Active duty military offered free annual pass to BLM lands

Thanking America’s Armed Forces

Active Duty Military Offered Free Annual Pass to All BLM Public Lands

 

 

Phoenix, AZ - To show our appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. military, on May 19--Armed Forces Day--the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin issuing an annual pass offering free access to all BLM-managed public lands for active duty military members and their dependents.

 

“We all owe a debt to those who sacrifice so much to protect our country,” said Ray Suazo, BLM Arizona State Director. “This new pass is a way to thank military members and their families for their service and their sacrifices.”

 

Active duty members of the Armed Forces can pick up their pass at any BLM field office, visitor center, or public contact station.  Military members and their dependents must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. More information is available at http://www.recreation.gov/.

 

This military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass also permits free entrance to sites managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service. The pass is also available at these locations. 

 

“BLM public lands are America’s backyard and offer the widest range of recreation opportunities of any public land agency.  This spectrum of traditional and new outdoor recreation activities contributes to the health and well-being of millions of Americans including members of the military,” State Director Suazo said.  “We are proud to recognize these brave men and women and hope that a visit to these lands will offer an opportunity to unwind, relax, rejuvenate, and just have fun with their families.”

 

In Arizona, BLM manages 12.2 million acres of public land filled with a myriad of recreational opportunities to enjoy.  For more information on recreation and visitor services please visit the Bureau of Land Management http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation.html.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency.  This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska.  The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs.  The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends.  In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget.  The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.