BLM LAWN ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS

The following BLM Regulations have recently been published and are now in the 60 day comment period. After that period they shall become law.

Title: 1997 BLM LAWN ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS

Penalties: Violations shall be punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and 5 years in federal prison.

Jurisdiction: These Regulations shall apply to all private, local or state gov't. lands adjacent to or upwind from any BLM Lands.

  1. Allowing any non-native grasses to spread onto adjacent BLM Lands.
  2. Allowing any non-native grass seeds to disperse downwind onto BLM Lands.
  3. Allowing lawn clippings to disperse onto BLM Lands by any means including leaf blowers.
  4. Allowing other non-native species commonly found in lawns to spread onto BLM Lands,
    including but not limited to edible species such as dandelion, plantain, oxalis and english daisy.
  5. BLM Rangers are authorized to enter upon, search and seize without warrant any violating lawns, sod, seeds, lawn and/or garden equiptment and irrigation systems; including all sprinklers, plastic pipe, fittings, drip line, hoses, nozzles, valves and timers.
  6. BLM Rangers are hereby authorized to remove any any lawns found in violation of any of these Regulations by any means necessary including but not limited to aerial herbicide spraying, plowing or complete soil removal and regrading at owners expense.
  7. BLM Rangers are authorized to re-wild any lawns found in violation of any of these Regulations by any means necessary with BLM approved species including but not limited to noxious / non- edible species such as cholla cactus, sagebrush, creosote and locoweed, at owners expense.
  8. Native species spreading from BLM Lands onto adjacent lands shall not be removed and shall be protected, watered, fertilized and propagated per BLM Technical Specifications by owner.
  9. Repeat offender's property shall be automatically and irrevocably forfeited to the BLM and be placed in the appropriate World Biosphere Zone. Offenders shall be reformatted and placed into appropriate BLM service during parole, consecutive to their sentence.
  10. All new plantings on lands adjacent to BLM Lands shall be permitted by BLM prior to any sowing or planting, and shall be selected from the Official BLM Plant List. All seed must be purchased from the local BLM Office and sown or planted in accordance with the BLM Technical Specifications.
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    Steve's Mail
    March 2, 1997