Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations

Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations

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Updated March 3, 2023
Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the
Discretionary Appropriations Accounts
Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 244 million
For each BLM discretionary funding account, Table 1
acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its
shows FY2022 enacted amounts and FY2023 amounts
multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse
requested by the Biden Administration, passed by the
purposes, including livestock grazing, energy development,
House, included in S. 4686 as introduced, and enacted.
recreation, and conservation. The agency also administers
onshore federal energy and mineral resources generally.
Management of Lands and Resources (MLR). The
largest account—MLR—funds diverse programs including
P.L. 117-328, Division G, enacted on December 29, 2022,
rangelands, wild horses and burros, wildlife and aquatic
contained FY2023 regular appropriations for BLM of
habitat, recreation, energy and minerals, law enforcement,
$1,494.0 million. From the start of FY2023 on October 1,
facility maintenance, and national conservation lands. This
2022, until regular appropriations were enacted, BLM
account also funds workforce and organizational support,
received continuing appropriations at FY2022 levels.
including financial and information technology
management. The FY2023 appropriations law included
The FY2023 BLM appropriation of $1,494.0 million was
$1,337.7 million for this account—6% over FY2022.
6% over the FY2022 regular appropriation of
$1,410.9 million in P.L. 117-103, Division G. (This
Although the FY2023 appropriation for the account was
FY2022 total does not include emergency supplemental
higher than the FY2022 level, the President’s FY2023
appropriations of $1.2 million in P.L. 117-43 to address
request, House, and Senate bill supported higher increases
natural disasters.) The FY2023 enacted appropriation was
overall for the account and for most of its programs. The
less than the amounts requested by the President, passed by
Administration expressed that increases proposed for
the House, and included in S. 4686 as introduced. President
FY2023 were intended to support several goals. These
Biden requested $1,561.4 million for BLM. On July 1,
goals included fostering conservation of 30% of the
2022, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R.
nation’s lands and waters by 2030; addressing climate
8262 (H.Rept. 117-400), with $1,545.9 million for BLM for
change, including through improvements in land health and
FY2023. On July 20, 2022, the House passed H.R. 8294, an
resiliency and deployment of clean energy generation and
omnibus appropriations measure with the same amount (in
transmission projects; and remediating and reclaiming
Division E). On July 28, 2022, the Senate Appropriations
abandoned wells and mine sites, to improve human health,
Committee Chair released a Senate Committee Majority
safety, and the environment and to create jobs. (Fiscal Year
Draft bill and draft explanatory statement with
2023, The Interior Budget in Brief, p. BLM-1). A few
$1,536.4 million for BLM for FY2023. On the same day, S.
programs that received increases are highlighted below.
4686 was introduced reflecting the draft text.
There are 82,384 wild horses and burros on BLM lands,
BLM discretionary appropriations are provided in Title I of
more than triple the appropriate management level—the
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations
level that BLM determined the range can support—of
laws. BLM also receives a portion of the appropriations to
26,785. BLM manages an additional 62,398 animals off-
DOI for wildland fire management. For further information,
range. For wild horse and burro management, the FY2023
see CRS In Focus IF12142, Funding for Wildfire
appropriation was $147.9 million, 8% over FY2022. The
Management: FY2023 Appropriations for Forest Service
Administration, House, and Senate bill had sought higher
and Department of the Interior. Mandatory (permanent)
amounts, with increases for administering fertility control,
appropriations are provided to BLM under various statutes
removing animals from the range, and caring for animals in
within the jurisdiction of authorizing committees. DOI
long-term pasture facilities, among other purposes.
estimated BLM mandatory appropriations at $599.2 million
for FY2023. This total does not include $95.0 million for
For wildlife and aquatic habitat management, the FY2023
BLM deferred maintenance (DM, discussed below).
appropriation was $207.2 million, 5% over FY2022. The
explanatory statement on the FY2023 enacted bill
For FY2023, issues for Congress included determining the
expressed an expectation that BLM would use funding for
amount of funding for BLM accounts and activities and the
invasive species, sage grouse habitat, and the National Seed
terms and conditions of such funding, as well as whether to
Strategy, among other purposes. The Administration,
enact related Biden Administration proposals. Congress
House, and Senate bill had sought higher amounts, with
could conduct oversight of expenditures as well as consider
increases intended for addressing climate change, water
additional funding (e.g., for any emergency that arises).
quantity and quality, landscape connectivity and function,
and adaptive management and for advancing the President’s
Civilian Climate Corps proposal, among other purposes.
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Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations
