Governor Gordon Launches Legal Challenge Against BLM’s ‘Public Lands’ Rule

The states of Utah and Wyoming have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final Public Lands Rule. The lawsuit states that despite the States’ objections, and multiple other interested parties, BLM sidestepped National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and unreasonably concluded that no extraordinary circumstances warranted any NEPA review.

“Ever since this abomination of a rule raised its ugly head, demonstrating the Biden Administration’s disregard for the law, I have fought it tooth and nail,” Governor Gordon stated. “This legal challenge ensures that this Administration is called out for sidestepping the bedrock federal statutes which guide public land management by attempting to eliminate multiple use through a corrupted definition of conservation, and for doing so with impunity. I look forward to our day in court and putting the BLM back on the right path.”

The BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health draft rule was released on April 3, 2023 and opened for a public comment period. Governor Gordon testified on the draft rule before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources in Washington, D.C. on June 15, 2023. Additionally, the Governor’s final comments on the previous draft rule can be found here. The final rule was released April 18, 2024.

The states’ complaint may be found here.