EPISODE · Aug 16, 2024
How the BLM relies on the public, computer drawings, and local knowledge to open new lands to recreation
from On the Ground
Chris Holmes from BLM Communications speaks with Ashton Johnston, a program manager who helps the bureau conduct its once-every-two-years public outreach under the Dingell Act. Johnston describes the process of how to explore the map and submit nominations, the criteria that's used to evaluate each suggested location, and what happens when the BLM concludes its examination of each nomination. It's a process that will continue through 2030. So far, the bureau has collected more than 6,600 nominations of public lands to open to recreation...and counting!
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What this episode covers
There are thousands of acres of publicly owned lands in the United States that are not available for recreation; in many cases, there are no roads or trails to get to those areas. In addition, some areas near public lands are inaccessible because of private ownership. In 2019, Congress passed the Dingell Act of 2019 to fix the problem, directing the BLM and other Federal agencies to ask the public for its help to identify government owned or managed lands that should be opened to recreational use. After each round of public nominations, the BLM submits a Priority Access List to Congress, which makes the decision on which projects should receive funding to open the areas to recreation. The BLM's outreach under the Dingell Act will continue every two years until 2030.
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How the BLM relies on the public, computer drawings, and local knowledge to open new lands to recreation
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