HECHO Statement on Rescission of Public Lands Rule

The Public Lands Rule  helped restore balance to the way our public lands are managed, putting conservation on equal footing with energy development, grazing, and recreation.

The administration’s decision to rescind this rule is a step backward for the health of our lands and the communities who rely on them.

“A strong energy policy can go hand-in-hand with smart conservation. Our public lands are managed for multiple uses—they support not only energy development, but also rural communities, local economies, outdoor recreation, and water sustainability in the West,” said Camilla Simon, executive director of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO). “The Great American Outdoors Act, signed into law during the administration’s first term with broad bipartisan support, was a meaningful example of how energy revenues can be reinvested in conservation. That’s why we’re disappointed to see the Public Lands Rule being discarded entirely, rather than improved through engagement with local communities. We encourage the administration to ensure that public land management continues to reflect the full range of values these lands provide.”