VERNAL — The Bureau of Land Management welcomes Gary Torres, new district manager for the Green River District and key member of BLM-Utah’s leadership team. Gary brings a wealth of knowledge and over 26 years of experience in resource management to the Green River District.
“This feels like coming home,” Torres said. “It is good to be back in Utah and I look forward to working with the public and our partners, collaboratively tackling challenges and celebrating achievements in managing the amazing resources here in eastern Utah.”
Torres’ Utah ties go back to his grandfather who lived in Price and worked as a coal miner. Gary grew up in San Juan County in Monticello and learned to appreciate the value of the vast public lands surrounding his home. He began his career with the federal government as a mining engineer and gained valuable experience during the first 20 years spent in the Moab and Monticello Field Offices. His work as a petroleum engineer-geographic information specialist led to an interest in environmental planning. He also served as the supervisory planner for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices.
Later, Gary chose to leave federal service for a few years to broaden his planning experience and background working as a consultant in the private sector on a multitude of federal planning projects for various agencies. He returned to federal service as a district ranger in Idaho and then as a field manager and district manager in Farmington, New Mexico. Most recently, Gary worked for the BLM in Washington, D.C. as the deputy division chief for Fluid Minerals.
He said:
Being in the field and on the ground is important to me. I take my responsibility as a land steward very seriously, while still taking time to smile and appreciate the vast landscapes here in eastern Utah and all they have to offer, from beautiful vistas to minerals to recreation to wildlife habitat and a multitude of other values. Multiple-use is a great concept and I look forward to the challenge of responsible energy development
Gary will lead staff and oversee management of 4.2 million acres of public lands and 6.7 million acres of federal minerals in the Green River District, which encompasses the Price and Vernal Field Offices.
About the BLM
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.
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