This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
The Utah House adopted a blueprint for how to manage tens of millions of acres of land if the state succeeds in a lawsuit demanding the federal government turn over the land.
"Whether we file a lawsuit, whether we continue to negotiate, whether we litigate or whether we go in and legislate, we have to have a plan … so people can understand what we're doing is responsible. It's not reckless," said Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab.
The state is contemplating filing a lawsuit — at a projected cost of $14 million — that claims the state is entitled to ownership of more than 30 million acres of federal land within the state borders.
Noel said the bill envisions "multiple use" management for whatever lands the state receives, including promoting grazing, wildlife habitat, mineral production, recreation, timber production and wilderness conservation.
Noel said he envisions that there would be areas that are "going to be left like it was when the good Lord made the Earth."
The legislation guarantees all existing water, grazing and other rights on the federal lands will continue to be honored and all existing rights of way recognized. It would create a state department and various accounts to manage the timber, oil, gas and mineral resources.
The new management structure would be triggered once the state took control of 100,000 acres of federal land. An effort by Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, to raise the threshold to 1 million acres, failed.
The bill passed the House 62-10 and moves to the Senate for further consideration.