What the Public Lands Initiative would do

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Bears Ears, seen on the upper left horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Bears Ears, seen on the horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Looking south beyond the Colorado River, is the northern most boundary of the proposed Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah, which is subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Bears Ears, seen on the horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, speaks in support at unveiling of a "discussion draft" of a Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20. Congressman Jason Chaffetz and bill sponsor Congressman Rob Bishop, right. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Congressman Rob Bishop shows a poster criticising his views of federal land use as Congressman Jason Chaffetz chuckles. Bishop said that it was an old photo of him 60 lbs. heavier and that a new photo should be used. The three then unveield a "discussion draft" of their Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan 20. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, speaks in support at unveiling of a "discussion draft" of a Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20 as bill sponsor Congressman Rob Bishop and Congressman Jason Chaffetz talk at right. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, center, with Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz, right, unveil a "discussion draft" of their Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lockhart Basin, seen south of the Colorado River, falls within the boundary of the proposed Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah, which is subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

1 of 9

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune The Bears Ears, seen on the upper left horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune The Bears Ears, seen on the horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Looking south beyond the Colorado River, is the northern most boundary of the proposed Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah, which is subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune The Bears Ears, seen on the horizon, and its surrounding areas in southeastern Utah, are subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, speaks in support at unveiling of a "discussion draft" of a Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20. Congressman Jason Chaffetz and bill sponsor Congressman Rob Bishop, right. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Congressman Rob Bishop shows a poster criticising his views of federal land use as Congressman Jason Chaffetz chuckles. Bishop said that it was an old photo of him 60 lbs. heavier and that a new photo should be used. The three then unveield a "discussion draft" of their Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan 20. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, speaks in support at unveiling of a "discussion draft" of a Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20 as bill sponsor Congressman Rob Bishop and Congressman Jason Chaffetz talk at right. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, center, with Utah Governor Gary Herbert, left, and Congressman Jason Chaffetz, right, unveil a "discussion draft" of their Public Lands Initiative bill affecting 18 million acres in seven eastern Utah counties at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 20. Bishop intends on introducing the bill in congress in the next few weeks. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Lockhart Basin, seen south of the Colorado River, falls within the boundary of the proposed Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah, which is subject to a possible National Monument designation by President Obama under the Antiquities Act for protection. EcoFlight recently flew journalists, tribal people and activists over the northern portion of the proposed 1.9 million acre site in an effort to push for permanent protection from impacts caused by resource extraction and high-impact public use.

By Matt Canham The Salt Lake Tribune

· July 15, 2016 11:29 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

• Create 41 new wilderness areas, including 52,300 acres near Dinosaur National Monument, 175,500 acres in the Book Cliffs, 257,600 acres in Canyonlands and 223,566 acres in Cedar Mesa.

• Form 11 national conservation areas, including 530,400 acres of the San Rafael Swell.

• Free up roughly 80,000 acres of wilderness study areas, including 20,400 acres of Desolation Canyon, for other uses.

• Create sportsmen special management areas in the Book Cliffs, Desolation Canyon, Nine Mile Canyon and White River areas.

• Expand Arches National Park by 18,800 acres.

• Establish Jurassic National Monument at the Cleveland-Lloyd dinosaur-fossil quarry.

• Create the Bears Ears National Conservation Area.

• Expand the wild and scenic rivers designation to segments of the Colorado, Dolores, Green and San Juan rivers.

• Consolidate school trust lands.

• Shift 10,000 acres from federal to state control to expand Goblin Valley State Park.

• Transfer 13,300 federal acres to create Price Canyon State Forest.

• Designate a right of way through Recapture Canyon.

• Establish a Red Rock Country off-highway vehicle trail in Grand and San Juan counties.

• Seek to speed up permitting for energy-development projects.

• Work to maintain current grazing rights.

• Create the Public Lands Initiative Planning and Implementation Advisory Committee made up of community and government leaders already involved in the negotiations.

• A second bill would block a president's use of the Antiquities Act to create or expand a national monument in these seven counties: Summit, Uintah, Duchesne, Carbon, Grand, Emery and San Juan.