Page 50 - The Voice 2017

IAGC Working
to Reduce

Bureaucracy in
BLM Planning

On 25 May 2016, the IAGC
commented on the proposed rule
BLM Planning 2.0 to establish the
procedures used to prepare, revise,
or amend land use plans pursuant
to the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act 1976 (FLPMA).

Congress passed H.J. Res. 44, a joint
resolution of disapproval under the
IAGC among more than 80 groups requesting new Congressional Review Act to repeal
Administration vacate the NOP Executive Order. BLM's Planning 2.0 Rule. The joint
resolution was signed by President
Trump on 27 March 2017, which
returned the power and decision-
IAGC PART OF 80 GROUPS REQUESTING NOP making authority of public lands to
EXECUTIVE ORDER BE VACATED the local and state entities.

For the seismic industry, if
On 19 June 2017, the IAGC and use, contradicting long-held Planning Rule 2.0 had been left
more than 80 groups representing principles of multiple use of our intact, it would have resulted in
nearly every sector of the U.S. public lands, creating potential increased the layers of bureaucracy
economy signed two letters urging conflicts with congressionally- within the federal government and
executive and congressional authorized conservation and also increased public involvement
action to address former President management processes, and in the decision-making process,
Obama's National Ocean Policy inhibiting opportunities for giving more power to anti-
(NOP). revenue growth and economic multiple-land-use environmental
activity. organizations.
On 25 May 2017, the National
Ocean Policy Coalition, with IAGC
support, also delivered letters to 13
federal departments and agencies
asking each entity to identify the
NOP as a regulatory burden and
recommend executive action to
vacate the NOP Executive Order.

The NOP has negatively impacted
opportunities for job creation and
economic growth by unnecessarily
increasing federal bureaucracy and
regulatory directives, costs, and
uncertainties with which regulated
entities must contend and attempt
to predict. Moreover, this policy
creates new obstacles and processes
that could place valuable, taxpayer-
owned marine and terrestrial
resources off-limits to economic

50 THE VOICE