Bureau of Land Management - wikipedia Bureau of Land Management Jump to : navigation , search Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management Triangle Flag of the Bureau of Land Management Agency overview Formed 1946 ; 72 years ago ( 1946 ) Preceding agencies U.S. Grazing Service General Land Office Jurisdiction United States federal government Headquarters 1849 C Street NW Room 5665 , Washington , D.C. , U.S. 20240 Employees 11,621 Permanent and 30,860 Volunteer ( FY 2012 ) Annual budget $1,162,000,000 ( FY 2014 operating ) Agency executive Michael Nedd , Director ( Acting ) Parent agency U.S. Department of the Interior Website blm.gov Horses crossing a plain near the Simpson Park Wilderness Study Area in central Nevada , managed by the Battle Mountain BLM Field Office Snow - covered cliffs of Snake River Canyon , Idaho , managed by the Boise District of the BLM The Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that administers more than 247.3 million acres ( 1,001,000 km ) of public lands in the United States which constitutes one - eighth of the landmass of the country . President Harry S. Truman created the BLM in 1946 by combining two existing agencies : the General Land Office and the Grazing Service . The agency manages the federal government 's nearly 700 million acres ( 2,800,000 km ) of subsurface mineral estate located beneath federal , state and private lands severed from their surface rights by the Homestead Act of 1862 . Most BLM public lands are located in these 12 western states : Alaska , Arizona , California , Colorado , Idaho , Montana , Nevada , New Mexico , Oregon , Utah , Washington and Wyoming . This map shows land owned by different federal government agencies . The yellow represents the Bureau of Land Management 's holdings . The mission of the BLM is `` to sustain the health , diversity , and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations . '' Originally BLM holdings were described as `` land nobody wanted '' because homesteaders had passed them by . All the same , ranchers hold nearly 18,000 permits and leases for livestock grazing on 155 million acres ( 630,000 km ) of BLM public lands . The agency manages 221 wilderness areas , 27 national monuments and some 636 other protected areas as part of the National Landscape Conservation System -- now known as the National Conservation Lands , totaling about 36 million acres ( 150,000 km ) . In addition the National Conservation Lands include nearly 2,400 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers , and nearly 6,000 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails . There are more than 63,000 oil and gas wells on BLM public lands . Total energy leases generated approximately $5.4 billion in 2013 , an amount divided among the Treasury , the states , and Native American groups . Contents ( hide ) 1 History 2 BLM programs 3 National Landscape Conservation System 4 Law enforcement and security 5 Wild horse and burro program 6 Renewable energy 7 Directors 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links History ( edit ) The BLM 's roots go back to the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 . These laws provided for the survey and settlement of the lands that the original 13 colonies ceded to the federal government after the American Revolution . As additional lands were acquired by the United States from Spain , France and other countries , the United States Congress directed that they be explored , surveyed , and made available for settlement . During the Revolutionary War , military bounty land was promised to soldiers who fought for the colonies . After the war , the Treaty of Paris of 1783 , signed by the United States , England , France , and Spain , ceded territory to the United States . In the 1780s , other states relinquished their own claims to land in modern - day Ohio . By this time , the United States needed revenue to function . Land was sold so that the government would have money to survive . In order to sell the land , surveys needed to be conducted . The Land Ordinance of 1785 instructed a geographer to oversee this work as undertaken by a group of surveyors . The first years of surveying were completed by trial and error ; once the territory of Ohio had been surveyed , a modern public land survey system had been developed . In 1812 , Congress established the General Land Office as part of the Department of the Treasury to oversee the disposition of these federal lands . By the early 1800s , promised bounty land claims were finally fulfilled . Over the years , other bounty land and homestead laws were enacted to dispose of federal land . Several different types of patents existed . These include cash entry , credit , homestead , Indian , military warrants , mineral certificates , private land claims , railroads , state selections , swamps , town sites , and town lots . A system of local land offices spread throughout the territories , patenting land that was surveyed via the corresponding Office of the Surveyor General of a particular territory . This pattern gradually spread across the entire United States . The laws that spurred this system with the exception of the General Mining Law of 1872 and the Desert Land Act of 1877 have since been repealed or superseded . In the early 20th century , Congress took additional steps toward recognizing the value of the assets on public lands and directed the Executive Branch to manage activities on the remaining public lands . The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 allowed leasing , exploration , and production of selected commodities , such as coal , oil , gas , and sodium to take place on public lands . The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 established the United States Grazing Service to manage the public rangelands by establishment of advisory boards that set grazing fees . The Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937 , commonly referred as the O&C Act , required sustained yield management of the timberlands in western Oregon . In 1946 , the Grazing Service was merged with the General Land Office to form the Bureau of Land Management within the Department of the Interior . It took several years for this new agency to integrate and reorganize . In the end , the Bureau of Land Management became less focused on land disposal and more focused on the long term management and preservation of the land . The agency achieved its current form by combining offices in the western states and creating a corresponding office for lands both east of and alongside the Mississippi River . As a matter of course , the BLM 's emphasis fell on activities in the western states as most of the mining , land sales , and federally owned areas are located west of the Mississippi . BLM personnel on the ground have typically been oriented toward local interests , while bureau management in Washington are led by presidential guidance . By means of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 , Congress created a more unified bureau mission and recognized the value of the remaining public lands by declaring that these lands would remain in public ownership . The law directed that these lands be managed with a view toward `` multiple use '' defined as `` management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people . '' Since the Reagan years of the 1980s , Republicans have often given priority to local control and to grazing , mining and petroleum production , while Democrats have more often emphasized environmental concerns even when granting mining and drilling leases . In September 1996 , then President Bill Clinton used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument in southern Utah , the first of now 20 national monuments established on BLM lands and managed by the agency . The establishment of Grand Staircase - Escalante foreshadowed later creation of the BLM 's National Landscape Conservation System in 2000 . Use of the Antiquities Act authority , to the extent it effectively scuttled a coal mine to have been operated by Andalex Resources , delighted recreation and conservation enthusiasts but set up larger confrontations with state and local authorities . The changing demographics in the western states have led some to suggest that the BLM , long derided as the `` Bureau of Livestock and Mines , '' is in the midst of becoming the `` Bureau of Landscapes and Monuments . '' BLM programs ( edit ) Most of the public lands held by the Bureau of Land Management are located in the