DENVER — The U.S. House of Representatives’ decision to overturn three additional land management plans after overturning three others last month, threatens balanced land stewardship, cuts the public out of the land planning process, and creates profound uncertainty for all who rely on public lands. By using the Congressional Review Act to repeal resource management plans, Congress is undermining the carefully crafted plans that establish safeguards for wildlife, drinking water, and hunting access while authorizing energy development, grazing, logging, and other commercial activities.

“Resource management plans are developed with local input to provide businesses, ranchers, and all who use public lands some stability to plan and make long-term investments. These plans balance the many competing uses of public lands to allow for resource extraction and infrastructure projects while safeguarding wildlife, clean water, and recreation opportunities,” said David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at National Wildlife Federation. “Any efforts to change the plans should include meaningful public engagement. Using the Congressional Review Act to repeal any land management plan is misguided, but doing to the detriment of wildlife in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is particularly egregious.”