Bureau of Land Management in the United States

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was established July 16, 1946, by the
consolidation of the General Land Office (created in 1812) and the Grazing Service
(formed in 1934).

The BLM manages more land (253 million acres) than any other Federal
agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily
located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The BLM, with a budget of
about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral
estate throughout the Nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the
health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of
present and future generations. The BLM accomplishes this by managing such
activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and
energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other
resources on public lands.

Resources managed by the BLM include timber, solid minerals, oil and
gas, geothermal energy, wildlife habitat, endangered plant and animal species,
rangeland vegetation, recreation and cultural values, wild and scenic rivers,
designated conservation and wilderness areas, and open space. BLM programs
provide for the protection (including ?re suppression when appropriate),
orderly development, and use of the public lands and resources under
principles of multiple use and sustained yield. Land-use plans are developed with public involvement to provide orderly use and development while
maintaining and enhancing the quality of the environment. The BLM also
manages watersheds to protect soil and enhance water quality; develops
recreational opportunities on public lands; administers programs to protect
and manage wild horses and burros; and under certain conditions, makes
land available for sale to individuals, organizations, local governments, and other Federal agencies when such transfer is in the public interest.

Lands may be leased to State and local government agencies and to nonpro?t
organizations for certain purposes. The BLM oversees and manages the development of energy and mineral leases and ensures compliance with
applicable regulations governing the extraction of these resources. It is
responsible for issuing rights-of-way, leases, and permits.
The BLM is also responsible for the survey of Federal lands and establishes
and maintains public land records and mining claims records.
For a complete list of Bureau of Land Management ?eld of?ces, go to http://
www.blm.gov.

For further information, contact the Office of Public Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, LS–406, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240. Phone, 202–912–7400. Internet, http://www.blm.gov.

Bureau of Land Management

In Legislation

Bureau of Land Management in the U.S. Code: Title 43, Chapter 1

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating bureau of land management are compiled in the United States Code under Title 43, Chapter 1. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Public Lands (including bureau of land management) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, Land of the US Code, including bureau of land management) by chapter and subchapter.