This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The idea that Western states should somehow take ownership, or force the privatization, of the many millions of acres of federal land that sit in those states, has been proposed in many places. But seems to be most popular in Utah.

From our friends at the Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune:

— 500 rally against lands transfer — Karl Puckett | Great Falls Tribune

"HELENA – Some 500 Montanans filled the state Capitol rotunda Monday for a rally denouncing proposals in the Legislature to transfer federal lands to state management, which some argue would improve management.

" 'Not on my watch,' said Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock, shouting into the microphone to thunderous applause and calling the proposal a 'silly scheme.'

"About 140 people traveled to the 'keep public lands public' by bus from Butte, Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, Missoula and Livingston. The transportation was arranged by the Montana Wilderness Association and the Montana Wildlife Federation.

"MWA estimated the crowd at 500.

" 'We want it to stay the way it is, right?' said Maxine Baker, turning toward her friend, Flossie Thomas, on why she showed up.

"Between them, the two women from Anaconda held a sign that said, 'Keep Public Lands in Public Hands, No Utah Wingnut Ideas Here in Montana.' ... "

From Sunday's Salt Lake Tribune:

— Utah is lone cowboy trying to wrangle public lands — Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... Three years after Utah's passage of the Public Lands Transfer Act, no other Western state has enacted a similar law ordering the feds to hand the land over. Nor has any state asked to join an interstate compact the Legislature established in 2014 to advance the land transfer movement. ..."

— Poll: Utahns only westerners who still want federal land transfer — Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune

" ... While many westerners may view their state governments more favorably than they view the feds, a majority oppose transferring public lands to the states, a survey released Thursday by the Center for American Progress found.

"By a 52-42 margin, residents of eight intermountain states said they opposed taking over federal lands in their states, despite their frustrations with federal government gridlock.

"In Utah however, those numbers are flipped, with 52 percent of those polled supporting the idea of a transfer and 40 percent opposed. The idea is popular among conservatives and enshrined in a Utah law demanding the federal government hand over 30 million acres by the end of this year. ..."

Also:

— Legal scholars predict Utah land transfer takes the public out of public lands — The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/6/15

"Be careful what you wish for, Utah.

"Acquiring title to 31 million acres of public lands could lead to less public access, less public involvement in land-use decisions and perhaps a better chance that imperiled plants and animals win federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

"Those and other unintended consequences could await Utahns if state leaders succeed in their fight to wrest control of federal lands, according to a new report by the University of Utah law school's Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment. ..."

— Don't let Gov. Herbert dismantle our outdoor economy — Bruce Babbitt | For The Salt Lake Tribune, 1/31/15

" ... Inspired by the anti-government fervor of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and funded by oil, gas and mining interests, Gov. Gary Herbert and a fringe of politicians are working to seize the national forests, national monuments, wildlife refuges and public lands that are the engines of America's $646 billion outdoor recreation industry. ..."

— Despite rhetoric, Utah is quite capable of managing federal lands — James V. Hansen | For The Salt Lake Tribune, 2/14/15

" ... Control of our public lands by a federal government $18 trillion in debt threatens these goals. Increasingly, limits on resources force our federal partners to cut back their management efforts. Our forests are dying and at growing risk of catastrophic fire. The National Parks maintenance backlog is overwhelming. Recreational facilities are deteriorating. Access is increasingly limited in areas important to the outdoor industry. Scarce federal dollars go to defend against a flood of lawsuits and, too often, judges, rather than agency professionals, set public-land policy. The status quo isn't working. ..."