Materials Access Program provides streamlined access to common building materials

The Bureau of Land Management is the steward of a vast array of natural resources owned by the American public.

Sand, gravel, stone, and other minerals have always been available for purchase on public lands. Through the Department of the Interior’s new Materials Access Program, the purchase of these resources recently became much easier for individuals trying to understand what materials are available and where, along with streamlined BLM processing and cost structures for their projects.

“Mineral materials are the basic building blocks of our daily lives – used in everything from buildings and roads to landscaping and small construction projects,” said Stephanie Carter, who manages the solid minerals program for the BLM in Colorado. “The Materials Access Program, combined with a new interactive mapping tool, makes it easier for the public to understand the costs and availability of quality materials for home and community projects.”

The new policy provides opportunities to obtain materials outside of community pits and common use areas for a fixed cost.

In Colorado, mineral materials currently available for sale include sand, gravel, bentonite, adobe clay, fill dirt, red gravel, silt, limestone, volcanic rock, river rock, boulders, rip rap, and decomposed granite.

Information about the location of public mineral deposits and community pits, as well as pricing and contact information for the affiliated BLM field office, can be found using the new Materials Access Program mapping tool. Contracts for specific areas can be secured through the managing BLM field office.