Earlier quoted context omitted.
BLM was required (to sell it) by Congress in the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, as the alternative was to not offer any H to the market due to the authorization to sell expiring. Sponsored by a Republican and passed basically unanimously with the proceeds used to pay of the debt (back when we cared about that)
Wouldn't another alternative be to renew the authorization to sell? This doesn't seem much different from just deciding to sell it.
But yeah, that would make more sense.