A project that would have mitigated grasshopper infestation in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, has been nixed, at least for now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently announced.

The reason for the postponement was a scientific environmental analysis review, according to a BLM press release.

“Additional environmental analysis and outreach for this project is necessary, and we are dedicated to doing so in an open and transparent manner,” said Pamela Mathis, BLM's Taos field manager.

Agricultural stakeholders in the area came together with the BLM, whose mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands, in November 2022 to draft a plan to battle the grasshopper infestation, the release stated. Among the proposals was the utilization of pesticide treatment that would have occurred by this summer. However, the BLM has decided against proceeding with the use of pesticides.

“Due to the time needed to carry out additional analysis, the project cannot be achieved this season and will no longer take place,” Mathis said. “We will continue to work on this important issue in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).”

The BLM had requested the APHIS conduct an environmental analysis according to guidelines in the National Environmental Policy Act. The APHIS completed an assessment, evaluating the potential impacts of the proposed project, and delivered a finding of “no significant impact” in June. However, upon reviewing the assessment, the BLM determined extra analysis is necessary before deciding on whether to give the project the green light, the release stated.