western states . Grazing . The BLM manages livestock grazing on nearly 155 million acres ( 630,000 km ) million acres under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 . The agency has granted more than 18,000 permits and leases to ranchers who graze their livestock , mostly cattle and sheep , at least part of the year on BLM public lands . Permits and leases generally cover a 10 - year period and are renewable if the BLM determines that the terms and conditions of the expiring permit or lease are being met . The federal grazing fee is adjusted annually and is calculated using a formula originally set by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 . Under this formula , the grazing fee can not fall below $1.35 per animal unit month ( AUM ) , nor can any fee increase or decrease exceed 25 percent of the previous year 's level . The grazing fee for 2014 was set at $1.35 per AUM , the same level as for 2013 . Over time there has been a gradual decrease in the amount of grazing that takes place on BLM - managed land . Grazing on public lands has declined from 18.2 million AUMs in 1954 to 7.9 million AUMs in 2013 . Mining . Domestic production from over 63,000 Federal `` onshore '' oil and gas wells on BLM lands accounts for 11 percent of the natural gas supply and five percent of the oil supply in the United States . BLM has on record a total of 290,000 mining claims under the General Mining Law of 1872 . Coal leases . The BLM holds the coal mineral estate to more than 570 million acres ( 2,300,000 km ) where the owner of the surface is the federal government , a state or local government , or a private entity . As of 2013 , the BLM had competitively granted 309 leases for coal mining to 474,252 acres ( 191,923 ha ) , an increase of 13,487 acres ( 5,458 ha ) or nearly 3 % increase in land subject to coal production over ten years ' time . Recreation . The BLM administers 205,498 miles ( 330,717 km ) of fishable streams , 2.2 million acres ( 8,900 km ) of lakes and reservoirs , 6,600 miles ( 10,600 km ) of floatable rivers , over 500 boating access points , 69 National Back Country Byways , and 300 Watchable Wildlife sites . The agency also manages 4,500 miles ( 7,200 km ) of National Scenic , National Historic and National Recreation Trails , as well as thousands of miles of multiple use trails used by motorcyclists , hikers , equestrians , and mountain bikers . In 2013 , BLM lands received an estimated 61.7 million recreational visitors . California Desert Conservation Area . The California Desert Conservation Area covers 25 million acres ( 100,000 km ) of land in southern California designated by Congress in 1976 by means of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act . BLM is charged with administering about 10 million acres ( 40,000 km ) of this fragile area with its potential for multiple uses in mind . Timberlands . The Bureau manages 55 million acres ( 220,000 km ) of forests and woodlands , including 11 million acres ( 45,000 km ) of commercial forest and 44 million acres ( 180,000 km ) of woodlands in 11 western states and Alaska . 53 million acres ( 210,000 km ) are productive forests and woodlands on public domain lands and 2.4 million acres ( 9,700 km ) are on O&C lands in western Oregon . Calm Before the Storm : Fatigued BLM Firefighters taking a break after a fire in Oregon in 2008 Firefighting . Well in excess of 3,000 full - time equivalent firefighting personnel work for BLM . The agency fought 2,573 fires on BLM - managed lands in fiscal year 2013 . Mineral rights on Indian lands . As part of its trust responsibilities , the BLM provides technical advice for minerals operations on 56 million acres ( 230,000 km ) of Indian lands . Cadastral surveys . The BLM is the official record keeper for over 200 years ' worth of cadastral survey records and plats as part of the Public Land Survey System . In addition , the Bureau still completes numerous new surveys each year , mostly in Alaska , and conducts resurveys to restore obliterated or lost original surveys . Abandoned mines . BLM maintains an inventory of known abandoned mines on the lands it manages . As of April 2014 , the inventory contained nearly 46,000 sites and 85,000 other features . Approximately 23 % of the sites had either been remediated , had reclamation actions planned or underway , or did not require further action . The remaining sites require further investigation . A 2008 Inspector General report alleges that BLM has for decades neglected the dangers represented by these abandoned mines . Energy corridors . Approximately 5,000 miles ( 8,000 km ) of energy corridors for pipelines and transmission lines are located on BLM - managed lands . Helium . BLM operates the National Helium Reserve near Amarillo , Texas , a program begun in 1925 during the time of the Zeppelin Wars . Though the reserve had been set to be moved to private hands , it remains subject to oversight of the BLM under the provisions of the unanimously - passed Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act of 2013 . Revenue and fees . The BLM produces significant revenue for the United States budget . In 2009 , public lands were expected to generate an estimated $6.2 billion in revenues , mostly from energy development . Nearly 43.5 percent of these funds are provided directly to states and counties to support roads , schools , and other community needs . National Landscape Conservation system ( edit ) See also : National Landscape Conservation System Established in 2000 , the National Landscape Conservation System is overseen by the BLM . The National Landscape Conservation System lands constitute just about 12 % of the lands managed by the BLM . Congress passed Title II of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111 - 11 ) to make the system a permanent part of the public lands protection system in the United States . By designating these areas for conservation , the law directed the BLM to ensure these places are protected for future generations , similar to national parks and wildlife refuges . Unit Type Number BLM acres BLM miles National Conservation Lands National Monuments 27 5,590,135 acres ( 22,622.47 km ) National Conservation Lands National Conservation Areas 16 3,671,519 acres ( 14,858.11 km ) National Conservation Lands Areas Similar to National Conservation Areas 5 436,164 acres ( 1,765.09 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Areas 221 8,711,938 acres ( 35,255.96 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Study Areas 528 12,760,472 acres ( 51,639.80 km ) National Wild and Scenic Rivers National Wild and Scenic Rivers 69 1,001,353 acres ( 4,052.33 km ) 2,423 miles ( 3,899 km ) National Trails System National Historic Trails 13 5,078 miles ( 8,172 km ) National Trails System National Scenic Trails 5 683 miles ( 1,099 km ) Totals 877 About 36 million acres ( 150,000 km ) ( some units overlap ) 8,184 miles ( 13,171 km ) Source : BLM Resources and Statistics Law Enforcement and Security ( edit ) Lightning - sparked wildfires are frequent occurrences on BLM land in Nevada . The BLM , through its Office of Law Enforcement & Security , functions as a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Government . BLM law enforcement rangers and special agents receive their training through Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers ( FLETC ) . Full - time staffing for these positions approaches 300 . Uniformed rangers enforce laws and regulations governing BLM lands and resources . As part of that mission , these BLM rangers carry firearms , defensive equipment , make arrests , execute search warrants , complete reports and testify in court . They seek to establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands , roads and recreation sites . They focus on the protection of natural and cultural resources , other BLM employees and visitors . Given the many locations of BLM public lands , these rangers use canines , helicopters , snowmobiles , dirt bikes and boats to perform their duties . By contrast BLM special agents are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the BLM and other statutes under the United States Code . Special agents are normally plain clothes officers who carry concealed firearms , and other defensive equipment , make arrests , carry out complex criminal investigations , present cases for prosecution to local United States Attorneys and prepare investigative reports . Criminal investigators occasionally conduct internal and civil claim investigations . Wild Horse