Last updated:
01/08/07

2006 News Releases

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• BLM Announces New Appointments to National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board The BLM today announced new appointments to its National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The nine-member board advises both the BLM (an agency of the U.S. Interior Department) and Forest Service (an agency of the U.S. Agriculture Department) on the management, protection, and control of wild horses and burros that roam Western public rangelands. (12/20/06)
• Environmental Study Will Consider Comments on Impacts of Energy Corridors on Federal Lands in the West After receiving hundreds of comments in response to the release of preliminary working maps, the interagency team analyzing potential environmental effects of designating energy corridors in 11 Western States has decided that additional time will be needed to consider these comments as the agencies conduct an environmental review of proposed corridor locations. (12/19/06)
• Interior Department Issues Oil Shale Research, Development and Demonstration Leases for Public Lands in Colorado In the next step advancing the Bush Administration’s efforts to develop the world’s largest oil shale resource, the Department of the Interior has issued research, development and demonstration (RD&D) leases for five oil shale projects on public lands in Colorado’s Piceance Basin managed by the Bureau of Land Management. These are the first-ever RD&D leases issued for public lands and the first federal oil shale leases issued in more than 30 years. (12/15/06)
• New Study Measures Restrictions on Oil and Gas Development on Federal Lands The BLM today released a congressionally mandated scientific study of U.S. onshore Federal oil and natural gas resources and limitations on their development. (11/28/06)
• BLM Sets Meeting of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board for December 11 in Las Vegas The BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet on December 11, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to discuss issues relating to the management and protection of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands. The one-day meeting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time, at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino. (11/15/06)
• Interior Department Announces Approval of Oil Shale Projects on Public Lands in Colorado In a major move that will advance the Bush Administration’s efforts to develop the world’s largest oil shale resource, the Department of the Interior has completed analysis on five oil shale research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects on public lands in Colorado’s Piceance Basin. (11/13/06)
• BLM Announces Waiver of Fees for Veterans and Member of U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today that, beginning this Veterans Day (Nov. 11), U.S. veterans, members of the U.S. armed forces and their families will be admitted free-of-charge on the holiday to most public lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. (11/8/06)
• Janine Velasco to Lead BLM’s Human Resources Office BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today the appointment of Janine Velasco as the new Assistant Director for Human Resources in Washington, D.C. Velasco has been serving as the Deputy Assistant Director for Business and Fiscal Resources and previously served as the BLM’s Division Chief for Management Systems in the Washington Office. (9/29/06)
• Ed Shepard Named BLM State Director for Oregon and Washington BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today the appointment of Ed Shepard as the new director for the agency’s state office in Oregon and Washington. Shepard is currently the BLM’s assistant director for renewable resources and planning, and has held a variety of positions within the agency’s Oregon and Washington operations. (9/29/06)
• BLM Director Announces Selection of Tom Lonnie To Head Bureau’s Alaska State Office BLM Director Kathleen Clarke today announced the selection of Thomas P. Lonnie to be the Director of the Bureau’s Alaska State Office. Lonnie, who currently serves as the BLM’s Assistant Director for Minerals, Realty, and Resource Protection, succeeds Henri Bisson as Alaska State Director. Bisson was named the BLM’s Deputy Director for Operations earlier this month. (9/29/06)
• Tom Dyer Tapped to Head Idaho BLM BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today the appointment of native Idahoan Tom Dyer as the new Idaho State Director. Dyer has been serving as the acting director of the BLM’s office of fire and aviation since April and was previously the deputy assistant director for renewable resources and planning at the BLM’s headquarters office in Washington, D.C. (9/29/06)
• BLM Announces 2006 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Award Winners BLM Director Kathleen Clarke today announced the winners of the 2006 Reclamation and Sustainable Mineral Development Awards. The awards recognize the efforts that have been made in implementing the principles of sustainable development, a concept adopted by the United States and 192 other countries, to balance environmental, economic, and social considerations in planning for mining operations. (9/21/06)
• Gene Terland Named State Director for Montana and the Dakotas Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke has named Gene Terland as the agency’s new State Director for Montana and the Dakotas.  (9/19/06)
• Henri Bisson Named BLM Deputy Director for Operations Henri Bisson has been named the BLM’s Deputy Director for Operations, BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today. Bisson, currently Alaska State Director, will assume his position in early November. He succeeds Larry Benna, who retired the end of August. (9/14/06)
• BLM Director Announces Winners of 2006 Rangeland Stewardship Award Calling public lands ranchers “effective stewards of the public lands,” Bureau of Land Management Director Kathleen Clarke today presented the BLM’s first annual Rangeland Stewardship Award to two Idaho public lands ranchers and an Idaho grazing association that have improved rangeland conditions in the state’s Shoshone Basin. The award was presented in Reno, Nevada, at a meeting of the rancher-based Public Lands Council. (9/6/06)
