Bennett Defends Land Sale in Washington County Bill

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Senator Bob Bennett continues to defend his bill addressing growth and conservation issues in Southern Utah. During a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands yesterday, Bennett specifically addressed criticism that he and co-sponsor Congressman Jim Matheson have been in the hands of developers to create the land management policy:

"We did not sit down with developers to say 'What land do you want to buy? therefore we'll carve it out and make it available to you,'" testified Bennett. "On the contrary with sat down with land managers and asked 'What land would make sense for you to divest yourself of because it is impossible to manage in the way some are asking you to manage?'"

The Washington County Land and Conservation Act calls for the sale of nearly 25,000 acres of public lands for development. Bennett says the plan is critical to make room for the exploding population in Washington County and still preserve open space. The measure is modeled after a controversial measure passed by Nevada Senator Harry Reid.

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