and Burro program ( edit ) See also : Mustang , Burro , Wild and Free - Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 , and List of BLM Herd Management Areas Mustangs run across Tule Valley , Utah The BLM manages free - roaming horses and burros on public lands in ten western states . Though they are feral , the agency is obligated to protect them under the Wild and Free - Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 ( WFRHBA ) . As the horses have few natural predators , populations have grown substantially . WFRHBA as enacted provides for the removal of excess animals ; the destruction of lame , old , or sick animals ; the private placement or adoption of excess animals ; and even the destruction of healthy animals if range management required it . In fact , the destruction of healthy or unhealthy horses has almost never occurred . Pursuant to the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 , the BLM has established 179 `` herd management areas '' ( HMAs ) covering 31.6 million acres ( 128,000 km ) acres where feral horses can be found on federal lands . In 1973 , BLM began a pilot project on the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range known as the Adopt - A-Horse initiative . The program took advantage of provisions in the WFRHBA to allow private `` qualified '' individuals to `` adopt '' as many horses as they wanted if they could show that they could provide adequate care for the animals . At the time , title to the horses remained permanently with the federal government . The pilot project was so successful that BLM allowed it to go nationwide in 1976 . The Adopt - a-Horse program quickly became the primary method of removing excess feral horses from BLM land given the lack of other viable methods . The BLM also uses limited amounts of contraceptives in the herd , in the form of PZP vaccinations ; advocates say that additional use of these vaccines would help to diminish the excess number of horses currently under BLM management . Despite the early successes of the adoption program , the BLM has struggled to maintain acceptable herd levels , as without natural predators , herd sizes can double every four years . As of 2014 , there were more than 49,000 horses and burros on BLM - managed land , exceeding the BLM 's estimated `` appropriate management level '' ( AML ) by almost 22,500 . The Bureau of Land Management has implemented several programs and has developed partnerships as part of their management plan for preserving wild burros and horses in the United States . There are several herds of horses and burros roaming free on 26.9 million acres of range spread out in ten western states . It is essential to maintain a balance that keeps herd management land and animal population healthy . Some programs and partnerships include the Mustang Heritage Foundation , U.S. Border Patrol , Idaho 4H , Napa Mustang Days and Little Book Cliffs Darting Team . These partnerships help with adoption and animal population as well as education and raising awareness about wild horses and burros . Renewable energy ( edit ) Aerial photograph of Ivanpah Solar Power Facility located on BLM - managed land in the Mojave Desert In 2009 , BLM opened Renewable Energy Coordination Offices in order to approve and oversee wind , solar , biomass , and geothermal projects on BLM - managed lands . The offices were located in the four states where energy companies had shown the greatest interest in renewable energy development : Arizona , California , Nevada , and Wyoming . Solar energy . In 2010 , BLM approved the first utility - scale solar energy projects on public land . As of 2014 , 70 solar energy projects covering 560,000 acres ( 2,300 km ) had been proposed on public lands managed by BLM primarily located in Arizona , California , and Nevada . To date , it has approved 29 projects that have the potential to generate 8,786 megawatts of renewable energy or enough energy to power roughly 2.6 million homes . The projects range in size from a 45 - megawatt photovoltaic system on 422 acres ( 171 ha ) to a 1,000 - megawatt parabolic trough system on 7,025 acres ( 2,843 ha ) . Wind energy . BLM manages 20.6 million acres ( 83,000 km ) of public lands with wind potential . It has authorized 39 wind energy development projects with a total approved capacity of 5,557 megawatts or enough to supply the power needs of over 1.5 million homes . In addition , BLM has authorized over 100 wind energy testing sites . Geothermal energy . BLM manages 59 geothermal leases in producing status , with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts . This amounts to over 40 percent of the geothermal energy capacity in the United States . Biomass and bioenergy . Its large portfolio of productive timberlands leaves BLM with woody biomass among its line of forest products . The biomass is composed of `` smaller diameter materials '' and other debris that result from timber production and forest management . Though the use of these materials as a renewable resource is nascent , the agency is engaged in pilot projects to increase the use of its biomass supplies in bioenergy programs . Directors ( edit ) ( show ) Directors of the BLM 1946 -- present Image Name Years Fred W. Johnson 1946 - 1948 Marion Clawson 1948 - 1953 Edward Woozley 1953 - 1961 Karl Landstrom 1961 - 1963 Charles Stoddard 1963 - 1966 Boyd Rasmussen 1966 - 1971 Burton W. Silcock 1971 - 1973 Curt Berklund 1973 - 1977 Frank Gregg 1978 - 1981 Robert F. Burford 1981 - 1989 Cy Jamison 1989 - 1992 Jim Baca 1993 - 1994 Mike Dombeck ( Acting ) 1994 - 1996 Pat Shea 1997 - 1998 Tom Fry 1998 - 2000 Kathleen Clarke 2000 - 2006 James Caswell 2007 - 2009 Robert Abbey 2009 - 2012 Mike Pool ( Acting ) 2012 -- 2013 Neil Kornze ( Acting 2013 - 2014 ) 2014 -- 2017 Kristin Bail ( Acting 2017 - 2017 ) Michael Nedd ( Acting 2017 - ) References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : `` BLM Budget Highlights '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Public Land Statistics '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Elliott , Clayton R. ( August 2010 ) . Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management : Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing ( Masters Thesis ) . University of Montana . pp. 42 -- 51 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` History of the BLM : Yesterday and Today '' . BLM California . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` The Bureau of Land Management : Who We Are , What We Do '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Fact Sheet on the BLM 's Management of Livestock Grazing '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` National Conservation Lands '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Programs : National Conservation Lands : Wild and Scenic Rivers BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT '' . www.blm.gov . Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 10 . Jump up ^ `` Programs : National Conservation Lands : National Scenic and Historic Trails BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT '' . www.blm.gov . Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 10 . Jump up ^ See Part 3 of the BLM 's Public Land Statistics , `` Commercial Uses and Revenue Generated '' Jump up ^ `` Oil and Gas '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` New Energy for America '' . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` The BLM : The Agency and its History '' . GPO . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty - Land - Warrant Application Files ( p. 7 ) '' ( PDF ) . National Archives and Records Administration ( 1974 ) . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` British - American Diplomacy Treaty of Paris - Hunter Miller 's Notes '' . The Avalon Project at Yale Law School . Retrieved October 19 , 2014 . Jump up ^ Black , Jeremy . British foreign policy in an age of revolutions , 1783 -- 1793 ( 1994 ) pp 11 -- 20 ^ Jump up to : A History of the Rectangular Survey System by C. Albert White , 1983 , Pub : Washington , D.C. : U.S. Dept. of the Interior , Bureau of Land Management : For sale by G.P.O. ^ Jump up to : Vernon Carstensen , `` Patterns on the American Land . '' Journal of Federalism , Fall 1987 , Vol. 18 Issue 4 , pp 31 - 39 ^ Jump up to : White , C. Albert ( 1991 ) . A history of the rectangular survey system . Washington , DC : Government Printing Office . ^ Jump up to : `` Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty - Land - Warrant Application Files ( p. 3 ) '' ( PDF ) . National Archives and Records Administration ( 1974 ) . