Salazar pans "No More Wilderness" Settlement at House Appropriations hearing Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar came well prepared to defend his budget choices to the House subcommittee on Interior and Environment yesterday, but one thing going on within his department was simply indefensible.   Salazar gave no sympathy to...

Good Eco-nomics: National monuments add green to local wallets "A sure-fire way to boost the economy in Western states is to designate a national monument or establish a national park, as past performance shows these landscapes bolster the surrounding communities with long-lasting jobs and revenue streams tied to much, much...

Utah's unsung natural resource: Hot air"Utahns have been up in Washington's grill over federal land forever. This year's Legislature carried on that work with a silly bill to assert the state's eminent domain on federal land unless the property was acquired by the federal government with the consent of the...

Former Utah BLM State Director praises needed oil and gas leasing reforms"The reforms Secretary Salazar has proposed will improve the front end of the development of federal oil and gas, avoiding conflicts and protecting land and water, while producing the public’s resources. Secretary Salazar and the BLM should also make...

Setting the record straight on wilderness in Utah“There has been an enormous shift in the Utah wilderness debate over the past two decades. As the commissioner notes, increasing amounts of land have gained administrative and legislative protection. And as Utah faces growth, there is an increasing appreciation for open space....