Federal Agency Contacts

Building  friendly contacts with your local land managers can be a real boost to any Broad effort. Doing service projects helps meet agency goals and ensures Broads are “heard” and respected when we submit comments or share criticisms of agency actions.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

National Park Service (NPS)

Additional Resources

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)

Office of Surface Mining (OSM)

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

National Invasive Species Council (NISC)

Office of Environmental Policy (OEPC)

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)[/one_half

Say It Effectively

You’re fired up over an issue and want to speak out. What do you do next? Studies show a personalized email or letter is a more effective method of communication than a mass automated email. Point and click activism only goes so far! Take the time to create a thoughtful, professional communication so you and your ideas are taken seriously.

Keep these key points in mind:

• Be simple, concise, and to the point. Keep your communication to one page, if possible. Be respectful.
• State how the issue affects you, your neighbors and community; your public lands; or the wildlife and habitat. Think of ways to tell your personal story and present a unique perspective.
• Be sure to state your expectations and desired course of action. Ask for a response if appropriate.
• Be informed about the representative’s voting history and position on the issue. Thank elected officials and bureaucrats for previous good votes and/or decisions.
• For email communications, consider the importance of the subject line. Avoid attachments; however, if they are necessary for more information, refer to the attachments in your message.

Letters to the Editor

Want to shake things up and bring attention to an issue? Consider a letter to the editor. It can be a powerful way to create and influence public and political awareness and opinion. Here are some helpful tips.

Public Comments to Agency Plans/Proposals

Submitting comments on agency plans is important for many reasons. Public comments help the decision making process and it is your right to express your opinions and provide substantive comments when it comes to what happens with our public lands.

You don’t need to be an attorney you just need to:

• Be specific about your concerns with the agency’s proposed action and why you believe it is wrong.
• Ask the agency questions that they must then address in their analysis.
• Pay attention to deadlines and submit comments per the instructions provided.