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Records of the Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) ( Record Group 49 ) 1685 - 1993 ( bulk 1770 - 1982 ) '' . National Archives and Records Administration . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` BLM and Its Predecessors : A Long and Varied History '' . BLM . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 As Amended '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ Wishart , David J. ( Ed . ) . `` Taylor Grazing Act '' . Encyclopedia of the Great Plains . University of Nebraska - Lincoln . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Elliott , Clayton R. ( August 2010 ) . Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management : Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing ( Masters Thesis ) . University of Montana . p. 45 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` O&C Sustained Yield Act : the Law , the Land , the Legacy '' ( PDF ) . Bureau of Land Management . Retrieved March 6 , 2012 . Jump up ^ James , Muhn ( September 1988 ) . Opportunity and Challenge : The Story of BLM . Denver : BLM . p. 52 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ James , Muhn ( September 1988 ) . Opportunity and Challenge : The Story of BLM . Denver : BLM . pp. 160 -- 172 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ James , Muhn ( September 1988 ) . Opportunity and Challenge : The Story of BLM . Denver : BLM . pp. 104 -- 106 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ Elliott , Clayton R. ( August 2010 ) . Innovation in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management : Insights from Integrating Mule Deer Management with Oil and Gas Leasing ( Masters Thesis ) . University of Montana . pp. 5 , 51 -- 52 . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` 43 U.S. Code § 1702 ( c ) '' . Legal Information Institute . Retrieved 14 November 2014 . Jump up ^ James R. Skillen , The Nation 's Largest Landlord ( 2009 ) Jump up ^ Mathew Barrett Gross ( 2002 - 02 - 13 ) . `` San Rafael Swell monument proposal could prove that Bush realizes the importance of a fair and public process '' . Headwaters News , University of Montana . Archived from the original on 2007 - 11 - 26 . Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 16 . Jump up ^ Davidson , Lee ( Sep 27 , 1996 ) . `` Orton 's bill would erase power to declare permanent monument '' . Deseret News . Jump up ^ Western States Data Public Land Acreage ( Forest Service & BLM ) from November 13 , 2007 ^ Jump up to : `` Fact Sheet on the BLM 's Management of Livestock Grazing '' . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . Jump up ^ An AUM is the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and her calf , one horse , or five sheep or goats for a month . Jump up ^ `` Oil and Gas '' . BLM . Retrieved 19 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Mining Laws '' . BLM . ^ Jump up to : `` Total Federal Coal Leases in Effect , Total Acres Under Lease , and Lease Sales by Fiscal Year Since 1990 '' . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Senate Report 106 - 491 - OUTFITTER POLICY ACT OF 1999 '' . congress.gov/ . Library of Congress . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` PUBLIC LAND STATISTICS 2013 Volume 198 '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` IntIntroduction : The California Desert Conservation Area ( CDCA ) '' . BLM . Retrieved 19 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` BLM PUBLIC DOMAIN LANDS : Volume of Timber Offered for Sale Has Declined Substantially Since Fiscal Year 1990 '' ( PDF ) . GAO . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` 2014 National and State Fire Preparedness Program Summaries '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Mineral and Surface Acreage Managed by the BLM '' . BLM . ^ Jump up to : `` Cadastral History '' . BLM . Retrieved 19 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Abandoned Mine Lands '' . BLM . Retrieved 19 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Abandoned Mine Lands in the Department of the Interior '' ( PDF ) . Department of the Interior IG . Retrieved 19 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : US Department of Energy , Bureau of Land Management to Establish Renewable Energy Offices , January 21 , 2009 ^ Jump up to : Krule , Miriam . `` Our Government May Be Shut Down , but at Least Our Helium Reserve Wo n't Be ... for Now '' . slate.com . Slate . Retrieved 2014 - 11 - 18 . Jump up ^ An Ode to Helium , by Gail Collins , New York Times , 4 May 2013 ^ Jump up to : `` Statement of Henri Bisson , Deputy Director Bureau of Land Management U.S. Department of the Interior Before the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Interior , Environment , and Related Agencies Hearing on the FY 2009 Budget Request of the Bureau of Land Management February 27 , 2008 '' ( PDF ) . Department of the Interior . Retrieved 15 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` National Landscape Conservation System '' . The Wilderness Society . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` H.R. 146 ( 111th ) : Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 '' . Govtrack.us . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Resources and Statistics '' . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` BLM Law Enforcement : Protecting Public Land Resources '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` FY 2015 BLM Green Book '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . < Page VII - 135 > Jump up ^ `` BLM Law Enforcement '' . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` BLM Rangers '' . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` BLM Special Agents '' . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Wild Horse and Burro Quick Facts '' . BLM . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . Jump up ^ Roberto , Iraola ( Fall 2005 ) . `` The Wild Free - Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 '' . Environmental Law . Lewis & Clark Law School . 35 : 1049 -- 1079 . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Sterba , James P. `` Revived Killing of Wild Horses for Pet Food Is Feared . '' New York Times . August 3 , 1974 . Jump up ^ Using Science to Improve the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program : A Way Forward ( PDF ) . National Academy of Sciences . p. 16 . Retrieved 16 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : Pitt , Kenneth . `` The Wild Free - Roaming Horses and Burros Act : A Western Melodrama . '' Environmental Law . 15 : 503 at 528 ( Spring 1985 ) ^ Jump up to : Glover , Kristen H. `` Managing Wild Horses on Public Lands : Congressional Action and Agency Response . '' North Carolina Law Review . 79 : 1108 ( May 2001 ) . Jump up ^ Raia , Pat ( March 1 , 2009 ) . `` BLM Horses : What 's Their Future . '' The Horse . Accessed 2013 - 09 - 20 . Jump up ^ `` Programs : Wild Horse and Burro BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT . '' BLM.gov Home Page BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT , www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro . Accessed 27 Apr. 2017 . Jump up ^ Friedman , Gabe ( August 6 , 2014 ) . `` Sun Land '' . The New Yorker . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` BLM Fact Sheet : Renewable Energy : Solar '' ( PDF ) . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` New Energy for America '' . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Wind Energy '' . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` RENEWABLE ENERGY : Agencies Have Taken Steps Aimed at Improving the Permitting Process for Development on Federal Lands '' ( PDF ) . GAO Reports . GAO - 13 - 189 : 6 . January 2013 . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Geothermal Energy '' . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . ^ Jump up to : `` Woody Biomass and Bioenergy '' . BLM . Retrieved 18 November 2014 . Jump up ^ `` Historical Record of the Offices , Managers and Organizations of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management , Grazing Service , General Land Office and O & C Revested Lands Administration 1934 - 2012 '' ( PDF ) . Public Lands Foundation . April 2012 . p. 16 . Jump up ^ Johnson was the last Commissioner of the General Land Office ( 1933 - 1946 ) Jump up ^ Retired end of May , 2012 `` BLM Director Bob Abbey to Retire After 34 Years of Public Service '' . Department of Interior . 