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Garfield County backs moving BLM headquarters out west

Resolution supports relocating agency's base of operations to Grand Junction

PRESS RELEASE
February 21, 2018

GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. – Garfield County is supporting a push to move the Bureau of Land Management’s headquarters to western Colorado.

Noting the abundance of BLM lands on the Western Slope of Colorado, a resolution was signed by the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners urging Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to relocate the BLM’s base to Grand Junction.

Zinke has stated his intention of moving the BLM headquarters out of Washington D.C., as the vast majority of the country’s public lands are in the western United States. Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner has introduced a bill to move the BLM’s operations to one of 12 western states, including Colorado.

The BLM manages multiple uses on Colorado’s public lands, including oil and gas production, livestock grazing, hunting, fishing, and recreational use, all of which affects the Western Slope economy. Sixty-two percent of Colorado is federal land, of which the BLM oversees more than 1,000 square miles.

“I really support this,” said Commissioner Mike Samson. “I think it is a great move if we can get it accomplished to move the BLM to the western United States… I’d really like to see it here in Colorado.” The resolution was approved, 3-0.