BLM Withdraws Proposal to Spray Herbicides on 1.5 Million Acres

Groups Urge Agency to End its Addiction to Toxins

ROSWELL, N.M. - In response to an appeal by WildEarth Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it is withdrawing a plan to allow herbicide spraying across 1.5 million acres in southeastern New Mexico. The conservation groups applauded the decision and urged land managers to end their addiction to toxic herbicides.

“We’re pleased by the BLM’s withdrawal of this reckless plan, which would have allowed the agency to apply toxic chemicals wherever and whenever it chose within the field office, despite the dangers herbicides pose to endangered species and drinking water,” stated Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians. “But the agency is still considering other proposals that seek to spray herbicides first and ask questions later.”

The proposal was the broadest yet seen in New Mexico, covering the entire Roswell field office. It failed to look at any alternatives to herbicide use or impacts to water quality, human health, or endangered species, in violation of legal requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“The BLM admits that toxic herbicides can poison water, make people sick, and kill plants and wildlife on the brink of extinction,” said Jay Lininger, an ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity. “It has to take a hard look at alternatives and tell the public where, how and why it will use chemicals.”

A dozen endangered species exist within the Roswell field office include two fishes - the Pecos bluntnose shiner and Pecos gambusia; plants such as the Pecos sunflower; and four invertebrates (three snails and a shrimp) found on the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most biologically significant wetland complexes in the Pecos River watershed. Herbicide use could harm those species by contaminating their habitat or through direct ingestion. Under the ESA, when a project may affect federally protected species, the BLM is required to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which it failed to do in this case.

“The BLM overlooked impacts to some of the rarest species in the state, seemingly determined to write itself a blank check to proceed with herbicide use,” stated Rosmarino.

While the BLM withdrew its EA to target noxious weeds on 1.5-million acres, it has separately proposed to spray herbicides on over 700,000 acres in the field office with the Macho Draw, North Lincoln, and West Chaves “restoration” projects targeting native shrubs and trees such as acacia, creosote, mesquite, cholla, and juniper.

“We agree with the need to treat noxious weeds, but underlying causes of infestation also need scrutiny, and that means taking a hard look at grazing and fossil fuel extraction,” Lininger said. “The BLM wastes taxpayer resources and threatens public health when it blindly sprays weeds everywhere it manages for multiple uses.”


 

All active news articles