To prohibit the implementation of the Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Buffalo, Wyoming Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 230
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-03-25T16:33:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to block the federal government from putting into effect a specific update to land management rules in the Buffalo, Wyoming area, preventing changes that could affect how public lands are used.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Implementation: The Secretary of the Interior (head of the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Land Management or BLM) is barred from carrying out, managing, or enforcing the "Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment" for the BLM's Buffalo Field Office in Wyoming.
- Specific Reference: The prohibition targets the amendment detailed in a official notice published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2024, titled "Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming" (89 Fed. Reg. 93650).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill would directly override an already approved federal plan amendment by prohibiting its enforcement, effectively halting administrative actions that were finalized through the BLM's standard planning process under existing laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
- It introduces a targeted restriction on the BLM's authority in this specific region, without altering broader national land management policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The BLM and Department of the Interior would be unable to apply the new rules, potentially requiring them to revert to prior management plans and limiting their flexibility in regulating land use in the Buffalo area.
- On Citizens: Local residents, businesses, and land users in Wyoming (such as ranchers, miners, or energy developers) could benefit from avoiding potential new restrictions on activities like grazing, mining, or energy extraction, preserving economic opportunities. Environmental advocates might face setbacks if the amendment included protections for wildlife or habitats.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic land management issue confined to U.S. public lands.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Department of the Interior: Directly restricted in their operational authority.
- Local Communities in Buffalo, Wyoming: Residents and industries reliant on public lands for economic activities like agriculture, energy production, and recreation.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Potentially opposed, if the amendment aimed to enhance protections for natural resources.
- Congressional Representatives: The bill's sponsor (Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-WY) and supporters focused on states' rights and local economic interests.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This represents congressional use of its oversight power to direct executive branch actions, which could be challenged in court if seen as unduly interfering with agency rulemaking under administrative law. The bill's narrow focus on one specific amendment minimizes broader legal disruptions.
- Constitutional: It aligns with Congress's authority to regulate federal lands (Article IV, Section 3), but could spark debates on separation of powers if viewed as micromanaging executive decisions.
- Political: The bill reflects tensions between federal environmental regulations and local economic priorities in Western states, potentially serving as a model for similar targeted blocks on agency plans amid partisan divides over public land use.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-07: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-01-07: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To prohibit the implementation of the Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Buffalo, Wyoming Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. — issued 2025-01-07 — PDF (2 pages)