Big changes on the way for Western statesÕ land-use rules

ÒThe previous administration was really

all about

extraction of resources from the land. Now thereÕs an effort to strike a

balance between extraction and protection of the environment.Ó

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., above left at the signing this year of the Omnibus Public Lands Act. He describes differences in the administrationsÕ policies as

Òa healthy change.Ó

WASHINGTON — After less than a year in power, the Obama administration has begun a dramatic reversal in land-use policy thatÕs having repercussions across the Western states.

In a sharp departure from Bush administration policies, the Obama team has halted new uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon, proposed new preserves for wild mustangs and funded the expansion of the Petrified Forest National Park.

President Barack Obama also has signed into law a sweeping public-lands bill that created thousands of miles of scenic, historic and recreational trails, including the 807-mile Arizona National Scenic Trail from the U.S.-Mexico border to the Arizona-Utah border.

The Omnibus Public Lands Act designated more than 2 million acres of wilderness — nearly as much protected land as President George W. Bush designated in eight years.

One of the biggest changes has come from the Bureau of Land Management, whose new director, Bob Abbey of Nevada, issued guidance to agency employees in October that ensures increased environmental protection for national monuments and conservation areas.

Obama administration officials also are considering a change in policy on a controversial federal land swap that would pave the way for developing a huge copper mine near Superior, Ariz. The Bush administration had supported developing the mine.

Although the Obama administration has not come out against the project, it is taking a closer look at the potential environmental impacts.

ÒI think the biggest change since the new administration and (Interior Secretary) Ken Salazar came to office has been a change in attitude toward the West,Ó said Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., who chairs a House subcommittee on national parks, forests and public lands.

ÒThe previous administration was really all about extraction of resources from the land,Ó Grijalva said. ÒNow thereÕs an effort to strike a balance between extraction and protection of the environment. ThatÕs a healthy change.Ó

Not everyone agrees.

ÒAs a property-rights person, I would view whatÕs happening as massive land acquisitions and land use control,Ó said R.J. Smith, adjunct senior environmental scholar at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute.

ÒThe omnibus lands bill was the perfect example,Ó Smith said. ÒThereÕs been a push to create these huge wild lands areas and connect them with corridors that are designed for wildlife rather than for people.Ó

Environmental groups say the publicÕs voice is finally being heard after eight years during which the Bush administration listened mainly to oil, gas, coal, mining and logging interests.

ÒFor conservationists, whether weÕre sportsmen, hunters, anglers or paid environmentalists, there seems to be a real feeling that this administration wants to be inclusive and work with the public to find solutions to environmental challenges,Ó said Jeremy Garncarz, managing director for the Wilderness SocietyÕs Wilderness Support Center in Durango, Colo.

In Arizona, the Obama administration is studying the possibility of expanding the Walnut Canyon National Monument near Flagstaff, which features ancient cliff dwellings and wildlife habitat.

Looking ahead, residents of Western states could soon find themselves in the middle of the Obama administrationÕs new push to make solar power and other renewable energy a top priority for public land.

The BLM and the Interior Department are studying 24 tracts of land in six states — Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico — to determine whether they can support large-scale solar installations. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Conservationists support the effort in concept but say there could be disputes over where best to develop solar sites that wonÕt harm environmentally sensitive lands.

ÒWe want to encourage the administration and the industry to look at areas that have already been disturbed, such as old mining claims in Arizona,Ó Garncarz said. ÒI think thereÕs an incredible opportunity there to get this right from the get-go.Ó