Talk of shrinking the federal government has brought worries that Denver may lose some of the numerous agencies that have offices here, such as the Environmental Protection Agency.
Today, two Republican members of Congress introduced a bill that could net Colorado a new agency. U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton, both of Colorado, have proposed that the Bureau of Land Management move its headquarters from Washington, D.C.
“Ninety-nine percent of the nearly 250 million acres of land managed by BLM is West of the Mississippi River, and having the decision-makers present in the communities they impact will lead to better policy," Gardner said in a written release.
Tipton said in the release that he was sure the Western Slope would join him in welcoming BLM, "but a move of the headquarters to any Western city would be welcome news." The bill would allow BLM to move not just to Colorado but to 11 other Western states, including Alaska and California.
They also picked up statements of support from the Colorado Farm Bureau and the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture.
BLM has more than 10,000 employees around the country at present.
