After strong pushback by members of the Western Caucus, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its decision, to drop its plan to merge the BLM state offices of New Mexico and Arizona into one regional office.
Arizona Congressman and Caucus vice-chair Paul Gosar stated, “While I am glad bureaucrats within BLM finally came to their senses, it should not have taken the threat of Congressional riders and alarms from members of Congress for the BLM to realize that trying to merge the Arizona and New Mexico BLM field offices was a bad idea,” said Gosar. “This is an important victory for the West and I’m pleased to have worked closely with Reps. Pearce, Lummis, Chaffetz, Bishop and McClintock in opposing this misguided proposal.”
Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY) stated, “Every state has a unique economy, culture, and environment that a regional-style management system may not adequately recognize,” said Chairman Lummis. “When the largest landowner in a state is the federal government, as is the case in many western states, it is critical that federal land managers maintain a continuous presence and develop strong relationships with the states and communities they serve. I am pleased the BLM has dropped this misguided proposal for now, and I hope we can get to work on more effective ways for the agency to reduce duplication and free up more resources for the states it serves.”
“I am happy that the BLM listened to the people of New Mexico and Arizona,” said Chairman Emeritus Pearce. “Merging the state offices would have been a grave mistake. The result would have harmed the quality of services the BLM provides daily to taxpayers, and established a system where Washington bureaucrats would have directed the day to day policy and operations’, minimizing what is best for New Mexicans. Arizona and New Mexico lands are vastly different. It is absolutely necessary that both states have their own BLM offices. I am encouraged by this decision and hope that the BLM will continue to listen to the people going forward.”