A. BLM COLORADO

State Demographics

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado, is responsible for the management of approximately 8.3 million surface acres intermingled with state, local, and other federal lands, situated within Colorado's 103,595 square mile area (66,485,760 acres).  BLM also exercises exclusive jurisdiction of more than 27 million acres of federal mineral estate, 8.2 million of which are sub-surface split-estate, where the surface lands are owned privately.

Colorado's population is more than 3.2 million, which ranks 27th in the Nation.  The largest population center is the Denver metropolitan area, with nearly 2/3 of the State's population.  The remainder of the population lives in rural areas or mid-to-small sized cities and towns that are adjacent to the public lands administered by the BLM.  Although services and manufacturing have recently become the state's leading industries, tourism, recreation, oil and gas production, ranching, mining and timber remain among the principal traditional state industries.

The public lands within Colorado are scattered from the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west to the Utah Border; from the Wyoming Border to New Mexico in Western Colorado and south-central portions of the State.  These lands are located adjacent to U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Refuges, National Monuments and Parks, state and private lands.

Recreational activities such as white water rafting, upland big game hunting, camping, and off-road vehicle use impact heavily upon the public lands.  A considerable portion of the state's economy is tied to the public lands and resources.  The majority of the public lands are accessible throughout the year by vehicle, snowmobile or horseback and are, therefore, subject to year-round use, with most use occuring during the spring, summer and fall.

Major BLM Colorado Programs

• Cultural Resource Management
• Realty Management
• Recreational Use
• Timber/Fuels Management
• Oil and Gas
• Minerals Management
• Fire Management
• Wildlife Management

Colorado Counties

There are 64 counties within Colorado.  63 are represented by a Sheriff, who is recognized by the BLM as the chief law enforcement officer for that county.  The County of Denver is managed by a Public Safety Officer, who is responsible for the Denver Police Department, and the city and county correction's facilities. 

BLM Colorado law enforcement enjoys working relations with 31 of the 64 counties, generally located in western and south-central Colorado.  Those counties that have lands administered by the BLM and who work with BLM law enforcement are:

Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Fremont, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Lake, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, and Teller.

B. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

1. Criminal Justice

Law Enforcement personnel for Colorado and Eastern States enjoy a strong working relationship with the Department of Justice - United States Attorney's Office.  In Colorado, there are four U.S. Magistrate courts, at which BLM presents cases through the U.S. Attorney.  The courts located in Denver, Colorado Springs, Durango, and Grand Junction all hear cases investigated by law enforcement personnel of the BLM.  Denver is used more extensively by the Agents, and has two sitting Grand Juries; one ofr General Crimes, and the other for Drug-related offenses.

BLM Colorado has been using the current Bond Forefeiture Schedule first established in 1989.  A revised schedule has been presented to the U.S. Attorney's office for review, and subsequent approval by the District Court.  The Eastern States Special Agents work with 61 Federal Judicial Districts within the 31 state geographical area.  Presently, 36 of the 61 Diestricts have established a Bond Forfeiture Schedule.  However, 11 Districts have perferred that Special Agents file a formal "Information," as opposed to establishing a Bond Forfeiture Schedule.  At this time, 13 Districts are still pending issuance of an order by the court to establish a Bond Forfeiture Schedule.

2. Law Enforcement Reporting

All incidents established by Colorado and Eastern States law enforcement personnel are reported using the LAWNET reporting system.  Although the system has provided BLM with its own law enforcement reporting/tracking system, the amount of time spent by the LAWNET coordinator (ASAC) has taken a toll on his respective case load.

3. Law Enforcement Coordination

The Colorado and Eastern States law enforcement program enjoys a strong working relationship with several local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.  Memoranda of Understanding are utilized to provide a formal agreement between BLM law enforcement and the law enforcement cooperator.  Funded law enforcement agreements are still used, however, they are minimal in scope and amount of funding authorized.  The following agencies have formal agreements with the BLM:

a. Law Enforcement Agreements

• Hinsdale County Sheriff's Office
• San Juan County Sheriff's Office

b. Memoranda of Understanding

• 18 County Sheriffs
• Colorado State Patrol - 24-hour radio dispatch
• Colorado Bureau of Investigation - lab work for evidence
• Colorado National Guard - for aerial rotary-wing overflights
• Colorado Division of Wildlife
• National Park Service: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Colorado National Monument

C. AUTHORITY

The authority providing a law enforcement program within the BLM is through the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733 '303).  Through this Act, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to issue regulations with respect to the management, use, and protection of the public lands, including property located thereon, the violation of which is punishable as a criminal offense.  The Secretary has the authority to authorize BLM personnel to carry out the enforcement of Federal laws and regulations relating to the public lands and their resources.  This includes the authority to make arrests and carry firearms.