The U.S. Bureau of Land Management would maintain its headquarters in Grand Junction under legislation proposed by a Western Colorado congresswoman.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert introduced the Local Opportunities, Conservation and American Lands Act. The legislation keeps the BLM headquarters in Grand Junction as well as BLM employees in western states.

“Westerners deserve a voice in the land use decisions that affect their lives daily. I am proud to introduce the LOCAL Act to ensure that our local communities have access to the decision-makers at the Bureau of Land Management headquarters,” said Boebert, a Republican whose 3rd Congressional District includes Grand Junction. “Since 99 percent of the lands that the bureau manages are west of the Mississippi, it only makes sense to have the agency located close to the communities it serves.”

Ten congressmen joined Boebert in introducing the legislation, including Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn, both Republicans from Colorado.

The Mesa and Garfield County commissions also have come out in support of the measure, as has the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and Club 20.

The Department of Interior announced in 2019 plans to relocate the BLM headquarters to Grand Junction as well as reassign BLM staff to other locations closer to the public lands the agency manages.

Accounting for the higher costs of office space in Washington compared to other areas of the country as well as travel between western states and the capital, it was estimated the move could save $50 million to $100 million over 20 years.

In February, Boebert joined Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and local stakeholders in an event hosted by the Grand Junction Economic Partnership to discuss keeping BLM headquarters in Grand Junction.

GJEP calculated the initial economic contributions of the BLM headquarters in Grand Junction at $11 million.

The agency moved 41 jobs to Grand Junction that pay an average of $122,000 annually in wages and benefits for a total of more than $5 million. Using an economic multiplier, BLM employees support an additional 57 local jobs through their spending in the community, resulting in a total $9 million annual employment effects. The move also resulted in a $1.25 million in capital investment in renovating office space the BLM leases on Horizon Drive and a total of $2 million in additional economic effects. 

Boebert, the Mesa County Commissioners and Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce invited Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to visit the BLM headquarters and Grand Junction.

Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, praised efforts to keep BLM headquarters in Grand Junction. “The decision by the Trump administration to move the BLM headquarters out West was wise. The West is disproportionately impacted by decisions pertaining to the management of our public lands. It only makes sense that the leadership of the BLM be a part of that community.”

Scott Jones with the Off-Road Business Association agreed.
“We vigorously support the LOCAL Act requiring BLM headquarters permanently remaining in Grand Junction. Placement of the headquarters in this more centralized location allows for more timely and effective transfer of information and alignment of resources.”