Utah Politicians Bring Litigation to Seize 18 Million Acres of Public Lands in Utah
Utah has often been described as “ground zero” for anti-public lands efforts. Yesterday, the state’s leaders took this sentiment to a whole new extreme. The Governor and Utah’s elected leadership proudly announced the state had filed a lawsuit at the US Supreme Court that would turn over 18.5 million acres of federal public lands to the state.
Make no mistake: this is an unprecedented land grab. It would take public lands and give them to the State of Utah and ultimately to developers and extractive industries. The consequences for Southern Utah—beloved places like Labyrinth Canyon, the Dirty Devil, the Deep Creek Mountains, and Fisher Towers—would be beyond devastating. If the state wins, it would cause chaos and similar lawsuits affecting nearly 200 million acres of land across the Western US and Alaska.
It’s beyond outrageous and we’ll be fighting it in every way we can. Over the coming weeks and months, we will keep you informed on this latest fool’s errand and what we’re doing to stop it. You can read our statement from yesterday as well as news coverage from the Salt Lake Tribune, Fox 13, the Associated Press, and Utah News Dispatch.
Take Action: Support Restoration Rooted in Native Species Conservation!
In July, the Deer Springs fire burned across 11,000-acres in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Though wildland fire can be a scary sight on the landscape, it is a natural part of most ecosystems in the west, including piñon juniper woodlands on the Colorado Plateau. After a wildland fire, there is limited time for land managers, in this case, the BLM, to request funding and assistance with post-fire restoration. For the Deer Springs fire, the agency is holding a short, 7-day comment period where members of the public may weigh in on proposed restoration work in the burn area.
We are asking members to submit comments encouraging BLM to take a native ecosystem-focused approach to its restoration activities. This means that any post-fire projects BLM undertakes should be rooted in conservation. This includes using low-impact stabilization methods to prevent erosion and invasive species, preserving the surviving vegetation and biological soil crusts throughout the larger burn area, and ensuring that only native species are used in seeding activities. The agency is accepting comments through Wednesday, August 28th.
>> Click here to take action
Photo © SUWA
Developer Withdraws Proposal for Giant Communications Tower in Heart of Bears Ears National Monument
In case you missed the great news, a proposal for a 480-foot communications tower in the heart of Bears Ears National Monument has been withdrawn! Big thanks to everyone who signed our petition and spoke up in opposition to what former San Juan County commissioner and Navajo Nation Council Delegate Mark Maryboy described as “a spear in the heart of the Bears Ears area.”
On July 29, SUWA and 7 other groups submitted a formal “Request for Environmental Review of the Proposed Bears Ears Site,” challenging the developer’s application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and demanding a full Environmental Impact Statement. We called out the FCC and the applicant for their failures to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and for their failure to consult with numerous tribes that have significant cultural ties to Bears Ears, including the Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation.
The proposed tower, and its blinking red lights, would have been visible from across much of the monument, as well as from Natural Bridges National Monument, the first ever Dark Sky Park. Our close scrutiny of the project—an “unforeseen circumstance”—made the developer reconsider its controversial proposal, and over 4,000 people who signed our petition agreed that Bears Ears was no place for a 480-foot tower!
>> Read our full press release
>> Read the Salt Lake Tribune’s coverage
Photo © Stephen Trimble
SUWA and Coalition Granted Intervention in Multi-State NEPA Challenge
Earlier this summer, we reported that a group of 21 conservative states, including Utah, filed litigation challenging the Biden administration’s “Phase II” National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. SUWA, along with a coalition of other conservation, environmental justice, and labor groups, swiftly moved to intervene on behalf of the United States to defend the Phase II regulations, which seek to restore certainty, efficiency, transparency, and meaningful public engagement in federal decision-making.
Now, we’re happy to announce that our intervention has been granted and we are able to participate as full parties to the lawsuit. As this lawsuit progresses, we’ll continue to do everything we can to help ensure the Phase II NEPA regulations remain in effect as a crucial tool to protect America’s redrock wilderness. Stay tuned.
Photo © Ray Bloxham/SUWA
Washington County Files Lawsuit in Relentless Quest to Carve a Highway through Red Cliffs NCA
In its latest attempt to circumvent public opinion and thoughtful land use planning, Washington County has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to reinstate an inadequate Trump-era environmental review supporting the controversial Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.
The county’s lawsuit comes at a time when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are preparing a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to reconsider their 2021 approval of a right-of-way for the proposed four-lane highway. This SEIS is a result of an earlier lawsuit filed by local, regional and national conservation groups.
“Now is the time for thorough, intentional, and collaborative planning from the County rather than a single-minded focus on a destructive highway,“ said Holly Snow Canada, executive director of Conserve Southwest Utah. “Instead of working together to find a reasonable solution to the issues confronting Washington County residents, Washington County is trying to revive what has proven to be a failed and widely-unpopular approach which hinges on ignoring the science and the law and forcing an unnecessary and unworkable high-speed highway through a National Conservation Area. We should expect more from our elected representatives.”
>> Read our full press release
Photo © Bob Wick/BLM
New Rule Streamlines BLM Process for Temporary Closure Notifications
On August 7, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released an updated rule related to its authority to temporarily close or restrict access to certain public lands, including roads, trails, and waterways. The updated rule will improve the BLM’s ability to quickly respond to changing conditions on public lands.
For example, the updates streamline how the BLM notifies the public of temporary closures and restrictions, allowing the agency to alert the public by notifying local media outlets and posting information online rather than requiring a formal “Federal Register” notice (a time-consuming process that ultimately doesn’t do a great job of telling “the public” what’s happening on the ground). It will also allow the BLM to make closures or restrictions effective immediately instead of requiring a 30-day waiting period. This will enable the agency to respond quickly to emergencies or other unforeseen events.
The updated rule also clarifies the reasons for which the BLM may issue closures or restrictions: not only to protect persons, property, public lands, or public resources, but also to avoid conflicts among public land users and to ensure the privacy of Tribal activities for traditional or cultural use.
At the highest level, the updated rule gives the BLM some much-needed flexibility to act swiftly and protect public lands and resources.
Schedule a Wild Utah Presentation in Your Area!
Our grassroots organizers are always on the lookout for places to present our Wild Utah video and educate new audiences about the movement to protect America’s redrock wilderness. Currently, our Southwest and Midwest organizers are seeking interested groups and venues in the cities and congressional districts listed below. If your school, church, outdoor club, or organization would like to schedule a presentation, please reach out to the appropriate organizer for your region.
Southwest Region (contact Kaya Tate, kaya@suwa.org)
Seeking interested groups/venues in northern New Mexico (Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas).
Midwest Region (contact Chris Riccardo at chris@suwa.org)
Seeking interested groups/venues in Illinois (Rep. Robin Kelly’s district), northwest Indiana (Rep. Frank Mrvan’s district), Michigan (Rep. Debbie Dingell’s district, Rep. Dan Kildee’s district, and Rep. Shri Thanedar’s district), and Ohio (Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s district).
Photo © SUWA
