Federal Wilderness Designation for Utah Public Lands?
Feb 27, 2008 by Jeff Robinson
Utah Lawmakers Urge Congress to Say No
Should more than nine million acres of Utah public lands be designated as federal wilderness? The answer of many Utah legislators is a firm "no." A resolution encouraging the U.S. Congress not to pass America's Red Rock Wilderness Act has already passed the Utah house, and is likely to be approved by the Utah senate. State lawmakers are painting it as a battle that pits environmental extremists against energy developers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts. But environmentalists say lawmakers have their facts wrong. KCPW's Jeff Robinson found out what both sides have to say.
Utah's House Joint Resolution 10 urging Congress not to pass the Wilderness Act will next be heard on the Senate Floor after being passed out of committee.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2008 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Geezer said:
If they don't want to save the areas in the 9 million-acre proposal, which areas do they want to save? The land can't save itself. Have those legislators ever heard the expression "put up or shut up"?
2. Adam said:
Yet another land-grab by the Feds of state property. They need to be more selective about land they choose to preserve. The Escalante National Monument is a perfect expample. It is a mixture of some of the most amazing landscape and some of the most barren. Utah is losing a lot of resources and farmers are losing a lot of grazing land that has no aesthetic value whatsoever. I bet that 80% of the proposed protection area is flat, sun-baked scrub land that would look more interesting with a coal mine on it than it does now. The other 20% is probably worth saving no matter what resources it holds.