Groups appeal BLM herbicide plan

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Two environmental groups are appealing a decision that would allow the Bureau of Land Management to use herbicides to control weeds and invasive plants in southeastern New Mexico.

The Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians are asking a U.S. Interior Department appeals board to halt any herbicide work in the BLM's Roswell district until the agency does a more thorough review of its plan.

The district covers nearly 1.5 million acres.

The BLM in May issued a final decision on a proposal to use herbicides to knock back weeds and other invasive plants that have taken over large areas of grassland in southeastern New Mexico.

The environmental groups contend the agency failed to adequately describe what it was planning on doing and it did not consider alternatives.