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Comments on the Revision of Regulations for BLM’s Grazing Administration, Exclusive of Alaska
COMMENTS ON REVISION OF REGULATIONS FOR GRAZING ADMINISTRATION, EXCLUSIVE OF ALASKA; A proposed rule by the Bureau of Land Management, published 5/12/2026 (91 FR 26852)
Send your comments on this proposed rule to the Department of the Interior (Department) on or before July 13, 2026. The BLM and OHA are not obligated to consider any comments received after this date in making their decisions on the final rule.
Mail, personal, or messenger delivery: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC 20240, Attention: Acting, BLM Director.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Searchbox, enter “BLM-2026-0001” and click the “Search” button. Follow the instructions at this website. A plain language summary of the proposed rule is also available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
We assume comments are due before midnight Eastern Time, as that is normally the case for federal rulemaking
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing sweeping changes to its regulations governing livestock use on more than 155 million acres of public lands in the West. If finalized, the regulations would eliminate your ability to participate in most agency decision-making and seriously jeopardize wildlife habitat, streams, native plants, wetlands, and other public resources.
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- Center for Western Priorities: Published an in-depth article, “BLM’s grazing rule overhaul cuts the public out of public lands,” highlighting how the rewrite restricts the general public, Tribes, and conservation groups from weighing in on permit decisions.
- Investigative Outlets:ProPublica and High Country News published an investigation exploring how the rule expands grazing across public lands while eliminating “conservation use” permits and reducing public oversight.
- SOME KEY CONSERVATION CONCERNS RAISED
Environmental organizations have highlighted several major changes to the grazing rules:
- Public Participation: The rule redefines “interested parties,” potentially shutting out conservation groups, Tribes, and the general public from grazing considerations.
- Tribal & Non-Commercial Rights: Non-commercial grazing (such as tribal access for sustenance or bison herds) would be discontinued, and “conservation use” permits would be eliminated.
- Restocking Vacant Allotments: The BLM is pushing to restock vacant grazing lands, including those recovering from wildfires or lacking water sources.
- State Control Over Water: The management of water quality standards on BLM land would be reverted to individual state laws.