Noem tells Congress federal land rule would 'devastate' South Dakota's way of life

Proposed change would 'prioritize the health and resilience of ecosystems' on Bureau of Land Management resources

Gov. Kristi Noem Thursday urged lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reject a proposed rule coming from the Biden administration that would overhaul management procedures of federal land.

“This rule is just one of many that highlights an example of overreaching unelected bureaucracy attempting to perpetuate radical environmental policies that ignore common sense,” the Republican and former Congresswoman said while testifying before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.

The South Dakota governor was speaking in favor of legislation that would force the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw a proposed rule change that the Department of Interior says will “prioritize the health and resilience of ecosystems” and better balance conservation practices with other land uses of nearly 250 million acres of federally-owned ground that BLM has authority over.

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