It surprises most people outside the American West to learn that fully one-third of the nation’s land mass is owned by the federal government. It is much more than that in some states: over 80% of Nevada is federally owned as is over 60% of Alaska, Idaho, and Utah. Even in Western states where federal landownership is 50% or less, federal lands may comprise 70%, 80%, and 90% of rural counties.

Setting aside the lengthy and complex constitutional, statutory, and historical process that got us to this point and whether, on a grand scale, we should change that ownership pattern, one question worthy of concern given current events is whether, on a case-by-case basis, we should dispose of or sell any of that federal land? Specifically at issue are the 245 million acres of land — 10% of the nation’s land — overseen by the Bureau of Land Management from within the Department of the Interior. Thus, not subject to discussion are the national parks or “pleasuring-ground[s] for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” (80 million acres), congressionally designed wilderness areas “where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” (112 million acres), and national monuments established by Congress or by presidential edict that protect and preserve “archeological sites, historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest” (19 million acres).