• BLM Seeks Bids for Two New Pasture Facilities in West To Care for and Maintain Wild Horses and Burros As part of its responsibility to manage, protect, and control wild horses and burros, the BLM is soliciting bids for two new pasture facilities located west of the Mississippi River. Each pasture facility must be able to provide humane care for and maintain up to 1,500 wild horses and burros over a one-year period, starting about November 1, 2006, with an option under BLM contract for an additional four one-year extensions. The BLM needs additional space for wild horses and burros placed in long-term holding facilities, all of which are currently located in Kansas and Oklahoma. (8/29/06)
• BLM Director Appoints Mike Ferguson as Assistant Director for Business and Fiscal Resources BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today the appointment of Mike Ferguson as the agency’s Assistant Director for Business and Fiscal Resources. Ferguson, a native Californian, has been serving for the past two years as the BLM’s Budget Officer in Washington, D.C., where he has provided leadership and technical expertise in the development and implementation of the agency’s $1.8 billion annual budget. (8/28/06)
• BLM Publishes Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Commercial Oil Shale Leasing The Bureau of Land Management has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to support preparation of a future proposed rule supporting a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands. The ANPR is published in today’s Federal Register. Congress directed the BLM to establish a commercial leasing program for oil shale in Section 369 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. (8/25/06)
• Bureau of Land Management Names New Utah State Director BLM Director Kathleen Clarke today named Selma Sierra, a New Mexico native with a long history of dealing with Western land issues, to head the BLM Utah State Office. (8/21/06)
• Bureau of Land Management Announces Final Approval of Wind Energy Project in Idaho Kathleen Clarke, Director of the Bureau of Land Management, today announced completion of an environmental review of the largest wind energy project on Federal land in the last 25 years. Approval of the Record of Decision (ROD) and right-of-way grant for the Cotterel Wind Power Project on 4,500 acres of BLM-managed public land clears the way for the installation of up to 98 turbines on a ridge in south-central Idaho five miles east of Albion in Cassia County. (8/15/06)
• BLM Announces Best Management Practices Award Winners BLM Director Kathleen Clarke today announced the winners of the 2006 Oil, Gas and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices (BMP) Awards. The awards recognize oil, gas, and geothermal operators or right-of-way grantees and their partners who are demonstrating leadership and creativity in reducing the impacts of developing natural gas, oil, and geothermal resources on public lands. (8/8/06)
• Nominations Due for Award Recognizing Responsible Fluid Mineral Development The BLM is currently accepting nominations for the 2007 Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Development Best Management Practices (BMPs) Awards. The awards recognize oil, gas, and geothermal operators or rights-of-way grantees and their partners who are demonstrating leadership and creativity in reducing the environmental impacts of oil, gas, and geothermal development. (7/24/06)
• BLM Wins Web Award for Invasive Species Website The BLM’s educational website on invasive species has been recognized with an Award of Excellence by StudySphere, an education resource-tracking website. All award winners are selected for inclusion in StudySphere’s educational resources based on their high-quality content and usability for online research by busy searchers. (7/24/06)
• Geothermal Rules Encourage Alternative Energy Development on Federal Lands: Provide $4 Million in Revenue for County Governments To encourage geothermal energy development on federal lands, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne today announced proposed rules that would require more competitive leasing, offer simplified royalty calculations and share $4 million in current royalties with counties where production occurs. (7/21/06)
• BLM Publishes New Grazing Regulations To Improve Management of Public Lands Grazing The BLM today published in final form a new set of grazing regulations that will improve the agency’s management of public lands grazing. The final regulations, developed with extensive public input and supported by a detailed environmental analysis, recognize the economic and social benefits of public lands grazing, as well as its role in preserving open space and wildlife habitat in the rapidly growing West. (7/12/06)
• BLM Sets Meeting of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board For July 17 in Salt Lake City; Bureau Also Calls for Nominations to Board The BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet on July 17 in Salt Lake City to discuss issues relating to the management and protection of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands. The one-day meeting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time at the Red Lion Hotel in downtown Salt Lake. (6/21/06)
• ARC Honors BLM Partnerships for Innovation in Visitor Service and Recreation Management The American Recreation Coalition (ARC) will present two Beacon Awards on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management to the BLM-New Mexico State Office—Public Lands Interpretative Association (PLIA) partnership and to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado in recognition of their innovative use of technology in visitor services and recreation management. The two sets of honorees will be among several agency, congressional, and recreation officials receiving awards at the Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award Celebration during Great Outdoors Week 2006 (June 11-16) in Washington, D.C. (6/13/06)
