BLM Press Release: BLM Turns 50

The Bureau of Land Management

NEWS

President Clinton, Secretary Babbitt Pay Tribute to BLM as Agency Turns 50

The Bureau of Land Management celebrated its 50th anniversary today, marking the occasion with a special event in the auditorium of the U.S. Interior Department's Main Building in Washington, D.C. The celebration, which featured Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt as the keynote speaker, focused on the past and present accomplishments of the agency. The BLM, an agency of the Interior Department, was created in July 1946 during the presidency of Harry S. Truman.

"These lands are a rich legacy for future generations," Babbitt said, referring to the 270 million acres of mostly Western public land under BLM management. "They are part of our public heritage." Babbitt also noted the "extraordinary diversity" of BLM-managed lands, which include deserts, forests, rangelands, recreation sites, National Conservation Areas, archaeological sites, National Wilderness Areas, historical sites and a vast array of energy and mineral resources.

"There is room to accommodate the multiple uses of the public lands," said Babbitt as he described the history and mission of the BLM, which is the successor to two former Federal agencies -- the General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service. Babbitt read a proclamation from President Clinton, who said, "The public lands were once considered the 'lands that nobody wanted.' Today they are recognized as a rich and marvelous legacy for the people of the United States...." The President also commended BLM employees for working "to ensure that our children and our children's children will always be able to enjoy the beauty and splendor of our priceless legacy."

Deputy Interior Secretary John Garamendi and BLM Acting Director Mike Dombeck honored numerous commodity-related and conservation groups that work with the Bureau to ensure the health and productivity of the land.

"From humble beginnings 50 years ago, public lands today are the fourth-largest revenue generator for the Federal Government," Dombeck said. "BLM takes in more than it spends -- generating $1.4 billion annually, with a congressional appropriation of $1.1 billion."

BLM Deputy Director Mat Millenbach honored six individuals as the Bureau's "employees of the decade" for each of the past five decades. Millenbach was assisted in his presentations by George Lea, President of the Public Lands Foundation, an organization of retired BLM employees.

The BLM employees honored for their service were: for the decade of 1946-1955, J. Russell Penny, who smoothed the transition of the Grazing Service to the BLM and served as the first Idaho State Director; for 1956-1965, Edgar I. Rowland, who served as State Director of Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Nevada; for 1966-1975, two individuals who received posthumous awards: the late Jim Beirne, who was the Washington, D.C., Office Assistant Director and the BLM's budget officer for many years, and the late Irving Senzel, who was a dynamic force in the development and passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, which is considered to be the BLM's "charter" legislation; for 1976-1985, Ed Hastey, who is the California State Director and known for his commitment to protecting the public lands of the California Desert; and for 1986-1995, Dean Bibles, who helped establish the BLM-managed wilderness system in Arizona and played a key role in forestry management issues in Oregon.

Six former Directors of the BLM attended today's event: Marion Clawson, Karl Landstrom, Curt Berklund, Frank Gregg, Cy Jamison and Jim Baca.

This page was created by the
U.S. Bureau of Land Management,
Office of Public Affairs
1849 C Street, Room 406-LS
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 452-5125
Fax: (202) 452-5124

Please contact us with
any questions relating to accessibility of documents.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

This is a U.S. Government Computer System. Before continuing, please read this disclaimer and privacy statement. Accessibility