Republican lawmakers are calling for states in the West to control more of their own land, instead of the federal government having the control. 

A group of lawmakers submitted a friend of the court brief to support Utah’s case before the U.S. Supreme Court as the state hopes to take control of 18.5 million acres of unappropriated land.

🏜️ What land is it?: The public land Utah wants to bring back under state control doesn’t include national parks, national monuments and national forests — much of it is desert scape or farm lands, not necessarily the photo-worthy landscapes some people think of when they hear the term public lands.

Here's what some of the lawmakers said:

• “This has to change, and I am proud to stand with Utah families — along with our entire congressional delegation — urging the Supreme Court to allow this case to move,” Sen. Mike Lee said. 
• “Whether or not the federal government can continue to indefinitely control more than 18 million acres of this land — which is currently unappropriated — should be considered,” said Sen. Mitt Romney. “Public lands are best managed by those closest to them.”
• “We’ve been asking for 50 years,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox when announcing the suit, referring to working with the federal government. “And not only are they not willing to negotiate or help on this at all, it’s the exact opposite. It’s not only ‘no,’ but, ‘hell no, and we’re going to close more of your roads and make it harder.”

Is there opposition to the idea?: Shortly after Utah filed its suit, team members at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) stopped by the Deseret News for an on-the-record editorial board meeting to argue in favor of keeping the lands in the hands of the federal government.

Opponents to the state’s lawsuit see it as corrosive to conservation by not having the federal government manage the lands. 

Read more about how western politicians are frustrated because so much of Utah land isn’t owned by the state.

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FROM OUR SPONSOR UTAH PUBLIC LANDS

Let Utah Manage Utah Land

Utah has filed a landmark lawsuit over control of unappropriated federal lands. State statute prohibits the privatization of public lands except in rare circumstances, underscoring Utah’s commitment to keeping public lands in public hands and locally controlled. Learn more: standforourland.utah.gov.

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