It appears that even livestock grazing is no longer exempt. According to the Land Desk substack:
"Yes, MAGA Sens. Mike Lee and Steve Daines did amend their budget reconciliation provision in a way that appears to expand the land that is eligible for “disposal” from 120 million acres to about 258 million acres. This was done by removing specific language about excluding land with existing rights, such as active grazing allotments. Yeah, you got that right: these guys aren’t even going to let public land ranchers get in the way of their zeal to privatize and develop public lands!"
I've done a relative deep dive using your map to figure out exactly where the potential BLM lands for sale in California are. I'm curious to know how exactly you dropped in those parcels? Are they simply every parcel of BLM land that isn't a Wilderness, Monument, or Wild and Scenic River?
Thanks Josh! We saw that too. Updated the post and the new map will be out tomorrow. But to answer your questions, the map was created using the federal lands of BLM and FS and subtracting the lands that are excluded in the legislation, including "federally protected land" defined as:
(A) a National Monument;
(B) a National Recreation Area;
(C) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
(D) a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
(E) a component of the National Trails System;
(F) a National Conservation Area;
(G) a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(H) a unit of the National Fish Hatchery System;
(I) a unit of the National Park System;
(J) a National Preserve;
(K) a National Seashore or National Lakeshore;
(L) a National Historic Site;
(M) a National Memorial;
(N) a National Battlefield, National Battlefield Park, National Battlefield Site, or National Military Park; or
(O) a National Historical Park.
These were in addition to other sections of the bill that excluded active grazing allotments (but not vacant ones); fluid mineral (oil and gas) leases; leasable mineral leases; rights of way for renewable, transmission, pipeline, or other projects; hard-rock mining claims. But the bill has apparently been amended to exclude grazing permits as "valid existing rights," effectively doubling the amount of land available. (See our update at the top of this post. We'll get our map updated as soon as possible to reflect that change.)
It appears that even livestock grazing is no longer exempt. According to the Land Desk substack:
"Yes, MAGA Sens. Mike Lee and Steve Daines did amend their budget reconciliation provision in a way that appears to expand the land that is eligible for “disposal” from 120 million acres to about 258 million acres. This was done by removing specific language about excluding land with existing rights, such as active grazing allotments. Yeah, you got that right: these guys aren’t even going to let public land ranchers get in the way of their zeal to privatize and develop public lands!"
I've done a relative deep dive using your map to figure out exactly where the potential BLM lands for sale in California are. I'm curious to know how exactly you dropped in those parcels? Are they simply every parcel of BLM land that isn't a Wilderness, Monument, or Wild and Scenic River?
Thanks Josh! We saw that too. Updated the post and the new map will be out tomorrow. But to answer your questions, the map was created using the federal lands of BLM and FS and subtracting the lands that are excluded in the legislation, including "federally protected land" defined as:
(A) a National Monument;
(B) a National Recreation Area;
(C) a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System;
(D) a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
(E) a component of the National Trails System;
(F) a National Conservation Area;
(G) a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System;
(H) a unit of the National Fish Hatchery System;
(I) a unit of the National Park System;
(J) a National Preserve;
(K) a National Seashore or National Lakeshore;
(L) a National Historic Site;
(M) a National Memorial;
(N) a National Battlefield, National Battlefield Park, National Battlefield Site, or National Military Park; or
(O) a National Historical Park.
These were in addition to other sections of the bill that excluded active grazing allotments (but not vacant ones); fluid mineral (oil and gas) leases; leasable mineral leases; rights of way for renewable, transmission, pipeline, or other projects; hard-rock mining claims. But the bill has apparently been amended to exclude grazing permits as "valid existing rights," effectively doubling the amount of land available. (See our update at the top of this post. We'll get our map updated as soon as possible to reflect that change.)
Thanks for making this clear!! Looking forward to seeing the new map tomorrow.
Great work fellas! This is super helpful.
Abhorrent !!!