Polemics surrounding proposed planning for federal land in San Juan County all seem to hinge on the fate of Cedar Mesa wilderness. Fact, rumor and innuendo all favor protection for the fabulous Native American cultural sites on Cedar Mesa. An important barometer of public opinion, the Salt Lake Tribune, recently endorsed that wild hub of southeast Utah for Congressional wilderness designation.

This huge endorsement will not go unnoticed as Utah’s delegation of elected officials decides how to proceed with the “dialogue” that finally results in a Congressional bill. In reality the dialogue remains behind closed doors, a discussion between San Juan County officials and Utah senators. The “dialogue” has resulted in no public proposals and yet there is the suggestion that a bill might miraculously appear in the near future. To suggest all citizens are involved is nonsense.

A truly bad bill is one that uses wilderness on Cedar Mesa as a political hostage to release other wild areas in the county from future protection. If Cedar Mesa is to get the wilderness protection most people recognize it deserves, that wilderness proposal should come with no strings attached. The broad strokes of land use planning for an area the size and diversity of San Juan County should come only after major opportunity for public participation. Friends of Cedar Mesa await that larger process to unfold. 
—Mark Meloy

Meloy meets with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. America's Great Outdoors listening session, August 3, 2010, Salt Lake City.