New BLM director confirmed
On May 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed Stevan Pearce as the director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in a 46-to-43 vote.
Pearce previously represented New Mexico’s Second Congressional District from 2011-19, and prior to serving in Congress, he was a C-130 pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and founded an oilfield services company in southern New Mexico.
In his new role, Pearce will lead the BLM in managing nearly 245 million acres of public lands, overseeing multiple uses like livestock grazing, mineral development, recreation and wildlife habitat.
He succeeds former BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning.
Staunch support
Following his confirmation, agricultural organizations and elected officials from several western states were quick to offer Pearce their support, noting his background in energy development and western lands issues seem to be promising qualifications for leading the federal agency.
On May 19, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Sheep Industry Association and Public Lands Council (PLC) issued a joint statement congratulating Pearce and reiterating their support for his nomination.
“Pearce is the right person to lead the BLM and increase partnerships with ranchers who manage millions of acres of range and pastureland land,” states NCBA President Gene Copenhaver. “NCBA is proud to have supported Pearce’s nomination since the beginning of the process, and we are excited to continue working with him to the benefit of cattle producers across the West.”
PLC President Tim Canterbury comments, “Pearce has always been a strong advocate in upholding the multiple-use mandate guiding federal land use policy and working closely with ranchers during his decades of public service. As BLM director, he will be able to utilize his expertise to ensure ranchers are able to carry out the voluntary conservation work vital to maintaining America’s treasured natural resources.”
“PLC and western livestock producers congratulate Pearce and stand ready to work with him to make much-needed changes to the BLM,” Canterbury adds.
Wyoming leaders also welcomed the appointment.
In a statement issued on May 19, Gov. Mark Gordon says, “Pearce is uniquely qualified to lead the BLM. He knows the importance of the agency’s multiple-use mandate and values local and state input on land management decisions. It is gratifying to see his confirmation to this vital role, and I look forward to working with him on issues critical to Wyoming such as oil, gas and coal leasing; sage grouse; recreation; resource management plans; wild horse management and grazing.”
On May 18, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) also praised Pearce’s confirmation, emphasizing the importance of BLM leadership in western states where large portions of land are federally managed.
“I am pleased the U.S. Senate confirmed my friend and former colleague as director of the BLM,” says Lummis. “The BLM oversees nearly 30 percent of Wyoming’s land, making its leadership deeply personal to our state and critical to the communities and economies across the West. Pearce brings experience and vision to honor this responsibility and will serve as an outstanding guardian of our lands. I look forward to working with Pearce and his team in his new role.”
Strong opposition
While some have celebrated Pearce’s confirmation, environmental organizations and other western lawmakers voiced strong opposition.
They point to Pearce’s past support of legislation related to the sale or transfer of federal lands and his backing of expanded energy development on public lands.
In a May 18 article, Source New Mexico reports U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) voted against the confirmation, noting the West “cannot afford a director who has spent his career working against public lands interests.”
Environmental groups like the Center for Western Priorities, the Wilderness Society and the Mountain Pact also condemned the vote.
“Pearce’s confirmation vote is yet another blatant attack on America’s public lands,” states Aaron Weiss, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities. “Congress has put a man who disdains federal land managers in charge of the BLM.”
In a May 19 article published by The Aspen Times, Colorado lawmakers raise concerns about previous statements Pearce has made regarding federal land ownership and public lands sales.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) reiterates public lands are widely valued, especially in the West, and says he questions Pearce’s suitability to oversee the agency, citing the new director’s co-sponsorship of legislation in 2016 which would have authorized the sale of certain federal lands and some comments Pearce made during his time in Congress suggesting the federal government owned more land than necessary.
Despite the debate surrounding his appointment, Pearce will take the helm of one of the nation’s largest land management agencies at a time when western land-use policy remains at the center of conversations involving agriculture, energy production and conservation.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
