Ada Reporter

Today, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy introduced the Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act in Washington, D.C. The proposed legislation aims to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health final rule.

Congressman Fulcher expressed his support for the bill, stating, “As a fourth-generation Idahoan, I am proud to co-lead the WEST Act. This legislation defends the way of life for Americans across the West and empowers local voices by reversing the Biden administration’s draconian land management rule that would effectively lock up millions of acres across the U.S. that countless families and businesses have relied on for decades.”

Congresswoman Maloy also commented on the BLM's rule, saying, “BLM’s rule shows just how broken our bureaucracy really is. Congress directed BLM to manage public lands for multiple uses and sustained yield. This rule eliminates multiple use, locking out Utahns who have relied on these lands for ranching, grazing, recreation, and more for generations. My bill ensures that these lands remain in the stewardship of local communities and are managed in compliance with federal law.”

The background provided states that in June 2024, BLM finalized a rule elevating conservation as an eligible "use" under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976's multiple-use framework. It expands Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) by designating certain research areas and temporary protection areas as ACECs. This move has been criticized as contradicting congressional intent and effectively locking up lands across the West.

The Bureau of Land Management currently oversees 245 million acres nationwide.