For energy and minerals management, the FY2023
and Senate bill. Under law, 50% of grazing fees collected
appropriation was $234.3 million, 8% over FY2022. The
on BLM lands or $10.0 million—whichever is greater—is
FY2023 appropriation included $41.0 million for renewable
credited to a Range Improvement Fund. Through the Range
energy, a 32% increase over FY2022, and $163.3 million
Improvements account, BLM typically receives an annual
for oil and gas, a 4% increase over FY2022. Oil and gas
appropriation of $10.0 million for the fund.
management includes remediation of legacy wells in
Alaska. The Administration, House, and Senate bill had
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures. This account
sought higher funding for energy and minerals for FY2023.
allows BLM to use monies paid to the agency for certain
activities, such as processing rights-of-way and energy and
Not all MLR programs received increased funding for
mineral authorizations. The FY2023 estimate was $30.0
FY2023. For instance, the appropriation for FY2023 was
million, offset by collections, for a net of $0. For FY2023,
lower than FY2022 for programs including cultural
the Administration, House, and Senate bill had the same
resources, recreation, and DM. However, under the Great
amount, as did the FY2022 appropriations law.
American Outdoors Act (GAOA; P.L. 116-152), BLM
receives mandatory appropriations for DM. (See below.)
Miscellaneous Trust Funds. This account appropriates
contributions made to BLM (e.g., from individuals,
The FY2023 appropriations law contained provisions
businesses, and states). The FY2023 enacted amount was
related to MLR programs, including the following. Section
$26.0 million. This amount was the same as the FY2023
417 prohibited funding for the destruction of healthy wild
Administration requested, House-passed, and Senate bill
horses and burros or for sales of animals that result in
levels as well as the FY2022 enacted level.
processing into commercial products. Section 421 extended,
to October 1, 2024, the authority in the Federal Lands
Selected Mandatory Appropriations
Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. §§6801 et seq.) for
Deferred Maintenance. Under the GAOA, BLM receives
BLM (and other agencies) to charge, collect, and use fees
mandatory appropriations for DM through the National
for recreation on agency lands. (BLM estimated $28.0
Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. BLM’s
million in FY2023 fee collections.) Some provisions
appropriation is about $95.0 million annually (assuming
supported by the Administration, House, and Senate bill
maximum revenue to the fund). The explanatory statement
were not included in the law (e.g., to allow BLM to collect
on the FY2023 enacted bill set out an allocation of $95.2
and retain onshore oil and gas inspection fees to cover
million among 14 specific projects and other purposes (e.g.,
inspection costs, similar to offshore energy operations).
program administration). BLM estimated its DM at $4.4
billion in FY2021 (the most recent available), about four
Oregon and California Grant Lands. This account funds
times the FY2019 estimate ($1.1 billion). The increase is
management of more than 2 million acres of forested lands
largely due to changes in estimation methods.
in Western Oregon, primarily for timber production. The
FY2023 appropriations law included $120.3 million for this
Land Acquisition. BLM typically receives appropriations
account—3% over FY2022. For FY2023, the President’s
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to
request, House, and Senate bill supported higher increases.
acquire lands. Under the GAOA, LWCF programs receive
mandatory appropriations. The explanatory statement on
Range Improvements. The Range Improvements account
the FY2023 enacted bill set out an allocation of $70.1
funds rehabilitation, protection, and improvement of BLM
million among several specific projects and other purposes
rangelands. The FY2023 appropriations law included $10.0
(e.g., acquisitions that foster recreational access). The
million for this account, the same as enacted for FY2022
mandatory appropriation for FY2022 was $67.4 million.
and contained in the FY2023 President’s request, House,
Table 1. BLM Discretionary Appropriations by Account (dol ars in mil ions)
FY2022
FY2023
FY2023
FY2023
Enacted
FY2023
H.R. 8294
S. 4686
Enacted
Account
P.L. 117-103
Requested
House Passed Introduced
P.L. 117-328
Management of Lands and Resources
$1,257.6
$1,396.7
$1,384.8
$1,371.7
$1,337.7
Oregon and California Grant Lands
117.3
128.7
125.0
128.7
120.3
Range Improvements
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures
0
0
0
0
0
Miscellaneous Trust Funds
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
Total BLM
$1,410.9
$1,561.4
$1,545.9
$1,536.4
$1,494.0
Source: CRS, with information from the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
Notes: The Interior Budget in Brief for FY2023 shows a higher requested total largely due to differences in rescissions and offsetting col ections. For
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures, the $0 amounts are a result of an appropriation matched by offsetting fees. On July 28, 2022, the Senate
Appropriations Committee Chair released the Senate Committee Majority Draft. On the same day, S. 4686 was introduced reflecting the draft text.
Column figures may not sum to totals shown due to rounding.

Carol Hardy Vincent, Specialist in Natural Resources
Policy
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations

IF12187

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