Wilderness Watch is concerned about a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposal to significantly increase commercial use and allow commercial filming in the new Organ Mountains and Broad Canyon Wildernesses (and several Wilderness Study Areas) in New Mexico. Commercial filming is prohibited in Wilderness, along with all other commercial enterprise, with the exception of commercial services such outfitters and guides (livestock grazing and valid existing rights such as mining claims are other exceptions). The BLM’s proposal violates the Wilderness Act by suggesting it could allow excessive levels of commercial outfitting/guiding and by proposing to allow commercial filming.

The proposal also fails to detail the commercial filming BLM would allow in the Wildernesses and suggests motorized transportation, another activity the Wilderness Act prohibits, could be utilized to support filming. Wilderness Watch will continue to monitor this proposal and voice our concerns.