Interior Department moves to rescind BLM conservation rule, citing multiple-use mandate

Bears Ears National Monument - Lower Comb Wash Road Photo: Bob Wick, BLM

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior on Tuesday announced a proposal to rescind the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule, a move officials say will restore balance by prioritizing multiple-use access on federal lands and easing restrictions on industries including energy, ranching, and recreation.

The rule, finalized in 2024 under the previous administration, elevated conservation for the first time to the same level as grazing, timber, energy development, and recreation. Supporters framed it as necessary to protect habitat and ensure climate resilience. But Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said it amounted to “no use” policies that sidelined rural communities and restricted economic activity.

“The previous administration’s Public Lands Rule had the potential to block access to hundreds of thousands of acres of multiple-use land — preventing energy and mineral production, timber management, grazing, and recreation across the West,” Burgum said in a statement. “Overturning this rule protects our American way of life and gives our communities a voice in the land that they depend on.”

Implications for Utah

The stakes are particularly high in Utah, where nearly 70% of the land is federally managed. The Bureau of Land Management oversees approximately 22.8 million acres, or roughly 42% of the state’s land area. Utah leaders, including Gov. Spencer Cox and the state legislature, have long opposed federal policies that emphasize conservation over development.

Energy companies stand to benefit from the change. Much of Utah’s oil and gas production comes from BLM and tribal lands in the Uinta and Paradox basins. Rescinding the rule could shorten permitting timelines and expand access to previously restricted areas. Counties also receive royalty disbursements from production on federal lands, meaning more development could boost state and local revenue.

Agricultural and ranching interests would regain more predictable access to grazing allotments that conservation designations threatened to limit. The mining and timber industries would also face fewer regulatory hurdles.

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Critics push back

Environmental groups criticized the move, saying it strips away needed protections on millions of acres of ecologically sensitive lands. In Utah, critics warn of potential harm to wildlife corridors, red rock landscapes, and recreational opportunities near national parks.

“The Rule reiterates that conservation is a key component of the BLM’s multiple-use mission and ensures that the agency will consistently manage for that use,” said Steve Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, in a statement shared by Protect Wild Utah.

“SUWA and other conservation groups are currently engaged in litigation to defend the Rule from challenges brought by Republican-led states (including Utah) and industry groups in several federal district courts around the country.”

Critics say rescinding the rule reduces safeguards against habitat fragmentation and undermines long-term ecosystem health. “Significant positive impacts” from the proposal, they argue, depend on whether economic growth is valued over environmental stewardship.

Next steps

The Interior Department said rescinding the Public Lands Rule would align with Burgum’s order to “unleash American energy” and return decision-making power to states, counties, and tribes. A 60-day public comment period will begin once the proposed rescission is published in the Federal Register.