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BLM Pattern & Practice of Abuse
It Takes An Entire Workplace Culture to Inflict Harm
It Takes An Entire Workplace Culture to Inflict Harm
Intelligent Discussion Group opinions from people familiar with BLM tactics, originally posted elsewhere
By Paul September 2, 2005
I didn't know Marlene but after 30 years with the BLM as a wildlife biologist (half that time in California) I can assure all that the circumstances regarding management and livestock are similar throughout the west. I have also been battling with management over abusive practices for my entire career. I fully understand how Marlene could just get tired. Too often the uninformed public just doesn't understand how much environmental damage is occurring at the hands of the mystic cowboy. Moreover, every BLM manager that has the nerve to stand up to the livestock industry and enforce the law is soon moved or otherwise muzzled.
You may hear many fine words about progress in livestock management by the BLM but where the rubber meets the road the most common result is to continue business as usual. This pattern will continue until sufficient political pressure is brought to bear to cause a change. Still, I doubt that this will happen for at least another three years! The current administration is doubtless the most stifling and one-sided I have ever experienced. Meanwhile, I encourage you to actively let your state and federal representatives know how you feel and how you intend to vote, and to support a watchdog organization that will take the BLM to task when they foul up (and they will).
Human consequences of environmental actions
By Adam M. October 3, 2005
I don't want to lay everything at the hands of Washington, D.C., but recently there has been an assault on the environment unparalled in recent decades. James Watt was not as bad this! The assault on the environment naturally has consequences for those who manage it. We tend to think of these land managers as just bureaucrats, and a lot of them are. There are plenty of people working for agencies like the BLM who are marking time, or who don't have college degrees but are making scientific decisions, etc. But there are also many dedicated people who care about the mandate to conserve public lands. Conservation doesn't mean non-use. It means reasonable use so that the land is not hurt.
That is what Marlene Braun was trying to do. She was regulating the use of the land in accordance with the CFR sections applying to her monument, which are not the same as all other BLM lands. The Bush administration, with its new grazing regs, NPS regs, and legislation it has rammed through Congress has basically come out and said a piece of land is a piece of land and we will do what we want with it. Graze it, drill it, develop it, commercialize it, privatize it. They are doing this with our tax dollars too, since it costs a lot of money to subsidize ranchers, for example. These policies put a lot of stress on the real stewards of the land, those who want to do right by their mandates.
The CA BLM had a draft resource management plan that it approved back in early 2004 and everyone hoped for a few revisions and then to put it out to the public for comment. Instead it was held up, altered beyond belief, partnerships were stretched to the limit, and it is now just a mess. Maybe not everyone would choose suicide, or find suicide the only way out of an intolerable situation--I hope not--but there are human dynamics that may have made this suicide almost inevitable. Other managers are trying to get transferred or just get out of federal service altogether. That is not good for the country or the lands. How many women in particular have been pushed out? I can think of at least four women in high positions who were. It isn't surprising that people who care for the environment are feeling assaulted by the policies of this administration, and that its culture of bullying makes field managers or regionals who are so inclined feel that they are immune if they do push employees to the limit. Part of our environmental movement has to focus on the human consequence of policies adverse to the responsible management of federal lands.
Endangered species act
By Mary D. October 14, 2005
The Carrizo Plain National Monument is home to a lot of endangered species that live underground, or that have been reintroduced to the area. I am so sorry Marlene is not here to see the rise in kit foxes for instance. I read a letter on the (Workplace) Bullying Institute site that actually accused Marlene of endangering species. What a crock! She put her whole being into saving animals. But the whole endangered species act is under attack right now. Check the Sierra Club website for more info. The house passed Richard Pombo's act and now it goes to the Senate. Along with fighting for justice for Marlene we need to fight for what she'd want protected--the helpless creatures which might be destroyed if we don't act. I agree with the writer above that what happened to Marlene is part of a bigger Bush attack on the environment.
Carrizo Plain
By W.S. November 14, 2005
I learned about this back in August when I was attending a seminar. A friend told me about it, and I have to say I did not give it much thought. Then I started seeing other articles about the Carrizo. I live and teach in Southern California and one of my biology colleagues also mentioned it to me. I cannot believe what I have seen on reputable Internet sites about the California Bureau of Land Management!
All over my state there is not only a huge waste of taxpayer dollars through embezzlement and mismanagement, but it sounds like a huge number of employees fear for their job safety if not their physical and mental safety. I saw this "Greatest Human Consequence" and indeed it is. If Marlene Braun were alone, I might put this down to individual depression. But as I have read article and started talking to people, I see that this is endemic.
The people in the science departments at USC and elsewhere are alarmed at the state of the environmental practices, but as someone in the Arts side of the university, I am equally concerned about the toll this is taking on people's health. I have heard there are troubles on other monuments and in other offices like Redding. I don't study the BLM. I didn't know very much about it at all until recently, but the evidence points to the need to discipline managers like Ron Huntsinger and hire managers with training both in human interaction and environmental conservation. My science colleagues tell me a lot of managers don't even have an advanced degree in any scientific field--and they make more than people with Ph.D.s teaching in universities? And taxpayers complain about the costs of higher ed? They should be demanding that land managers be credentialed people who have management skills at all levels.
Oil Drilling on Carrizo + Investigation
By Linda M. November 15, 2005
A lessee has applied to start drilling for oil on the Carrizo Plains National Monument. If any of you live in Central Cal and feel strongly about not having your monument look like Taft or smell like Bakersfield, we need a full EIS plus a 90-day public comment period. We ought to get this since the entire Monument is an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Please write to your state reps, US senators, call the BLM. If you care about the environment as i know everyone on this site does, this is very important.
The office of the inspector general is investigating other personnel issues at the Bakersfield office, and Ron Huntsinger is running amok here, so here's the address if you have any evidence regarding that office: IG: 1849 C St., NW, Mail 5341, Washington DC 20240. Phone: 202.208.5745 Fax 202.219.3856
Protect the people and the land!
Also Read the Sierra Club pledge to honor Marlene's work on the Carrizo Plain
And the articles related to privatization of public lands led by the Bush administration appointees
And the articles related to privatization of public lands led by the Bush administration appointees