SUWA and partners challenge Utah land use plans
"The groups, including the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), assert that the BLM violated federal environmental laws by failing to identify and protect areas that have wilderness qualities and could qualify for congressional designation for permanent protection.
The plaintiffs also say the BLM ignored a federal regulation when it created thousands of miles of off-road motorized paths without studying the effects on wilderness or other resources." Read more – The Salt Lake Tribune
Other coverage:
Scrappy Utah organic farmer plows ahead
"Ramsley was concerned about impacts to the scenery, pollution in his water supply and the federally threatened and endangered cactus species that were being trampled by tire treads. As a result of his efforts, and with the help of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), the Bureau of Land Management closed 186,000 acres to ORV use around Factory Butte in 2006. Over 220 miles of trails and 2,600 acres remain open for ORVs.
'I don’t want to make any enemies,' Ramsley explained. 'It has been really hard having my life threatened, people flipping me the bird, honking horns at me, giving me the moon and harassing me in the auto parts store. All those things are no fun. But if I had to do it again, I would have to do it again because I have to sit with myself at night.'" Read more – New West
127 Hours puts Utah wilderness in focus
"But revisiting Utah's undulating mesas, claustrophobic slot canyons and exhilaratingly vast skies through Boyle's eyes made me want to return – which is just what Utah's tourism industry is counting on.
Some of the movie's props are reportedly on display at the travel council, including the Leatherman tool that figures prominently in a scene so intense that several moviegoers have fainted. The state hopes to market Utah with the film's title, and 'we're looking at trying to create itineraries, if you had 127 hours to spend in Utah, how would you spend it? On the ski slopes, playing golf, hiking in southern Utah,' travel chief Leigh von der Esch told KSL.com." Read more – USA Today
