ORBA & SEMA-Backed Nominee Confirmed to Lead BLM

Former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) to lead BLM.

Former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (R-NM) was confirmed to serve as the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). ORBA and SEMA-supported Director Pearce’s nomination and commends the U.S. Senate for confirming him to lead the BLM, which has jurisdiction over roughly 245 million acres of public land and is a central player in recreation and conservation policy. 

ORBA and SEMA sent a letter to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee in support of Director Pearce's nomination in advance of his February 25 confirmation hearing. In its letter of support for Pearce, ORBA and SEMA highlighted “[he] understands that conservation and recreation are not mutually exclusive. Through collaborative land-use planning, meaningful stakeholder input, and science-based decision-making, the BLM can protect sensitive resources while preserving appropriate access for responsible motorized recreation and other multiple uses consistent with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.” 

Director Pearce is a former seven-term congressman from New Mexico and Vietnam War veteran. He has a strong personal connection to public lands and is passionate about ensuring the BLM partners with states, tribes, local communities and stakeholders on land management decisions, saying that "local input" is critical and that federal land decisions should reflect the needs of the people who live near and use these lands.