Several Republican members of Congress along with some agricultural groups are voicing concern over the nomination of Tracy Stone Manning to lead the Bureau of Land Management. That position is second only to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. South Dakota Stock Grower’s Association Executive Director James Halverson says they want an open minded individual to head the B-L-M. He says Manning’s past indicates advocating activist type environmental policies.

He says ranchers have the best track record when it comes to protecting the environment and anyone leading B-L-M needs to recognize that.

Halverson says there is a lot of B-L-M land located in South Dakota what will be effected by whoever is chosen to lead that agency.

Manning four years ago worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and before that was active in politics in Montana.