• BLM Honors Employee for Exemplary Service in Recreation Management The American Recreation Coalition (ARC) will present the BLM’s 2006 Legends Award to BLM employee Tom Folks in recognition of his contributions to recreation management. Folks, the Recreation, Wilderness and Archaeology Team leader for BLM’s Arizona Strip District, is one of several government employees being honored for their public service during the ARC’s Great Outdoors Week (June 12-16). (6/13/06)
• Federal Agencies Release Preliminary Map of Potential Energy Corridors on Federal Lands in the West The four Federal agencies preparing to designate energy corridors on Federal lands in 11 Western States for electricity transmission and oil, natural gas and hydrogen pipelines today released a map showing preliminary corridors. The informational map was developed using comments received during a public scoping period in the Fall of 2005, and offers an update on progress in the identification of potential corridors and an opportunity for public comment on work to-date. (6/9/06)
• 100 Years of Historic Preservation to be Celebrated During the 2006 Antiquities Act Centennial June 8, 1906 – One hundred years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt signed “An Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities,” a landmark piece of legislation that for the first time protected the vast expanse of cultural resources on America’s Public Lands. (6/1/06)
• BLM Seeks Public Input on Regulatory Efforts to Update Linear Rights-of-Way Rental Payment Schedule In an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in today’s Federal Register, the BLM announced that it is seeking public input on proposed regulations relating to the fee schedule for linear rights-of-way (ROW) across public lands managed by the agency. (4/27/06)
• “Save the Mustangs” Fund Ready to Distribute $200,000 to Wild Horse Organizations for Long-Term Care of Horses The BLM, Take Pride in America®, and Ford Motor Company announced today that more than $200,000 raised for the “Save the Mustangs” fund is ready for distribution to eligible wild horse and equine rescue groups to help place thousands of mustangs into private, long-term care. (4/4/06)
• BLM Issues Addendum to Final Environment Impact Statement On Proposed Grazing Regulation Changes The BLM today issued an addendum to its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on proposed regulations that will improve the BLM's management of public lands grazing. The addendum and final EIS, posted on the BLM’s Website, conclude that the proposed regulations will produce long-term health benefits for public rangelands. The proposed new grazing regulations, collectively known as a “rule,” will be finalized in the near future and published in the Federal Register. (3/31/06)
• BLM Announces Internet Availability of Lands and Minerals Databases Members of the public surfing the web for public land information now have renewed access to three popular lands and minerals databases that provide essential information to the public: GeoCommunicator, Legacy Rehost 2000 (LR2000) System reports, and public eForms. The first one to come back online, GeoCommunicator, was available in November 2005, followed by LR2000 and public eForms in February 2006. These three public applications administered by the BLM were temporarily shut down due to ongoing litigation relating to cyber security. (3/29/06)
• New Program Will Train and Certify Professional Land Surveyors: Special Emphasis on Providing Cadastral Services in Indian Country The BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians have announced a certification program for licensed land surveyors performing boundary surveys in Indian Country. The Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) program is a voluntary program to train and certify licensed land surveyors to perform the commercial activities of boundary surveying and related services to basic federal surveying standards as established by BLM. The BIA, Tribes, individual allottees, and other federal agencies will be encouraged to select surveyors from the CFedS roster when contracting for boundary surveys or other cadastral services. (3/27/06)
• BLM Issues Oil and Gas Regulatory Changes Affecting Lease Acreage Limits and Lease Reinstatements In response to congressional direction in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Bureau of Land Management today published changes to oil and gas regulations relating to lease acreage limits and lease reinstatements. The BLM’s new set of regulations, collectively known as a final rule, expands the types of lease holdings that are exempt from acreage limits. The final rule also extends the time for companies to file a lease reinstatement from 15 months to 24 months. (3/24/06)
• Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting Scheduled for April in Sacramento The BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet in April in Sacramento, California, to discuss issues relating to the management and protection of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands. The one-day meeting will be held on Monday, April 10, 2006, and will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza in Sacramento. (3/16/06)
• Additional Proposed Changes to Federal Oil and Gas Regulations Would Improve Energy Development on Public Lands In a move that will help the nation meet its energy needs, the BLM and the Forest Service are jointly proposing further revisions of regulations governing oil and gas activity on the public lands. These further proposed revisions supplement an earlier proposal – published by the two agencies in July 2005 – that would revise an existing set of regulations known as Onshore Oil and Gas Order Number 1. The Order’s regulations establish the requirements that companies must meet to obtain approval for oil and gas exploration and development on all Federal and Indian lands (except those of the Osage Tribe). (3/13/06)
