Proposed rescission (“Public Lands Rule” rollback)

• Document: Rescission of Conservation and Landscape Health Rule (BLM proposed rule)
  Citation: 90 FR 43990 (Document No. 2025-17537)
  CFR parts affected: 43 CFR parts 1600 & 6100
  RIN: 1004-AF03
  Publication date: September 11, 2025. Federal Register

• Comment deadline: November 10, 2025 (“Comments must be received by November 10, 2025.”). Regulations.gov also lists the close as Nov 10, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Federal Register+1

• How to comment (from FR notice):
  • Online: via the Federal eRulemaking Portal—search for Docket ID BLM-2025-0001 and follow the instructions.
  • Mail/hand delivery: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St. NW, Room 5646, Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AF03. Federal Register

• Point of contact (from FR notice): Kyle Moorman, Chief, Division of Regulatory Affairs and Directives, 202-527-2433, kmoorman@blm.gov

  • What this proposal would do (BLM’s stated rationale in FR):
    • Rescind the 2024 Conservation and Landscape Health Rule in full.
    • Argues the 2024 rule is “unnecessary,” conflicts with FLPMA’s multiple-use and sustained-yield mandate, and improperly treats conservation leasing as a “use.”
    • Proposes to repeal provisions on restoration/mitigation leases (43 CFR 6102.4 & 6102.4.1), land health subpart (43 CFR 6103), and other parts of 43 CFR part 6100; questions the 2024 rule’s expansion/handling of ACECs (Areas of Critical Environmental Concern) ; and invites comment on economic impacts and legal authority. Federal Register

• The Biden-era final rule being targeted

  • Document: Conservation and Landscape Health (often called the “Public Lands Rule”) — final rule
    Citation: 89 FR 40308 (Document No. 2024-08821)
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Effective date: June 10, 2024. GovInfo

  • Key wildlife/biodiversity-forward features (as described in the rule’s preamble text):
    • Establishes BLM policy to protect intact, functioning landscapes, restore degraded habitat and ecosystems, and use science/data to guide decisions.
    • Requires an inventory and tracking of “intactness,” disturbance, connectivity, and migration corridor datato inform planning and project decisions.
    • Provides tools including restoration and mitigation leases and emphasizes identification/management of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) during land-use planning. Federal Register

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  • CONSERVATION ORGs ACTION ALERTS:

• CalWild — “Submit An Official Public Lands Rule Comment”
  Link: https://www.calwild.org/publiclandsrule_comments/
• Works for Nature — “Action Alert: Comment to Save the Public Lands Rule”
  Link: https://worksfornature.org/article/action-alert-comment-to-save-the-public-lands-rule
• Outdoor Alliance — Support the BLM’s Public Lands Rule
  Link: https://action.outdooralliance.org/a/blm-public-lands-rule-final
• Tuleyome — “Action Alert – Public Lands Rule”
  Link: https://www.tuleyome.org/action-alert—public-lands-rule

• Wilderness Society
  — “BLM Public Lands Rule rollback proposal announced; 60-day comment period to follow” (Sept 10, 2025) — press release. The Wilderness Society

• National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
  — “BLM Moves to Roll Back Public Lands Rule, Threatening National Parks and Public Access” — an alert / article about the rescission. National Parks Conservation Association

  • Action Alert — New Mexico Wilderness (NMWild)
    — “Action Alert: Save the Public Lands Rule” — includes a comment prompt and tells people to “comment below by November 10!” New Mexico Wilderness Alliance

  • Works for Nature
    — A tracker & action guide: “Action Alert: Comment to save the Public Lands Rule” (updated Sept 30, 2025) with background and a “call to comment.” worksfornature.org

  • Inside Climate News
    — “Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle Conservation as an Essential Use of Public Lands” — analysis of the rollback move and how the public comment period works. Inside Climate News

  • Western Priorities
    — “Interior announces intent to revoke Public Lands Rule” — blog post / commentary. Center for Western Priorities