Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-519-8449
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House Natural Resources Committee today is holding an oversight hearing on Interior Secretary Bernhardt’s plan to relocate the Bureau of Land Management headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Grand Junction, Colorado. New questions about the move have been raised following the naming of William Pendley as acting head of the agency. Pendley has been an outspoken advocate for selling off public lands and rolling back protections for natural areas.
In advance, Athan Manuel, director of public lands protection for Sierra Club issued the following response.
“This move will only create problems where there are none. Spending millions to relocate when there are existing regional offices will end up costing the agency both in influence and valuable personnel. The end result here will be weaker oversight, weaker management, and ultimately weaker protections for public lands across the country. It will be the public that pays for this foolhardy decision, while the oil & gas industry gain.”
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The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.