Land Management, Bureau of, is a United States government agency that administers public land. Most of the land controlled by the bureau is in the Western States and Alaska, and has never been privately owned. The land provides food for livestock, supplies forest products and minerals, offers opportunities for outdoor recreation, and is a natural home for wildlife. The bureau is responsible for planning the best use or combination of uses for the land, and for managing it in the public interest. Pieces of land are sometimes offered for sale when such sales are regarded in the national interest.
The Bureau of Land Management was established in 1946 as part of the Department of the Interior. It took over the functions of two previous agencies, the General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service. The bureau has headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices in the Western States and Alaska. The bureau’s website at http://www.blm.gov/nhp provides additional information.
