BLM’s Arizona, NM merger opposed

Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar and other House members are urging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to suspend a proposed merger of the Arizona and New Mexico offices. Gosar joined congressmen from California and Utah plus a congresswoman from Wyoming in sending a letter Monday to BLM Director Neil Kornze. They want the BLM to seriously study the ramifications of the merger, analyze the impacts of previous office mergers by other federal agencies and talk with state and local governments along with impacted stakeholders. The BLM reportedly is considering a merger of the two state offices in an attempt to boost efficiencies and reduce operating costs. The congressional members said the Arizona and New Mexico BLM offices “face uniquely different management challenges that may be exacerbated by a merger.”  AP