelming 76 percent of Idahoans and 75 percent of Montanans oppose Pearce’s nomination.
Seventy-seven percent of Idahoans and 80 percent of Montanans say his oil and gas business connections are an inappropriate conflict of interest.
Eighty-seven percent of Idahoans and 90 percent of Montanans are concerned about the impacts of his confirmation on grazing, hunting, and fishing access.
Pearce has regularly championed selling off public lands, opposed new public land protections, and worked to make it easier for oil and gas companies to operate on public lands without paying their fair share.
Pearce’s confirmation hearing is expected to be held on February 25.
– Matt Lucia, Idaho Conservation Manager [Driggs, ID]