WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s decision to reverse a new Bureau of Land Management policy proposal that threatened to restrict recreational shooting and hunting opportunities on public lands.

Salazar’s decision comes just days after Murkowski questioned Interior officials about the proposed policy at a Nov. 17 hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Murkowski had also prepared legislation, to be introduced when the Senate returns Monday from the Thanksgiving recess, to ensure access to public lands for recreational shooters.

“I appreciate Secretary Salazar’s decision to nip this proposal in the bud before a legislative solution became necessary,” Murkowski said. “I strongly disagree with any proposal that singles out the sportsmen, hunting or recreational shooting community for exclusion. All users of public lands should be treated equally and federal rules must be written to provide as much access to as many groups as possible.”

In a memo released today, Secretary Salazar directs Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey to take no further action to develop or implement a new policy in with regard to recreational shooting opportunities on public lands.

Murkowski is the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee.

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