this report licensed via Creative Commons
SALT LAKE CITY --
Late this afternoon, Rep. Mike Noel (R-Kanab) will introduce a concurrent resolution to the House standing committee on natural resources, agriculture and the environment. This "message to Washington" is expected to receive swift approval and opposes Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's "re-inventory" of acreage which may eventually designate some within the state of Utah as "wild lands." Such a re-inventory classification could affect the commercial or recreational uses normally associated with vacant BLM land, which includes 20 million acres in the Beehive State where much of that acreage is already under use plans which receive public scrutiny. Supporters of the resolution say that a significant amount is still undesignated as to use that might involve mineral and energy-related resources. Utah's Governor Gary Herbert was scheduled to testify to congress today on this very contentious issue. (See related story)
Mike Noel, right, with executive from Reagan Outdoor Advertising
in committee testimony on unrelated bill Photo: Michael Orton
Utah legislators and extraction industries representatives term the re-inventory a "land grab" on the part of the federal government but many of Utah's continuous residents own properties originally homesteaded during the Cleveland administration in the latter part of the 19th century. Currently, lawmakers are reacting as strongly as did the conservation and environmental supporters during the end of the Bush administration when several hundred of Utah's public lands acres were put up for auction in oil and gas leases. That action led to the arrest and trial of environmental activist Tim DeChristopher which began yesterday in federal court. DeChristopher is accused of fraudulently bidding on leases he had no intention of buying, primarily doing so as a disruption tactic which he has termed an act of "civil disobedience."
The resolution is expected to leave committee with a favorable recommendation later this afternoon. Text of the resolution here.
Video of the discussion is available via ImageProviders
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