2012 - 05 - 10 . Archived from the original on 2016 - 09 - 29 . CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) Jump up ^ Burr , Thomas ( 2017 - 03 - 15 ) . `` Interior names energy and mineral chief new acting BLM director '' . Salt Lake Tribune . Further reading ( edit ) Skillen , James R . The Nation 's Largest Landlord : The Bureau of Land Management in the American West ( University Press of Kansas , 2009 ) 320 pp. excerpt and text search United States . Congress . Senate . BLM Permit Processing : Hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources , United States Senate , One Hundred Thirteenth Congress , Second Session ... July 29 , 2014 . Washington , DC : U.S. Government Printing Office , 2014 . External links ( edit ) Bureau of Land Management official website Bureau of Land Management in the Federal Register Opportunity & Challenge : The Story of BLM - Official History U.S. National Trails System National Geologic Trail Ice Age Floods Trail National Historic Trails Scenic motor routes California Trail El Camino Real de los Tejas Trail El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Juan Bautista de Anza Trail Mormon Trail Nez Perce Trail Old Spanish Trail Oregon Trail Pony Express Trail Santa Fe Trail Selma to Montgomery Trail Trail of Tears Natural surface trails Ala Kahakai Trail Iditarod Trail Water trails Captain John Smith Chesapeake Trail Combination Lewis and Clark Trail ( motor & land & water ) Overmountain Victory Trail ( motor & land ) Star - Spangled Banner Trail ( motor & water ) Washington -- Rochambeau Revolutionary Route ( motor & water ) National Scenic Trails Appalachian Trail Arizona Trail Continental Divide Trail New England Trail Florida Trail Ice Age Trail Natchez Trace Trail North Country Trail Pacific Crest Trail Pacific Northwest Trail Potomac Heritage Trail National Water Trails Alabama Scenic River Trail Bronx River Blueway Chattahoochee River Water Trail Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Island Loop Route Kansas River Trail Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Water Trail Mississippi River Water Trail ( MRWT ) Great River Water Trail Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trails Red Rock Water Trail Rock River Water Trail Waccamaw River Blue Trail Willamette River Water Trail National Recreation Trails National Park Service United States Forest Service Bureau of Land Management Related Triple Crown of Hiking Agencies under the United States Department of the Interior Headquarters : Main Interior Building Ryan Zinke , Secretary of the Interior David L. 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8 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bureau_of_Land_Management&oldid=813952534 '' Categories : Bureau of Land Management Conservation in the United States Government agencies established in 1946 Land management in the United States Organizations based in Washington , D.C. United States public land law Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States Wildland fire suppression agencies United States Department of the Interior agencies 1946 establishments in the United States Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands Norsk Polski Edit links This page was last edited on 6 December 2017 , at 03 : 10 . Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply . By using this site , you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation , Inc. , a non-profit organization . About Wikipedia 
1 the bureau of land management manages over acres of land in the united states
Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management Triangle Flag of the Bureau of Land Management Agency overview Formed 1946 ; 72 years ago ( 1946 ) Preceding agencies U.S. Grazing Service General Land Office Jurisdiction United States federal government Headquarters 1849 C Street NW Room 5665 , Washington , D.C. , U.S. 20240 Employees 11,621 Permanent and 30,860 Volunteer ( FY 2012 ) Annual budget $1,162,000,000 ( FY 2014 operating ) Agency executive Michael Nedd , Director ( Acting ) Parent agency U.S. Department of the Interior Website blm.gov Bureau of Land Management Triangle Flag of the Bureau of Land Management Agency overview Formed 1946 ; 72 years ago ( 1946 ) Preceding agencies U.S. Grazing Service General Land Office U.S. Grazing Service General Land Office U.S. Grazing Service General Land Office Jurisdiction United States federal government Headquarters 1849 C Street NW Room 5665 , Washington , D.C. , U.S. 20240 Employees 11,621 Permanent and 30,860 Volunteer ( FY 2012 ) Annual budget $1,162,000,000 ( FY 2014 operating ) Agency executive Michael Nedd , Director ( Acting ) Michael Nedd , Director ( Acting ) Michael Nedd , Director ( Acting ) Parent agency U.S. Department of the Interior Website blm.gov The Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior that administers more than 247.3 million acres ( 1,001,000 km ) of public lands in the United States which constitutes one - eighth of the landmass of the country . President Harry S. Truman created the BLM in 1946 by combining two existing agencies : the General Land Office and the Grazing Service . The agency manages the federal government 's nearly 700 million acres ( 2,800,000 km ) of subsurface mineral estate located beneath federal , state and private lands severed from their surface rights by the Homestead Act of 1862 . Most BLM public lands are located in these 12 western states : Alaska , Arizona , California , Colorado , Idaho , Montana , Nevada , New Mexico , Oregon , Utah , Washington and Wyoming . The mission of the BLM is `` to sustain the health , diversity , and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations . '' Originally BLM holdings were described as `` land nobody wanted '' because homesteaders had passed them by . All the same , ranchers hold nearly 18,000 permits and leases for livestock grazing on 155 million acres ( 630,000 km ) of BLM public lands . The agency manages 221 wilderness areas , 27 national monuments and some 636 other protected areas as part of the National Landscape Conservation System -- now known as the National Conservation Lands , totaling about 36 million acres ( 150,000 km ) . In addition the National Conservation Lands include nearly 2,400 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers , and nearly 6,000 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails . There are more than 63,000 oil and gas wells on BLM public lands . Total energy leases generated approximately $5.4 billion in 2013 , an amount divided among the Treasury , the states , and Native American groups . The BLM 's roots go back to the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 . These laws provided for the survey and settlement of the lands that the original 13 colonies ceded to the federal government after the American Revolution . As additional lands were acquired by the United States from Spain , France and other countries , the United States Congress directed that they be explored , surveyed , and made available for settlement . During the Revolutionary War , military bounty land was promised to soldiers who fought for the colonies . After the war , the Treaty of Paris of 1783 , signed by the United States , England , France , and Spain , ceded territory to the United States . In the 1780s , other states relinquished their own claims to land in modern - day Ohio . By this time , the United States needed revenue to function . Land was sold so that the government would have money to survive . In order to sell the land , surveys needed to be conducted . The Land Ordinance of 1785 instructed a geographer to oversee this work as undertaken by a group of surveyors . The first years of surveying were completed by trial and error ; once the territory of Ohio had been surveyed , a modern public land survey system had been developed . In 1812 , Congress established the General Land Office as part of the Department of the Treasury to oversee the disposition of these federal lands . By the early 1800s , promised bounty land claims were finally fulfilled . Over the years , other bounty land and homestead laws were enacted to dispose of federal land . Several different types of patents existed . These include cash entry , credit , homestead , Indian , military warrants , mineral certificates , private land claims , railroads , state selections , swamps , town sites , and town lots . A system of local land offices spread throughout the territories , patenting land that was surveyed via the