But this was clearly an exception. Since the mid-1970s, most program changes for
lands managed by BLM or the Forest Service have resulted from administrative actions
taken by Presidents, often in the face of an uncooperative Congress controlled by the
opposing political party. Durant (1992) offers a detailed and useful account of the Reagan
Administration’s efforts to redirect BLM decisions in New Mexico to encourage the
accelerated production of rangeland, energy, and timber resources. Other Presidents since
then have utilized agency appointments, budgetary authority, executive orders, and
rulemaking to shape natural resource policy decisions (Vig, 2006). Since many public
land policies delegate considerable decision-making discretion to federal land managers,
Presidents can make substantial and far reaching changes by reinterpreting these laws and
through shifts in the allocation of budgetary and personnel resources.
This chapter focuses on the efforts taken by President George W. Bush to alter the
direction of several federal land policies administered by BLM and the Forest Service
through administrative and rulemaking processes. Of particular concern here are three
programs – the hardrock mining program under BLM’s jurisdiction, the grazing program
managed by both agencies, and the Forest Service’s handling of the roadless area
regulations. After briefly reviewing the Administration’s policy priorities and political
appointments to agency positions, the historical context of each program is discussed.
Next, I examine the regulatory changes that accompany these programs in terms of
constituency impacts and policy direction. Third, actions taken by opposing political
organizations to delay, halt, or amend the proposed regulations through administrative
appeals and challenges within the federal courts are discussed. I conclude by analyzing
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Convention