Interior Department proposes new rules to speed up BLM land planning

The Department of the Interior is proposing updates to the regulations that guide the Bureau of Land Management's land-use planning. The new rules would streamline the process for managing public lands across the country. The proposals aim to cut what the department calls unnecessary red tape. They also seek to improve coordination with state and local governments.

BLM Director Steve Pearce said the current process is too slow and complicated. He noted that the agency is weighed down by outdated requirements. Pearce stated that the changes would help the BLM make decisions more efficiently. He added that the revisions would reduce costs for taxpayers. BLM Director Steve Pearce said, “These proposed changes would help the BLM make decisions more efficiently, reduce costs for taxpayers and improve coordination with the people and communities that rely on public lands.”

The proposed changes would alter how the BLM handles public input. The rules would remove the requirement to publish notice in the Federal Register when a planning process begins. They would also eliminate the 90-day public comment period for draft land use plans. The 30-day comment period for significant changes to a proposed plan would also be removed. Additionally, the section titled Environmental Impact Statement would be redesignated as Environmental compliance.

The proposal would also change the rules for Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. These designations protect lands with important natural or cultural values. The new rules would remove the requirement to identify these areas in a draft land-use plan. The associated 60-day comment period and the Federal Register notice publication for these designations would also be eliminated. Julia Stuble, Wyoming State Director for The Wilderness Society, said the changes would hinder public input. She called the rule a clear attempt to put politics over people.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said public lands should be managed by the people closest to the land. He argued against being held back by outdated bureaucracy in Washington. Stuble disagreed, saying the proposals would shut down public input opportunities. She noted that the changes include shortening the governor’s review period. She described the move as a type of top-down political over-reach.

The proposals follow a contentious planning process in southwestern Wyoming. In August 2023, the BLM released a draft resource management plan for the Rock Springs field office. That plan covers 3.6 million acres of public land and 3.7 million acres of federal mineral estate. The draft drew intense backlash from local residents and stakeholders. More than 35,000 comments were submitted during the extended public comment period.

Gov. Mark Gordon formed a task force to review the plan. The group reached consensus on more than 100 recommendations. The BLM finalized a 550-page record of decision in December 2024. However, the agency announced in late 2025 that it would amend the plan. The BLM said the amendments were needed to comply with recent executive orders. The public can comment on the new national regulations through Jan. 11.