corresponding Office of the Surveyor General of a particular territory . This pattern gradually spread across the entire United States . The laws that spurred this system with the exception of the General Mining Law of 1872 and the Desert Land Act of 1877 have since been repealed or superseded . In the early 20th century , Congress took additional steps toward recognizing the value of the assets on public lands and directed the Executive Branch to manage activities on the remaining public lands . The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 allowed leasing , exploration , and production of selected commodities , such as coal , oil , gas , and sodium to take place on public lands . The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 established the United States Grazing Service to manage the public rangelands by establishment of advisory boards that set grazing fees . The Oregon and California Revested Lands Sustained Yield Management Act of 1937 , commonly referred as the O&C Act , required sustained yield management of the timberlands in western Oregon . In 1946 , the Grazing Service was merged with the General Land Office to form the Bureau of Land Management within the Department of the Interior . It took several years for this new agency to integrate and reorganize . In the end , the Bureau of Land Management became less focused on land disposal and more focused on the long term management and preservation of the land . The agency achieved its current form by combining offices in the western states and creating a corresponding office for lands both east of and alongside the Mississippi River . As a matter of course , the BLM 's emphasis fell on activities in the western states as most of the mining , land sales , and federally owned areas are located west of the Mississippi . BLM personnel on the ground have typically been oriented toward local interests , while bureau management in Washington are led by presidential guidance . By means of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 , Congress created a more unified bureau mission and recognized the value of the remaining public lands by declaring that these lands would remain in public ownership . The law directed that these lands be managed with a view toward `` multiple use '' defined as `` management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people . '' Since the Reagan years of the 1980s , Republicans have often given priority to local control and to grazing , mining and petroleum production , while Democrats have more often emphasized environmental concerns even when granting mining and drilling leases . In September 1996 , then President Bill Clinton used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument in southern Utah , the first of now 20 national monuments established on BLM lands and managed by the agency . The establishment of Grand Staircase - Escalante foreshadowed later creation of the BLM 's National Landscape Conservation System in 2000 . Use of the Antiquities Act authority , to the extent it effectively scuttled a coal mine to have been operated by Andalex Resources , delighted recreation and conservation enthusiasts but set up larger confrontations with state and local authorities . The changing demographics in the western states have led some to suggest that the BLM , long derided as the `` Bureau of Livestock and Mines , '' is in the midst of becoming the `` Bureau of Landscapes and Monuments . '' Grazing . The BLM manages livestock grazing on nearly 155 million acres ( 630,000 km ) million acres under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 . The agency has granted more than 18,000 permits and leases to ranchers who graze their livestock , mostly cattle and sheep , at least part of the year on BLM public lands . Permits and leases generally cover a 10 - year period and are renewable if the BLM determines that the terms and conditions of the expiring permit or lease are being met . The federal grazing fee is adjusted annually and is calculated using a formula originally set by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 . Under this formula , the grazing fee can not fall below $1.35 per animal unit month ( AUM ) , nor can any fee increase or decrease exceed 25 percent of the previous year 's level . The grazing fee for 2014 was set at $1.35 per AUM , the same level as for 2013 . Over time there has been a gradual decrease in the amount of grazing that takes place on BLM - managed land . Grazing on public lands has declined from 18.2 million AUMs in 1954 to 7.9 million AUMs in 2013 . Mining . Domestic production from over 63,000 Federal `` onshore '' oil and gas wells on BLM lands accounts for 11 percent of the natural gas supply and five percent of the oil supply in the United States . BLM has on record a total of 290,000 mining claims under the General Mining Law of 1872 . Coal leases . The BLM holds the coal mineral estate to more than 570 million acres ( 2,300,000 km ) where the owner of the surface is the federal government , a state or local government , or a private entity . As of 2013 , the BLM had competitively granted 309 leases for coal mining to 474,252 acres ( 191,923 ha ) , an increase of 13,487 acres ( 5,458 ha ) or nearly 3 % increase in land subject to coal production over ten years ' time . Recreation . The BLM administers 205,498 miles ( 330,717 km ) of fishable streams , 2.2 million acres ( 8,900 km ) of lakes and reservoirs , 6,600 miles ( 10,600 km ) of floatable rivers , over 500 boating access points , 69 National Back Country Byways , and 300 Watchable Wildlife sites . The agency also manages 4,500 miles ( 7,200 km ) of National Scenic , National Historic and National Recreation Trails , as well as thousands of miles of multiple use trails used by motorcyclists , hikers , equestrians , and mountain bikers . In 2013 , BLM lands received an estimated 61.7 million recreational visitors . California Desert Conservation Area . The California Desert Conservation Area covers 25 million acres ( 100,000 km ) of land in southern California designated by Congress in 1976 by means of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act . BLM is charged with administering about 10 million acres ( 40,000 km ) of this fragile area with its potential for multiple uses in mind . Timberlands . The Bureau manages 55 million acres ( 220,000 km ) of forests and woodlands , including 11 million acres ( 45,000 km ) of commercial forest and 44 million acres ( 180,000 km ) of woodlands in 11 western states and Alaska . 53 million acres ( 210,000 km ) are productive forests and woodlands on public domain lands and 2.4 million acres ( 9,700 km ) are on O&C lands in western Oregon . Grazing . The BLM manages livestock grazing on nearly 155 million acres ( 630,000 km ) million acres under the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 . The agency has granted more than 18,000 permits and leases to ranchers who graze their livestock , mostly cattle and sheep , at least part of the year on BLM public lands . Permits and leases generally cover a 10 - year period and are renewable if the BLM determines that the terms and conditions of the expiring permit or lease are being met . The federal grazing fee is adjusted annually and is calculated using a formula originally set by Congress in the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 . Under this formula , the grazing fee can not fall below $1.35 per animal unit month ( AUM ) , nor can any fee increase or decrease exceed 25 percent of the previous year 's level . The grazing fee for 2014 was set at $1.35 per AUM , the same level as for 2013 . Over time there has been a gradual decrease in the amount of grazing that takes place on BLM - managed land . Grazing on public lands has declined from 18.2 million AUMs in 1954 to 7.9 million AUMs in 2013 . Mining . Domestic production from over 63,000 Federal `` onshore '' oil and gas wells on BLM lands accounts for 11 percent of the natural gas supply and five percent of the oil supply in the United States . BLM has on record a total of 290,000 mining claims under the General Mining Law of 1872 . Coal leases . The BLM holds the coal mineral estate to more than 570 million acres ( 2,300,000 km ) where the owner of the surface is the federal government , a state or local government , or a private entity . As of 2013 , the BLM had competitively granted 309 leases for coal mining to 474,252 acres ( 191,923 ha ) , an increase of 13,487 acres ( 5,458 ha ) or nearly 3 % increase in land subject to coal production over ten years ' time . Recreation . The BLM administers 205,498 miles ( 330,717 km ) of fishable streams , 2.2 million acres ( 8,900 km ) of lakes and reservoirs , 6,600 miles ( 10,600 km ) of floatable rivers , over 500 boating access points , 69 National Back Country Byways , and 300 Watchable Wildlife sites . The agency also manages 4,500 miles ( 7,200 km ) of National Scenic , National Historic and National Recreation Trails , as well as thousands of miles of multiple use trails used by motorcyclists , hikers , equestrians , and mountain bikers . In 2013 , BLM lands received an estimated 61.7 million recreational visitors . California Desert Conservation Area . The California Desert Conservation Area covers 25 million acres ( 100,000 km ) of land in southern California designated by Congress in 1976 by means of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act . BLM is charged with administering about 10 million acres ( 40,000 km ) of this fragile area with its potential for multiple uses in mind . Timberlands . The Bureau manages 55 million acres ( 220,000 km ) of forests and woodlands , including 11 million acres ( 45,000 km ) of commercial forest and 44 million acres ( 180,000 km ) of woodlands in 11 western states and Alaska . 