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Tipton slams federal land managers

Congressman: U.S. agencies often abusive

DENVER – A Natural Resources subcommittee Thursday heard testimony suggesting that federal land-managing agencies have taken an increasingly “militarized” approach to governance, impacting water and property rights in the West.

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, attended the Public Lands and Environmental Regulation hearing in Washington, D.C., in which the congressional panel asked witnesses to describe “threats, intimidation and bullying” by federal land authorities.

The hearing occurred despite a commitment by federal officials to coordinate with local governments.

Tipton agreed with his Republican colleagues controlling the subcommittee that the federal agencies operate in an over-reaching manner with a disregard for state laws, rules and regulations.

“Today’s hearing speaks to something that Coloradans have experienced for far too long – federal land management agency abuse,” Tipton said in a statement after the hearing.

Witnesses who spoke during the hearing – including sheriffs and county commissioners from Western states such as Utah, New Mexico and Nevada – told stories of the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service impacting water rights by building fences to protect wildlife, as well as shutting down roads and acquiring significant portions of land.

The issue took the spotlight after the so-called “Bundy standoff” in which Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy orchestrated a standoff that soon became an armed confrontation about unpaid grazing fees.

Tipton paid special attention to road closures, suggesting that when federal agencies close roads, it has a public-safety impact on local governments. He also questioned whether the agencies have the proper resources to manage such vast swaths of land.

“It seems the federal government keeps trying to acquire more land, and I find it incredibly curious when we’ve had the Forest Service before us, even BLM, they don’t have the resources to currently manage the lands they have, but are acquiring more land,” Tipton said during the hearing.

Tipton pointed to a measure he introduced that would require the federal government to disclose when it acquires land adjacent to a current property owner.

He also introduced a bill that aims to limit the federal government’s ability to take property following a resurvey. The issue stems from a 2009 case in which a Mesa County landowner saw a taking by the BLM following a resurvey.

“We’ve seen this in the 3rd District where numerous landowners have been the victims of BLM survey mistakes that in some cases weren’t discovered until after numerous resurveys, sometimes decades later,” said Tipton. “In these cases, it wasn’t BLM employees that were held accountable for their actions, but the landowners.”

Montezuma County Commissioner Larry Don Suckla said the issue for his county is more about a lack of coordination between the federal agents and local governments.

“The problem is that the local government doesn’t get a chance to have a say in the policy of what’s taking place,” said Suckla. “Let the local government have a say, a voice, because we’re the voice of the people of the county.”

BLM officials, however, say they are constantly working with local governments in an effort to build relationships and find compromise.

“The BLM disagrees with the many vague and inaccurate claims that were made at today’s hearing regarding the BLM’s collaboration with local entities,” said Jeff Krauss, a spokesman for BLM. “Cooperation with all stakeholders is critical to carrying out the BLM’s mission and finding common ground in balancing the many uses of the public lands.

“In doing so, across the bureau we routinely enter into contracts, agreements and partnerships with a variety of entities, including local law enforcement, ranchers and members of the public,” he said. “That serves to protect public health and safety and improve resource conditions on public lands across the West.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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