This morning we received a copy of an email from the Acting State Director to her employees indicating that the BLM will NOT merge the New Mexico and Arizona State Offices. The letter states;

“The BLM is committed to always looking for ways to align our resources and staff in a way that best serves the public and best supports the important work you do in managing the public lands. In these times of declining budgets and sequestration, we have a particular obligation to seriously consider new ideas that allow us to direct more resources to the programs and operations that are so important to the lands and the people we serve.

In the spirit of this commitment, the BLM explored the possibility of combining the Arizona and New Mexico state offices to better serve the public in the southwest by directing more resources to the district and field office level. The BLM listened carefully to feedback from partners and stakeholders expressing the importance of maintaining separate state offices. After considering this feedback, the BLM has decided not to move forward with a merger. The BLM will maintain both the Arizona and New Mexico state offices and both state director positions.”