Federal Land Use Policy Act of 1976

The Federal Land Use Policy Act of 1976 constitutes the organic act for the Bureau of Land Management and governs most uses of the federal public lands, including grazing. The Act requires the Bureau to execute its management powers under a land use planning process that is based on multiple use and sustained yield principles. The Act also provides for public land sales, withdrawals, acquisitions and exchanges. This act was put in place to conserve lands that are habitats for wildlife or acquired for a specific purpose for which it is needed. [ [http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/flpma.html FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT: Summary from Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook ] ] The current Bush administration is working on quickly revising and amending this act and others in order for large energy companies to commence drilling. Parachute, Colorado has seen new changes to its landscape; the wild horses that roam that region are now being replaced by large mechanical oil drilling rigs. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48739-2004Sep24.html Oil and Gas Hold the Reins in the Wild West (washingtonpost.com) ] ] The current policy states that land may be sold under the Act when: it is difficult and uneconomic to manage and is not suitable for management by another federal agency; it was acquired for a specific purpose for which it is no longer needed; its disposal will serve important public objectives, such as community expansion or economic development, which outweigh other public objectives and values, including recreation and scenic values. [ [http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/flpma.html FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT: Summary from Federal Wildlife Laws Handbook ] ]

References