Issue areas include access to energy resources on federal lands; development of hardrock minerals; designation of the National Landscape Conservation System; wilderness designation; management of wild horses and burros; wildfire protection; Forest Service implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and other issues. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct, P.L. Implementation of these changes is discussed below. H.R. 6 was enacted on December 19, 2007, as P.L. A claim gives the holder the right to develop the minerals and apply for a patent to obtain full title of the land and minerals. Two oversight hearings on mining law reform have been held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 110 th Congress—one on hardrock mining on federal land (September 27, 2007) and a second on reform of the General Mining Law of 1872 (January 24, 2008). National Landscape Conservation System (by [author name scrubbed])

			Background

The BLM created the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) in 2000 to focus management and public attention on its specially protected conservation areas. Current issues for Congress include whether to establish the system legislatively, and the adequacy of funds for the system. Qualified organizations must have 10 years of "demonstrated compliance and consistency" with one of three specified purposes: "(i) to promote the development and preservation of trails throughout Federal lands; (ii) to promote and encourage education of the public about the fragile nature of mountain and forest ecology and the necessity for its protection and preservation; or (iii) to gather and disseminate information regarding the use and enjoyment of wilderness areas and other Federal land ..."

		Wild Horses and Burros (by [author name scrubbed])

			Background

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (16 U.S.C. A second change removed the ban on the sale of wild horses and burros or their remains for processing into commercial products. Although adoptions have been declining over the past several years, they have continued to outpace sales of animals. The BLM currently needs additional space in long-term holding facilities and has been soliciting bids for new facilities. Legislative Activity

On April 26, 2007, the House passed H.R. 249 to overturn the changes enacted in the 108 th Congress. Several bills on forest health restoration to reduce wildfire threats have been introduced. Companion bills ( H.R. Two bills have been introduced in the House and two in the Senate to establish a separate fund for major wildfire suppression efforts. Since 2003, the FS has expanded the types of activities that can be conducted without environmental review, increasing the number of types from 18 to 27. They include national forest roadless areas, national forest planning, national forest county payments, BLM land sales, and grazing management.
The 110th Congress, the Administration, and the courts are considering many issues related to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands and the Forest Service (FS) national forests. Key issues include the following.
Energy Resources. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has led to new regulations on the leasing programs and application of environmental laws to certain agency actions. H.R. 6 was enacted as P.L. 110-140 on December 19, 2007, without many of the federal lands provisions considered earlier.
Hardrock Mining. The General Mining Law of 1872 allows prospecting for minerals in open public domain lands, and staking a claim, developing the minerals, and applying for a patent to obtain title to the land and minerals. The House passed H.R. 2262 on November 5, 2007, to reform aspects of the General Mining Law.
National Landscape Conservation System. The BLM created the National Landscape Conservation System in 2000 to enhance the focus on specially protected conservation areas. Congress is considering measures to establish the 27 million acre system legislatively and debating the adequacy of funds for the system.
Wilderness. Many agency recommendations for wilderness areas are pending. Questions persist about wilderness review and managing wilderness study areas (WSAs). Nearly fifty wilderness area bills have been introduced this Congress, several have been passed by at least one chamber, and one has been enacted into law.
Wild Horses and Burros. Changes in 2004 to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 removed the ban on selling certain animals for commercial products; the House passed H.R. 249 on April 26, 2007, to overturn these changes. The BLM continues to dispose of animals by sale, adoption, and long-term holding.
Wildfire Protection. Various initiatives seek to protect communities from wildfires by expanding fuel reduction, and bills have been offered to restore forest health. Concerns over high and rising suppression costs have led to bills for separate wildfire suppression funding accounts.
FS NEPA Application. The FS has proposed altering its process for activity review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and has added activities that can be categorically excluded from such environmental and public reviews. Many of these changes and proposals have been challenged in court.
Other issues discussed briefly include roadless areas in the National Forest System, national forest planning, national forest county payments, BLM land sales, and grazing management.