By BLM Public Affairs
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement professionals support the Agency's multiple-use mission by enforcing laws and regulations that advance public safety and resource protection on BLM-managed public lands. Every day, these dedicated men and women put themselves in harm’s way to investigate vandalism and looting, support emergency response, and provide a safe environment for employees and visitors to the public lands.
The organization has approximately 200 law enforcement rangers (uniformed officers) and approximately 70 special agents (criminal investigators) patrolling BLM-managed public lands, which are predominantly in the western U.S., including Alaska, and consist of extensive grassland, forest, high mountain, arctic tundra, and desert landscapes. In all areas, BLM law enforcement officers work in cooperation with several local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the BLM rangers and agents help protect the public lands along the border, through innovative initiatives and partnerships with those agencies.
BLM Rangers review map of public lands in Oregon. Photo by Bureau of Land Management.
Nationally, the BLM manages a wide variety of resources spread over 245 million acres of public lands and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. These public land resources include timber, forage, energy and minerals, recreation areas, wild horse and burro herds, fish and wildlife habitat, wilderness areas and national monuments, and archaeological and paleontological sites. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to stand up a law enforcement body to enforce federal laws and regulations with respect to public lands and their resources. As a result, the BLM has specific resource protection and law enforcement responsibilities that further its diverse mission.
###
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Protocol & Communications Office
Contact: 912-267-2447