53 million acres ( 210,000 km ) are productive forests and woodlands on public domain lands and 2.4 million acres ( 9,700 km ) are on O&C lands in western Oregon . Firefighting . Well in excess of 3,000 full - time equivalent firefighting personnel work for BLM . The agency fought 2,573 fires on BLM - managed lands in fiscal year 2013 . Mineral rights on Indian lands . As part of its trust responsibilities , the BLM provides technical advice for minerals operations on 56 million acres ( 230,000 km ) of Indian lands . Cadastral surveys . The BLM is the official record keeper for over 200 years ' worth of cadastral survey records and plats as part of the Public Land Survey System . In addition , the Bureau still completes numerous new surveys each year , mostly in Alaska , and conducts resurveys to restore obliterated or lost original surveys . Abandoned mines . BLM maintains an inventory of known abandoned mines on the lands it manages . As of April 2014 , the inventory contained nearly 46,000 sites and 85,000 other features . Approximately 23 % of the sites had either been remediated , had reclamation actions planned or underway , or did not require further action . The remaining sites require further investigation . A 2008 Inspector General report alleges that BLM has for decades neglected the dangers represented by these abandoned mines . Energy corridors . Approximately 5,000 miles ( 8,000 km ) of energy corridors for pipelines and transmission lines are located on BLM - managed lands . Helium . BLM operates the National Helium Reserve near Amarillo , Texas , a program begun in 1925 during the time of the Zeppelin Wars . Though the reserve had been set to be moved to private hands , it remains subject to oversight of the BLM under the provisions of the unanimously - passed Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act of 2013 . Revenue and fees . The BLM produces significant revenue for the United States budget . In 2009 , public lands were expected to generate an estimated $6.2 billion in revenues , mostly from energy development . Nearly 43.5 percent of these funds are provided directly to states and counties to support roads , schools , and other community needs . Firefighting . Well in excess of 3,000 full - time equivalent firefighting personnel work for BLM . The agency fought 2,573 fires on BLM - managed lands in fiscal year 2013 . Mineral rights on Indian lands . As part of its trust responsibilities , the BLM provides technical advice for minerals operations on 56 million acres ( 230,000 km ) of Indian lands . Cadastral surveys . The BLM is the official record keeper for over 200 years ' worth of cadastral survey records and plats as part of the Public Land Survey System . In addition , the Bureau still completes numerous new surveys each year , mostly in Alaska , and conducts resurveys to restore obliterated or lost original surveys . Abandoned mines . BLM maintains an inventory of known abandoned mines on the lands it manages . As of April 2014 , the inventory contained nearly 46,000 sites and 85,000 other features . Approximately 23 % of the sites had either been remediated , had reclamation actions planned or underway , or did not require further action . The remaining sites require further investigation . A 2008 Inspector General report alleges that BLM has for decades neglected the dangers represented by these abandoned mines . Energy corridors . Approximately 5,000 miles ( 8,000 km ) of energy corridors for pipelines and transmission lines are located on BLM - managed lands . Helium . BLM operates the National Helium Reserve near Amarillo , Texas , a program begun in 1925 during the time of the Zeppelin Wars . Though the reserve had been set to be moved to private hands , it remains subject to oversight of the BLM under the provisions of the unanimously - passed Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act of 2013 . Revenue and fees . The BLM produces significant revenue for the United States budget . In 2009 , public lands were expected to generate an estimated $6.2 billion in revenues , mostly from energy development . Nearly 43.5 percent of these funds are provided directly to states and counties to support roads , schools , and other community needs . Established in 2000 , the National Landscape Conservation System is overseen by the BLM . The National Landscape Conservation System lands constitute just about 12 % of the lands managed by the BLM . Congress passed Title II of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111 - 11 ) to make the system a permanent part of the public lands protection system in the United States . By designating these areas for conservation , the law directed the BLM to ensure these places are protected for future generations , similar to national parks and wildlife refuges . Unit Type Number BLM acres BLM miles National Conservation Lands National Monuments 27 5,590,135 acres ( 22,622.47 km ) National Conservation Lands National Conservation Areas 16 3,671,519 acres ( 14,858.11 km ) National Conservation Lands Areas Similar to National Conservation Areas 5 436,164 acres ( 1,765.09 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Areas 221 8,711,938 acres ( 35,255.96 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Study Areas 528 12,760,472 acres ( 51,639.80 km ) National Wild and Scenic Rivers National Wild and Scenic Rivers 69 1,001,353 acres ( 4,052.33 km ) 2,423 miles ( 3,899 km ) National Trails System National Historic Trails 13 5,078 miles ( 8,172 km ) National Trails System National Scenic Trails 5 683 miles ( 1,099 km ) Totals 877 About 36 million acres ( 150,000 km ) ( some units overlap ) 8,184 miles ( 13,171 km ) Unit Type Number BLM acres BLM miles National Conservation Lands National Monuments 27 5,590,135 acres ( 22,622.47 km ) National Conservation Lands National Conservation Areas 16 3,671,519 acres ( 14,858.11 km ) National Conservation Lands Areas Similar to National Conservation Areas 5 436,164 acres ( 1,765.09 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Areas 221 8,711,938 acres ( 35,255.96 km ) Wilderness Wilderness Study Areas 528 12,760,472 acres ( 51,639.80 km ) National Wild and Scenic Rivers National Wild and Scenic Rivers 69 1,001,353 acres ( 4,052.33 km ) 2,423 miles ( 3,899 km ) National Trails System National Historic Trails 13 5,078 miles ( 8,172 km ) National Trails System National Scenic Trails 5 683 miles ( 1,099 km ) Totals 877 About 36 million acres ( 150,000 km ) ( some units overlap ) 8,184 miles ( 13,171 km ) Source : BLM Resources and Statistics The BLM , through its Office of Law Enforcement & Security , functions as a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Government . BLM law enforcement rangers and special agents receive their training through Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers ( FLETC ) . Full - time staffing for these positions approaches 300 . Uniformed rangers enforce laws and regulations governing BLM lands and resources . As part of that mission , these BLM rangers carry firearms , defensive equipment , make arrests , execute search warrants , complete reports and testify in court . They seek to establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands , roads and recreation sites . They focus on the