Of all southern Utah counties with large wilderness potential, Emery
seemed the best prepared to undertake a process to work through public lands
issues there. They’ve been actively
involved in preparing a number of bills for legislation over the past decade,
including a National Conservation Area and a National Monument Proposal. They have
an active Public Lands Council (PLC) to advise their commission and officials
from their public lands and economic development departments have spent a
considerable amount time for the past year developing a county plan to
incorporate as many of the needs of the numerous stakeholder groups as possible.
They freely acknowledge that this plan
will include wilderness designation.
Two years ago, when we approached
county officials about engaging in
wilderness discussions, they were well aware of SUWA’s record of stopping
legislation that we felt offered inadequate protection to the amazing and
unique wilderness in Utah, including Emery County. Given this history, they
acknowledged our role and invited us to participate.
In the year we’ve spent in the “information gathering stage”—going to
monthly PLC meetings, viewing proposed wilderness on the ground, and driving
hundreds of dirt miles during what we’ve felt have been very productive field
trips—we’ve had many open and frank and productive discussions.
Throughout the process we’ve developed trusting relationships with
county officials and many PLC members. We’ve all commented that were it up to this
small group, we could come up with legislation we could all stand behind.
Unfortunately county officials have drawn heavy criticism from local wilderness
opponents for working too closely with SUWA, whose interests they see at odds
with theirs. This has dampened any early optimism.
Today, the county is moving forward on crafting their own land use bill.
We feel that our being directly involved at this point would put us in the
difficult situation of needing to object to everything we disagree with, which
could potentially be quite a bit. We’ve recently sent the county a letter
advising them that since it seems that the process has moved beyond the
‘information gathering’ stage, while in no way are we abandoning the process, we are stepping back until their proposal
is complete.
Our interest is and always has been
Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA)—protection of large wild landscapes in the
and Labyrinth Canyons. Once Emery County has completed their bill, we look forward
to comparing it to ARRWA and working directly with them to address the
differences. Until then, we remain interested in their proposal and will fully
reengage whenever the county is ready to begin negotiations.