• BLM and MMS Seek Public Input on Regulatory Efforts To Promote New Forms of Oil and Natural Gas Production The BLM and Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced today that they are seeking public input as they prepare to draft regulations relating to potentially promising new forms of oil and natural gas production. These new forms of production, if found to be technically and commercially viable, could help reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy sources. (3/8/06)
• BLM to Hold Listening Session in Washington on Split Estate Issues As part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to implement the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the BLM will hold a listening session in Washington, D.C. on issues surrounding development of Federally-owned oil and natural gas resources that underlie privately owned surface lands. This session will follow a series of similar meetings held in Western States to gather ideas and recommendations for implementing the split estate provisions in the Act. (3/2/06)
• Bureau of Land Management and Public Lands Council Urge Public Lands Ranchers to Buy Wild Horses The BLM and the rancher-based Public Lands Council (PLC) are urging public lands ranchers to consider buying older wild horses that must be sold under a recently passed law. The appeal, made in separate letters signed by BLM Director Kathleen Clarke and PLC President Mike Byrne, is going out to more than 15,000 livestock operators across the West who hold BLM-issued grazing permits or leases. The PLC represents the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Sheep Industry Association, and the Association of National Grasslands on public land issues affecting ranchers. (2/21/06)
• BLM Asks Public for Nominations to Fill Vacancy On National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board The BLM is requesting public nominations to fill a vacancy on the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The position to be filled represents the category known as Public Interest (formerly Public at Large), and the selected individual will serve out the remainder of a term that expires July 8, 2008. (2/16/06)
• BLM Sets Listening Sessions on Split Estate Issues As part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to implement the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the BLM has announced a series of listening sessions on issues surrounding development of Federally owned oil and natural gas resources that underlie privately owned surface lands. Congress directed the BLM to review current policies and practices for managing so-called “split-estate” situations in consultation with affected private landowners, the oil and gas industry, and other interested parties. (2/15/06)
• Bureau of Land Management Releases Final National Trails Plan The Department of the Interior’s BLM released its final strategic plan today, setting out how the agency will manage its National Scenic and Historic Trails Program over the next 10 years. (2/13/06)
• President’s FY 2007 Budget Request of $1.8 Billion for BLM Would Advance Environmentally Sound Energy Development The Bush Administration today proposed a budget of $1.8 billion for the Interior Department’s BLM in Fiscal Year 2007, including a $25.4 million increase in its energy and minerals program aimed primarily at boosting the development of energy from America’s public lands in an environmentally sound manner. Funding increases for energy activities will support the BLM’s implementation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and energy initiatives on Alaska’s North Slope. The President’s budget proposal also contains a $3 million increase for “Enduring Legacy,” a major cultural resource enhancement initiative. (2/6/06)
• BLM and Forest Service Announce 2006 Federal Grazing Fee The Federal grazing fee for Western public lands managed by the BLM and the Forest Service will be $1.56 per animal unit month (AUM) in 2006, down from $1.79 in 2005. The newly adjusted fee, determined by a congressional formula and effective on March 1, applies to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM and more than 8,000 permits administered by the Forest Service. (2/2/06)
• BLM Proposes to Update NEPA Manual To allow for increased efficiency in implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM has published a set of draft revisions to Chapter 11 of the Department of the Interior’s Departmental Manual (DM), which guides the agency’s implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). (1/24/06)
• BLM Announces Results of Review of Oil Shale Research Nominations The BLM today announced the names of eight applicants whose proposals for oil shale research development and demonstration (RD&D) leases have been judged eligible for continued consideration. The oil shale program is part of the BLM’s ongoing effort to provide the Nation with secure, reliable, affordable energy sources by boosting domestic energy production. (1/17/06)
• National Public Lands Foundation Honors BLM Employees The national Public Lands Foundation today honored two BLM employees from Wyoming and Arizona for their leadership and professionalism on behalf of the country’s public lands in a ceremony at the BLM headquarters office in Washington, D.C. (1/13/06)
• BLM Director Appoints Dan DuBray as Communications Director BLM Director Kathleen Clarke announced today the appointment of Daniel J. DuBray as Assistant Director for Communications. DuBray has been serving as press secretary to Interior Secretary Gale Norton and was previously a special assistant for communications for Indian affairs and senior content manager of the department's website. (1/12/06)
• BLM Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed Vegetation Treatments on BLM-Managed Public Lands The BLM announced today that it is extending until February 10, 2006, the public comment period on its proposed methods for treating and managing vegetation on BLM-managed public lands. The agency, which held public meetings on its vegetation treatment proposal from November 28, 2005-December 13, 2005, is extending the public comment period to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to express their views. The public comment period had originally been slated to close on January 9, 2006. (1/9/06)