Hageman Introduces Legislation to Block BLM RMPs

U.S. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) introduced two pieces of legislation Tuesday to halt the Bureau of Land Management’s Buffalo and Rock Springs Resource Management Plans. According to a media release from Hageman, both of the Resource Management Plans amount to a federal land lockout, shutting down over 11 million acres of Wyoming’s public lands by reclassifying multiple-use management as non-use or restricted access. Key pillars of Wyoming’s economy, grazing, mining, recreation, and energy development, will be negatively impacted by the RMPs. The Congresswoman’s legislation protects Wyoming land by blocking the RMPs implementation.

In Buffalo, BLM’s RMP prohibits new federal coal leasing on nearly 50 billion tons of reserves. No new coal leases will be accepted, with existing leases projected to run out by 2041. In Rock Springs, the BLM’s restrictions lock up over one million acres of well-managed, highly productive land. Hageman vowed to reintroduce legislation in the 119th Congress to stop the implementation of these RMPs and is optimistic about gaining traction with a Republican majority and President Trump’s leadership. Hageman’s bills seek to restore local control and access to Wyoming’s public lands, rebuffing federal overreach and ensuring coal, grazing, and energy development remain integral to the state’s economy.