BLM Seeks Public Input on Use of Additional Herbicides for Vegetation Treatments on Public Lands
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input as it begins considering use of certain herbicides to control noxious weeds and invasive species that impact about a third of public lands. A Notice of Intent published today in the Federal Register initiates a 30-day public comment period that will inform development of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The BLM manages 245 million acres of public lands primarily in the western United States, including Alaska. Approximately one third of these lands, or 79 million acres, are impacted by noxious and invasive weeds. If not eradicated or controlled, these plants can jeopardize the health of public lands and constrain the myriad activities that occur on them.
“One of the BLM's highest priorities is to promote ecosystem health, and one of the greatest obstacles to achieving this goal is the rapid expansion of noxious and invasive weeds across public lands,” said David Jenkins, BLM Assistant Director for Resources and Planning. “Wise and appropriate use of herbicides is an important part of the solution to our weed problem.”
Invasive plant communities can develop resistance to herbicide active ingredients over time; therefore, new active ingredients are often developed to overcome such resistance. Several new ingredients have been developed and registered over the past several years that may provide more effective and efficient tools than the BLM currently has approved for use. The BLM is thus considering adding such ingredients, including Indaziflam, to its list of approved active herbicide active ingredients for vegetation treatments.
More information regarding this effort and how to provide comments can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xtk6a. Comments must be submitted within 30 days of the published Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to inform development of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, which itself will be made available for public review and comment when published.
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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.