protection of natural and cultural resources , other BLM employees and visitors . Given the many locations of BLM public lands , these rangers use canines , helicopters , snowmobiles , dirt bikes and boats to perform their duties . By contrast BLM special agents are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the BLM and other statutes under the United States Code . Special agents are normally plain clothes officers who carry concealed firearms , and other defensive equipment , make arrests , carry out complex criminal investigations , present cases for prosecution to local United States Attorneys and prepare investigative reports . Criminal investigators occasionally conduct internal and civil claim investigations . The BLM manages free - roaming horses and burros on public lands in ten western states . Though they are feral , the agency is obligated to protect them under the Wild and Free - Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 ( WFRHBA ) . As the horses have few natural predators , populations have grown substantially . WFRHBA as enacted provides for the removal of excess animals ; the destruction of lame , old , or sick animals ; the private placement or adoption of excess animals ; and even the destruction of healthy animals if range management required it . In fact , the destruction of healthy or unhealthy horses has almost never occurred . Pursuant to the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 , the BLM has established 179 `` herd management areas '' ( HMAs ) covering 31.6 million acres ( 128,000 km ) acres where feral horses can be found on federal lands . In 1973 , BLM began a pilot project on the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range known as the Adopt - A-Horse initiative . The program took advantage of provisions in the WFRHBA to allow private `` qualified '' individuals to `` adopt '' as many horses as they wanted if they could show that they could provide adequate care for the animals . At the time , title to the horses remained permanently with the federal government . The pilot project was so successful that BLM allowed it to go nationwide in 1976 . The Adopt - a-Horse program quickly became the primary method of removing excess feral horses from BLM land given the lack of other viable methods . The BLM also uses limited amounts of contraceptives in the herd , in the form of PZP vaccinations ; advocates say that additional use of these vaccines would help to diminish the excess number of horses currently under BLM management . Despite the early successes of the adoption program , the BLM has struggled to maintain acceptable herd levels , as without natural predators , herd sizes can double every four years . As of 2014 , there were more than 49,000 horses and burros on BLM - managed land , exceeding the BLM 's estimated `` appropriate management level '' ( AML ) by almost 22,500 . The Bureau of Land Management has implemented several programs and has developed partnerships as part of their management plan for preserving wild burros and horses in the United States . There are several herds of horses and burros roaming free on 26.9 million acres of range spread out in ten western states . It is essential to maintain a balance that keeps herd management land and animal population healthy . Some programs and partnerships include the Mustang Heritage Foundation , U.S. Border Patrol , Idaho 4H , Napa Mustang Days and Little Book Cliffs Darting Team . These partnerships help with adoption and animal population as well as education and raising awareness about wild horses and burros . In 2009 , BLM opened Renewable Energy Coordination Offices in order to approve and oversee wind , solar , biomass , and geothermal projects on BLM - managed lands . The offices were located in the four states where energy companies had shown the greatest interest in renewable energy development : Arizona , California , Nevada , and Wyoming . Solar energy . In 2010 , BLM approved the first utility - scale solar energy projects on public land . As of 2014 , 70 solar energy projects covering 560,000 acres ( 2,300 km ) had been proposed on public lands managed by BLM primarily located in Arizona , California , and Nevada . To date , it has approved 29 projects that have the potential to generate 8,786 megawatts of renewable energy or enough energy to power roughly 2.6 million homes . The projects range in size from a 45 - megawatt photovoltaic system on 422 acres ( 171 ha ) to a 1,000 - megawatt parabolic trough system on 7,025 acres ( 2,843 ha ) . Wind energy . BLM manages 20.6 million acres ( 83,000 km ) of public lands with wind potential . It has authorized 39 wind energy development projects with a total approved capacity of 5,557 megawatts or enough to supply the power needs of over 1.5 million homes . In addition , BLM has authorized over 100 wind energy testing sites . Geothermal energy . BLM manages 59 geothermal leases in producing status , with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts . This amounts to over 40 percent of the geothermal energy capacity in the United States . Biomass and bioenergy . Its large portfolio of productive timberlands leaves BLM with woody biomass among its line of forest products . The biomass is composed of `` smaller diameter materials '' and other debris that result from timber production and forest management . Though the use of these materials as a renewable resource is nascent , the agency is engaged in pilot projects to increase the use of its biomass supplies in bioenergy programs . Solar energy . In 2010 , BLM approved the first utility - scale solar energy projects on public land . As of 2014 , 70 solar energy projects covering 560,000 acres ( 2,300 km ) had been proposed on public lands managed by BLM primarily located in Arizona , California , and Nevada . To date , it has approved 29 projects that have the potential to generate 8,786 megawatts of renewable energy or enough energy to power roughly 2.6 million homes . The projects range in size from a 45 - megawatt photovoltaic system on 422 acres ( 171 ha ) to a 1,000 - megawatt parabolic trough system on 7,025 acres ( 2,843 ha ) . Wind energy . BLM manages 20.6 million acres ( 83,000 km ) of public lands with wind potential . It has authorized 39 wind energy development projects with a total approved capacity of 5,557 megawatts or enough to supply the power needs of over 1.5 million homes . In addition , BLM has authorized over 100 wind energy testing sites . Geothermal energy . BLM manages 59 geothermal leases in producing status , with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts . This amounts to over 40 percent of the geothermal energy capacity in the United States . Biomass and bioenergy . Its large portfolio of productive timberlands leaves BLM with woody biomass among its line of forest products . The biomass is composed of `` smaller diameter materials '' and other debris that result from timber production and forest management . Though the use of these materials as a renewable resource is nascent , the agency is engaged in pilot projects to increase the use of its biomass supplies in bioenergy programs . ( show ) Directors of the BLM 1946 -- present Image Name Years Fred W. Johnson 1946 - 1948 Marion Clawson 1948 - 1953 Edward Woozley 1953 - 1961 Karl Landstrom 1961 - 1963 Charles Stoddard 1963 - 1966 Boyd Rasmussen 1966 - 1971 Burton W. Silcock 1971 - 1973 Curt Berklund 1973 - 1977 Frank Gregg 1978 - 1981 Robert F. Burford 1981 - 1989 Cy Jamison 1989 - 1992 Jim Baca 1993 - 1994 Mike Dombeck ( Acting ) 1994 - 1996 Pat Shea 1997 - 1998 Tom Fry 1998 - 2000 Kathleen Clarke 2000 - 2006 James Caswell 2007 - 2009 Robert Abbey 2009 - 2012 Mike Pool ( Acting ) 2012 -- 2013 Neil Kornze ( Acting 2013 - 2014 ) 2014 -- 2017 Kristin Bail ( Acting 2017 - 2017 ) Michael Nedd ( Acting 2017 - ) ( show ) Directors of the BLM 1946 -- present Image Name Years Fred W. Johnson 1946 - 1948 Marion Clawson 1948 - 1953 Edward Woozley 1953 - 1961 Karl Landstrom 1961 - 1963 Charles Stoddard 1963 - 1966 Boyd Rasmussen 1966 - 1971 Burton W. Silcock 1971 - 1973 Curt Berklund 1973 - 1977 Frank Gregg 1978 - 1981 Robert F. Burford 1981 - 1989 Cy Jamison 1989 - 1992 Jim Baca 1993 - 1994 Mike Dombeck ( Acting ) 1994 - 1996 Pat Shea 1997 - 1998 Tom Fry 1998 - 2000 Kathleen Clarke 2000 - 2006 James Caswell 2007 - 2009 Robert Abbey 2009 - 2012 Mike Pool ( Acting ) 2012 -- 2013 Neil Kornze ( Acting 2013 - 2014 ) 2014 -- 2017 Kristin Bail ( Acting 2017 - 2017 ) Michael Nedd ( Acting 2017 - )
247.3 million