UPDATE | Senate Confirms Pearce To Head Bureau Of Land Management

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional reactions from conservation groups. 

In a vote fully in stride with President Donald Trump's strong multiple-use, anti-conservation approach to public lands, the Republican-controlled Senate on Monday confirmed Stevan Pearce to head the Bureau of Land Management.

The vote, 46-43, came a week after the BLM announced it was rejecting the Public Lands Rule adopted by the Biden administration that held that conservation was a reasonable use of public lands.

Pearce, who held a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-2009 and 2011-2019 for New Mexico, is a strong advocate of mining, logging, and energy development on public lands. He has stated his desire to shrink national monuments and sell-off public lands, gone on record criticizing the value of national parks, urged counties to seize control of federal lands, and co-sponsored legislation that would gut the Antiquities Act, a conservation tool used by presidents of both parties. 

The vote seemed at odds with Western views. For 16 years surveys conducted by the College of Colorado have shown that Westerners value their public lands for hunting and fishing and recreation.

This year's poll, which surveyed voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, found that respondents are prioritizing conservation, recreation, and renewables over fossil fuel development heading into this year's midterm elections. For example, 85 percent of the poll’s respondents say issues involving public lands, waters, and wildlife are important in deciding whether to support a public official. Rural voters and sportsmen were especially likely to say that conservation issues are “very important” in how they view elected officials.

Seventy percent of respondents oppose fast-tracking oil, gas and mining projects on federally owned lands by reducing environmental reviews and local public input. Additionally, 72 percent of Westerners prefer expanding renewable energy over drilling and mining for more fossil fuels. When asked to prioritize energy sources, voters across party lines selected solar as their top choice, while coal was the least desired, with only 7 percent of respondents listing coal as a first or second priority.

Pearce's confirmation was roundly criticized by conservation organizations.

"Anyone who cares about the future of public lands, national monuments, or the redrock knows that Steve Pearce has fundamentally disqualifying views – such as opposing the very existence of public lands – and should not hold the position of director of the Bureau of Land Management,” said Travis Hammill, DC director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA). 

“Public stewardship is essential for the survival of America’s most beautiful places and the communities that depend on them. By confirming Mr. Pearce, the Senate has ignored the evidence he has no intention to do so," added Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks. "Not to mention their disregard for the widespread opposition to his nomination across this country, from outdoor businesses, hunters and anglers, veterans, hikers, Tribal leaders, environmental organizations, editorial boards and the broader electorate. Senators who supported him have lost sight of this core principle of our nation."

At The Wilderness Society, Jordan Schreiber said Pearce's confirmation raises troubling concerns about how public lands will be managed in the years ahead.

“Public lands belong to all of us, protecting wildlife, clean water and the freedom future generations deserve. Given Steve Pearce’s record and performance before the committee, today’s confirmation raises troubling questions about whether those values will guide the Bureau of Land Management in the years ahead," said Schreiber, TWS's director of government relations. "He declined to clearly disavow past efforts to dispose of public lands, yet he has been entrusted with their stewardship. We will watch Steve Pearce’s BLM like a hawk, and look to our leaders in Congress, who say they want to keep public lands in public hands, to aid us in that effort.” 

But Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who chairs the energy and natural resources committee that sent Pearce's nomination to the Senate floor, hailed his confirmation.

“Despite unprecedented obstruction from Senate Democrats, Republicans have worked tirelessly to get President Trump’s team in place and the country moving in the right direction,” said Lee. “Each of these nominees brings a wealth of experience, and they will play an important role in carrying out President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy dominance.”

Lee, of course, has tried in the past to have Congress approve the sale of some federal lands.