- Environmental groups denounce a sweeping public-lands bill proposed for eastern Utah.
Environmental groups are denouncing a sweeping public-lands bill being proposed for eastern Utah, but its sponsor, Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, says it is a balanced proposal with something for everyone. The discussion draft unveiled Wednesday would establish more than 4 million acres of wilderness and national conservation areas in seven counties, including San Juan County. It would earmark another 1 million acres for expedited economic development such as energy extraction. It would designate 400 miles of wild and scenic river, including a 22-mile stretch of the Dolores River in Utah. However, environmentalists say the bill creates “second-class wilderness” lacking adequate protections. They criticize the fact that it would designate a 1.1-million-acre Bears Ears national conservation area in San Juan County rather than the 1.9-million-acre national monument called for by a coalition of Native American tribes. Provisions giving 10,000 acres of federal public land to the state and banning presidents from future monument designations were also criticized. But Bishop told the Salt Lake Tribune if the bill fails, litigation is guaranteed to continue. He hopes to get it passed before President Obama declares a national monument instead.
