Bureau of Land Management Grazing Permittee Information

In August 2007, WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for information related to the agency's grazing program, including the names and addresses of corporations, partnerships and individuals permitted to graze BLM land. The BLM, citing privacy issues, refused to disclose these data for certain permittees. The two conservation organizations sued the agency in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho for withholding the information.

On September 13, 2010, the federal court ruled in favor of WildEarth Guardians and Western Watersheds Project, finding that "the public interest in monitoring the BLM's rangeland program outweighs the minimal privacy interests held by [grazing] permittees" in their names and addresses. [Memorandum Decision and Order ] As the court noted, permittee names and addresses are key to understanding other information about BLM's grazing program. The court also acknowledged a substantial public interest in the federal public lands grazing:

"…the Court finds that there is a substantial public interest in understanding the scope of the grazing and rangeland program, particularly in light of the environmental impacts associated with grazing and the amount of tax dollars spent on the grazing program itself. Understanding the scope includes knowing how many individuals or entities actually graze cattle on public lands, as well as the size and scope of their operations. Because the only way to determine this information is from release and cross referencing of the requested information, the Court finds that a substantial public interest exists."

The court's opinion received extensive coverage in the news media and the New York Times editorialized in favor of the decision .

Memorandum and Opinion: Western Watersheds Project & WildEarth Guardians v. BLM & US Dept. of Interior, Case No. CV 09-482-CWD (Sept. 13, 2010)

News Release: Federal Government Lowers Cost of Public-Lands Grazing For Livestock Owners: Cost Rises for Taxpayers

New York Times The public trust (editorial) (10/3/10)

Associated Press (multiple) Judge: BLM must release names of permit holders (9/14-15/10)