Utah’s real ‘land grab’ [View all]

[Coyotl]

Markham: Utah’s real ‘land grab’
By ty markham
First Published Mar 23 2013 01:01 am • Last Updated Mar 23 2013 01:01 am
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/56024594-82/utah-lands-public-state.html.csp

With a residence and business in southern Utah, I have a deep connection to our public lands, and not only because they serve as the anchor for my business and livelihood. The redrock deserts, canyons, towering cliffs and aspen-layered mountains are my soul’s way to transcend the weariness of everyday life.

So I’m not surprised that thousands of Utahns agree that our public lands are a valuable resource. Recent polling by Colorado College’s "State of the Rockies" project shows vast majorities support protection of our public lands. In Utah, 96 percent agree that public lands are essential to the state’s economy. When given the most up-to-date information on proposals to sell off public lands, 67 percent of Utahns are opposed.

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First, it takes a lot of money to manage that amount of land. Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service spend over $650 million a year to manage our public lands.

Second, our Legislature struggles to find the money just to manage our state parks. So how would Utah find the resources to properly manage another 30 million acres? ...........