"Bypassing NEPA: How BLM’s Grazing Permit Loophole Sidelines Public Input and Threatens Western Rangelands
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) use of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) Section 402(c)(2) exemption to bypass the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for renewing grazing permits has raised concerns about environmental oversight and public participation. This exemption, amended by Section 3023 of Public Law 113-291 (2014 National Defense Authorization Act), allows the BLM to continue the terms and conditions of expired or transferred grazing permits without completing NEPA requirements until environmental reviews are finalized. The intent was to reduce administrative backlog while ensuring grazing continuity, but critics argue it undermines environmental accountability.