LATEST FROM THE UTAH LEGISLATURE
‘We can’t wait’: Utah lawmakers ratchet up fight for federal lands 7 99BY ROBERT GEHRKE
The Salt Lake Tribune
First published Feb 21 2012 11:28AM
Updated Feb 21, 2012 10:47PMUtah lawmakers proposed aggressive steps Tuesday to wrest away control of millions of acres of federal lands, a move that would likely draw a protracted court battle, but supporters believe could bring billions of dollars to the state.
"It’s been 116 years that we’ve waited. We can’t wait any longer," said Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan. "Our children can’t wait any longer."
If successful, the measures would also give the state the authority to permit, or not permit, oil and gas exploration, grazing, mining, logging or vehicle travel across Utah’s national parks.
The package of public-lands bills breezed through the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday with one Salt Lake City Democrat, Rep. Joel Briscoe, opposing the measures.
Taken together, the bills would issue a demand to Congress that it transfer ownership of federal lands within Utah to the state by the end of 2014 — an arrangement proponents say was solemnized at Utah’s statehood but that opponents say is a misreading of the law.
If Congress and the White House fail to comply, the bills would allocate $3 million to begin litigation to force the federal government to relinquish ownership of the land.
"What we want and demand as a state is control of these lands," said Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, and a candidate for governor. "We can manage them, we can determine which ones would be sold, which we can keep to preserve some of the beautiful areas of our state … that we’d like to preserve for generations."
But Peter Metcalf, CEO of Utah-based Black Diamond Equipment, blasted the proposal, saying it is "demented and an insult to all Utahns."
"That’s just an absolutely ridiculous, egregious and stupid" proposal, Metcalf said.
Public lands have made the state a magnet for outdoor recreation, generating billions of dollars. But Utah has proven unable to manage its state parks, he said, so there is no reason to think the federal lands would be different.
"It’s one of those things where the Legislature is engaged in acts of stupidity to make a point," he said. "They would be terrible stewards of these lands. … [The lands would be] mortgaged for the benefit of a few large corporations and the losers would be the general public."
And Stephen Bloch, attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called it "political pandering at its absolute worst."
"These are public lands — owned by all Americans and our children and grandchildren — and are not to be sold off by parochial politicians hoping to help their corporate friends make a quick buck," Bloch said.
Legislative attorneys have warned that there is a "high probability" that the attempts to force federal action are illegal, since the U.S. Constitution explicitly grants Congress the authority to own property and enact laws regarding that property.
But Chief Deputy Attorney General John Swallow, who is campaigning for Utah attorney general, said that "we believe, from a legal standpoint, the proposals before you today are a reasoned" approach.
"You pass these bills," Swallow said, "and this office will aggressively defend the policies of the Legislature."
The Salt Lake Tribune
First published Feb 21 2012 11:28AM
Updated Feb 21, 2012 10:47PMUtah lawmakers proposed aggressive steps Tuesday to wrest away control of millions of acres of federal lands, a move that would likely draw a protracted court battle, but supporters believe could bring billions of dollars to the state.
"It’s been 116 years that we’ve waited. We can’t wait any longer," said Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan. "Our children can’t wait any longer."
If successful, the measures would also give the state the authority to permit, or not permit, oil and gas exploration, grazing, mining, logging or vehicle travel across Utah’s national parks.
The package of public-lands bills breezed through the House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday with one Salt Lake City Democrat, Rep. Joel Briscoe, opposing the measures.
Taken together, the bills would issue a demand to Congress that it transfer ownership of federal lands within Utah to the state by the end of 2014 — an arrangement proponents say was solemnized at Utah’s statehood but that opponents say is a misreading of the law.
If Congress and the White House fail to comply, the bills would allocate $3 million to begin litigation to force the federal government to relinquish ownership of the land.
"What we want and demand as a state is control of these lands," said Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, and a candidate for governor. "We can manage them, we can determine which ones would be sold, which we can keep to preserve some of the beautiful areas of our state … that we’d like to preserve for generations."
But Peter Metcalf, CEO of Utah-based Black Diamond Equipment, blasted the proposal, saying it is "demented and an insult to all Utahns."
"That’s just an absolutely ridiculous, egregious and stupid" proposal, Metcalf said.
Public lands have made the state a magnet for outdoor recreation, generating billions of dollars. But Utah has proven unable to manage its state parks, he said, so there is no reason to think the federal lands would be different.
"It’s one of those things where the Legislature is engaged in acts of stupidity to make a point," he said. "They would be terrible stewards of these lands. … [The lands would be] mortgaged for the benefit of a few large corporations and the losers would be the general public."
And Stephen Bloch, attorney with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called it "political pandering at its absolute worst."
"These are public lands — owned by all Americans and our children and grandchildren — and are not to be sold off by parochial politicians hoping to help their corporate friends make a quick buck," Bloch said.
Legislative attorneys have warned that there is a "high probability" that the attempts to force federal action are illegal, since the U.S. Constitution explicitly grants Congress the authority to own property and enact laws regarding that property.
But Chief Deputy Attorney General John Swallow, who is campaigning for Utah attorney general, said that "we believe, from a legal standpoint, the proposals before you today are a reasoned" approach.
"You pass these bills," Swallow said, "and this office will aggressively defend the policies of the Legislature."
Salt Lake Tribune endorses wilderness for Cedar MesaSalt Lake Tribune, August 4, 2010
"Scenic plateau should be wilderness," says the Salt Lake Tribune. Read the editorial Wilds bill may include national park expansionSan Juan Record, August 18, 2010
While the proposed San Juan County Wilderness Bill is on hold because of the January 1, 2011 departure of Robert Bennett from the U.S. Senate, there remains a strong interest in maintaining the momentum to solve the longstanding wilderness debate. Read more |
Future of Cedar Mesa lingers in limboby Patty Henetz, Salt Lake Tribune, July 22, 2010
San Juan County residents who don’t want Sen. Bob Bennett’s land bill to die have formed a grassroots organization, Friends of Cedar Mesa, to keep citizens in the loop while wilderness-designation discussions hang in limbo. Mark Meloy, a retired river ranger for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, says Friends of Cedar Mesa seeks to let the citizens’ voice be part of any wilderness or other conservation protections for the region in southeastern Utah. Read more |
"Come to Jesus" group joins radical environmentalists to lock down San Juanby Buckley Jensen,
San Juan Record, June 30, 2010 |
Letter to the editora response to Buckley Jensen's June 30 column, by Mark Meloy, July 14, 2010.
|
Friends of Cedar Mesa Launch New WebsiteJuly 7, 2010
Story not available on San Juan Record website; click "fullscreen" at right to read it here. |
|
In other news |
ATVs threatening 10 Utah "treasures"by Brandon Loomis
Salt Lake Tribune, July 9, 2010 |
New website offers information about San Juan public landsMoab Times-Independent, July 2010
|
SUWA lists its 10 most threatened places in Utahby Amy Joi O'Donoghue
Deseret News, July 8, 2010 |
New day dawns at Southern Utah's Moon Houseby Patty Henetz
Salt Lake Tribune, May 18, 2010 |
Wilderness after Senator Bennettby Dan Bammes
KUER, June 21, 2010 |
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/01/earliest-evidence-of-chocolate-i.html
|
San Juan County wilderness protection is vital to all Utahnsby George Handley and Stephen Trimble
Deseret News, June 20, 2010 |
