H. Res. 1540 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
December 8, 2010. 
Whereas Mexican drug trafficking organizations have estab-
lished robust and dangerous marijuana plantations on 
Federal lands managed by the United States Forest 
Service and the Bureau of Land Management; 
Whereas the Office of National Drug Control Policy reported 
that 1,800,000 marijuana plants were eradicated from 
Federal lands in 2006, 2,890,000 marijuana plants were 
eradicated in 2007, and 4,000,000 marijuana plants were 
eradicated in 2008; 
Whereas former Director of National Drug Control Policy 
John P. Walters declared in 2007: ‘‘America’s public 
lands are under attack. Instead of being appreciated as 
national treasures, they are being exploited and destroyed 
by foreign drug trafficking organizations and heavily 
armed Mexican marijuana cartels who have turned them 
into ground zero for drug cultivation. These violent drug 
traffickers are endangering America’s outdoor enthu-
siasts and sportsmen, and the sensitive ecosystems of our 
wilderness.’’; 
Whereas the illicit drug trade undermines the rule of law and 
has a detrimental impact in communities across our Na-
tion;
•HRES 1540 EH 
Whereas Mexican drug traffickers use the revenue generated 
from marijuana production on Federal lands to support 
criminal activities, including human trafficking and illicit 
weapons smuggling, and to foster political unrest in Mex-
ico; 
Whereas drug traffickers have committed acts of violence 
against United States citizens and have fired upon law 
enforcement officers to protect their marijuana crops; 
Whereas, on October 8, 2000, an 8-year-old boy and his fa-
ther were shot by drug traffickers while hunting in El 
Dorado National Forest; 
Whereas, on June 16, 2009, law enforcement officers with 
the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department were wounded 
by gunfire from drug traffickers during the investigation 
of a marijuana plantation on Bureau of Land Manage-
ment property; 
Whereas drug traffickers place booby traps that contain live 
shotgun shells on marijuana plantations; 
Whereas the American people should not be subjected to vio-
lence while enjoying our Nation’s recreation areas; 
Whereas marijuana plantations pose a significant threat to 
the environmental health of Federal lands; 
Whereas drug traffickers spray considerable quantities of un-
regulated chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers; 
Whereas drug traffickers divert streams and other waterways 
to construct complex irrigation systems; 
Whereas it costs the Federal Government $11,000 to restore 
one acre of forest on which marijuana is being cultivated;
•HRES 1540 EH 
Whereas the Federal Government is fundamentally respon-
sible for protecting our Nation’s Federal lands and the 
citizens who recreate on them; 
Whereas local law enforcement agencies are currently bearing 
the brunt of the burden of eradicating marijuana cultiva-
tion and enforcing Federal drug laws on Federal lands; 
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration and law en-
forcement from the United States Forest Service, the Bu-
reau of Land Management, and the Department of 
Homeland Security are providing valuable but inadequate 
resources in combating marijuana production on Federal 
lands; 
Whereas coordination among Federal agencies and among 
Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies is es-
sential to curtailing marijuana growth on Federal lands; 
Whereas targeted joint law enforcement interdiction raids 
have brought forth significant but short-lived successes in 
combating marijuana production on Federal lands; 
Whereas Federal law enforcement should develop and pursue 
a balanced strategy that seeks to eradicate the illicit pro-
duction of marijuana on Federal lands, and to inves-
tigate, detain, and bring drug traffickers to justice; and 
Whereas the creation of a long-term, Federal-led strategy is 
essential to eliminating illicit marijuana cultivation on 
Federal lands: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) declares that drug trafficking organizations cul-
tivating illicit marijuana on Federal lands in the United 
States pose an unacceptable threat to the safety of law 
enforcement and the public;
•HRES 1540 EH 
(2) affirms that it is the responsibility of the Fed-
eral Government to confront the threat of illicit mari-
juana cultivation on Federal lands; and 
(3) calls upon the Director of the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy to work in conjunction with Federal 
and State agencies to develop a comprehensive and co-
ordinated strategy to permanently dismantle Mexican 
drug trafficking organizations operating on Federal 
lands. 
Attest: 
Clerk.