Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Utah tries to seize 18 million acres of public land
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Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Utah's Desolation Canyon, part of the national public land the state is attempting to seize. Photo courtesy Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance ([link removed])

The state of Utah announced a lawsuit that aims to seize control of more than 18 million acres ([link removed]) of national public land in the state. The lawsuit, which several legal scholars said is baseless and unlikely to succeed ([link removed]) , asks the U.S. Supreme Court to give the state ownership of what Utah calls "unappropriated" public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Bret Birdsong, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told E&E News ([link removed]) that the property clause of the U.S. Constitution has long been interpreted “to provide Congress with essentially unlimited authority to determine the use or transfer of public lands.”

Professor Mark Squillace of the University of Colorado called the lawsuit “more a political stunt than anything else.” Squillace explained that the 1894 law granting Utah statehood included a promise that the state wouldn't make any claim on federal lands.

“This is directly contrary to what they agreed to when they became a state,” Squillace told the Associated Press ([link removed]) . “The courts have made a more conservative turn, but I don’t think even this Supreme Court is likely to overcome the quite clear law and Constitutional provisions that would bar Utah from taking over public lands.”

Conservation groups, including the Center for Western Priorities, blasted the lawsuit as a waste of time and money.

“This lawsuit isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,” said CWP Deputy Director Aaron Weiss ([link removed]) . “Governor Cox and the state legislature need to make a U-turn before they waste millions of taxpayer dollars enriching out-of-state lawyers on this pointless lawsuit.”


** Quick hits
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Utah sues for control over half the national public land in the state

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed]) | KUER ([link removed]) | KSL ([link removed]) | ABC4 ([link removed]) | Reuters
([link removed]) | States Newsroom ([link removed])

Utah lawmakers hatch second plan to seize federal lands in 2025 legislative session

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])

Opinion: Hunters and anglers call for Biden to designate Dolores River Canyons National Monument

Colorado Newsline ([link removed])

Joshua trees bloom more often with climate change. Here's why people are worried

Los Angeles Times ([link removed])

Opinion: Fixing the West's 'corner crossing' problem will require collaboration

Washington Post ([link removed])

How close are Earth's climate tipping points?

New York Times ([link removed])

BLM director: Public lands can only serve future generations if we conserve them

Idaho Statesman ([link removed])

An elite rock climber lost his vision then found a way to climb blind

Washington Post ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” There is room for Utah to work more effectively with the federal government on matters involving water, energy and natural resource management. Unfortunately, today’s lawsuit will only make responsible and collaborative stewardship more difficult.”

—John Ruple, director of the Stegner Center Law and Policy Program at the University of Utah School of Law, E&E News ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@usfws ([link removed])
Brace for impact!

Northern harriers fly low over grasslands, prairies and marshes when hunting for small prey.
North America’s only harrier has owl-like facial disks that help them hear voles, mice, lizards, snakes, frogs and other potential prey when flying overhead.

This northern harrier was seen making an attack landing at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer in southwest Washington.

USFWS photo: Jake Bonello

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