What This Means for You
- A new federal initiative will guide conservation and public lands policy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.
- The Bureau of Land Management is simplifying how families and small businesses obtain sand, gravel, and stone from public lands.
- Flat-fee pricing and a new online map aim to lower costs and reduce permitting hurdles for local construction projects.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal officials this past week unveiled a long-term conservation framework and announced regulatory changes intended to expand public access to natural resources while reducing costs for families and small businesses.
On February 11, the Department of the Interior announced the launch of the Make America Beautiful Again 250 initiative, a strategic agenda led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The initiative is designed to guide federal conservation policy as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.
According to Interior, the commission will focus on balancing environmental stewardship with economic development, restoring wildlife habitat, expanding outdoor recreation access, and reducing regulatory delays affecting conservation projects.
The commission was established by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025. Interior officials said a formal report on the commission’s accomplishments will coincide with the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
MABA 250: Conservation and Economic Growth
The commission identified five priority areas: balancing conservation and resource development; increasing access to hunting, fishing, and recreation; expanding voluntary conservation programs; reducing regulatory barriers; and recovering wildlife species and habitats.
Officials from the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Army Corps of Engineers participated in the White House meeting highlighting agency actions aligned with the initiative.
Interior also noted that approximately $8 million in grant funding has been redirected to support big-game winter range and migration corridors.
Easier Access to Sand, Gravel and Stone
On February 12, the Department announced a new Bureau of Land Management Materials Access Program intended to simplify how individuals and businesses obtain mineral materials such as sand, gravel, and stone from public lands.
Mineral materials are commonly used in road repairs, home construction, agricultural projects, and local infrastructure maintenance.
Under the new policy, BLM will standardize procedures for noncompetitive sales and establish two flat-fee pricing tiers for purchases outside designated community pits.
Tier 1 covers purchases of up to 50 tons per year at a flat fee of $400 per transaction. Tier 2 covers 51 to 150 tons per year at a flat fee of $1,500 per transaction.
The policy applies only to lands identified in resource management plans as open to mineral material disposal.
Officials said the change replaces more complex pricing formulas and is intended to reduce administrative burdens.
New Online Mapping Tool
BLM also launched the Community Pits Mapper, a mobile-friendly online map that identifies existing community pits, available materials, pricing information, and contact details.
The tool is available at:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/fe6f91984e5b42e6b0ef125248c9b2e2
The map also identifies areas where materials may be available outside designated pits and allows users to request the opening of new sites.
Next Steps
Interior officials said the MABA 250 initiative will serve as a long-term framework for conservation policy and public lands management.
The Materials Access Program changes are effective immediately, with state and field offices applying the new procedures under existing regulations.
Federal agencies indicated additional updates and reports tied to the MABA 250 initiative will be released later this year as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial.
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