This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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 pattern of state land purchases highlighted in Brian Maffly's exhaustive Nov. 6 article, "'Family Farm' has spent millions buying acres of state land for unknown purposes," exemplifies the concerns that I and many others harbor regarding the transfer of public land in Utah. Specifically, the machinations of shadowy front companies like Lyman Family Farm, and SITLA's practice of hiding behind the strict interpretation of their charter in indiscriminately selling off precious public lands to whomever writes the biggest check, reflect an attitude toward public land that prioritizes profit and private interest, over protection and access.
Given these misguided priorities, it is understandable that many different groups within and outside Utah have been calling on President Barack Obama to designate a national monument at Bears Ears. In the absence of further protection through national monuments and wilderness designation, it seems certain that more and more of Utah's public land will be sold to private interests like Lyman Family Farms, and the scenic and cultural treasures they harbor forever closed to public enjoyment.
Brendan R. Hurst
Columbus, Ohio