Opinion ID: 159335
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Agency Expertise

Text: 64 Finally, IMC argues that the IBLA decision was arbitrary and capricious because it failed to defer to the BLM's determinations of technical matters. 15 We disagree. The IBLA may choose, but is not obligated, to defer to the BLM's technical determinations. See Deschutes River Landowners Comm., 136 I.B.L.A. 105, 110 (1996). We defer to the IBLA's determinations (not that of the BLM) in areas of its experience and expertise if supported by the record. See e.g., Colorado Pub. Util. Comm'n v. Harmon, 951 F.2d 1571, 1579 (10th Cir. 1991) (court should defer to agency's expertise). We defer to the IBLA's technical determinations and hold that the IBLA decision was not arbitrary and capricious.