The Bureau of Land Management recently proposed a rule change that would put recreation on par with other uses of public lands, and the proposal has received a lot of attention.

The Bureau has received thousands of comments over the proposed rule, and recently extended the deadline for public input to July 5.

The proposal has also drawn the attention of Republican congressmen who have introduced a bill to block it. The measure is co-sponsored by Arizona’s Paul Gosar.

The lawmakers say the rule will harm rural communities located near BLM lands, but Michael Carroll, of the Wilderness Society, says it’s likely to help them.

"We think this is going to give local land managers a tool that will not only be durable and last beyond future administrations, but also give the ability to work with local communities," Carroll said.

The rule will take months to finalize, and is not likely to take effect until 2024.