Feds Tell Utah Governor: Thanks But No Thanks
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of the Interior said no to Utah’s Governor’s appeal about the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument plan. Some of the Governor’s ideas were accepted, but many were turned down to keep the plan on track. This decision affects Utah’s land use and conservation efforts, with no big changes to costs or timing announced.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
OHV Access Limits and WSA Closures Remain
The BLM maintained OHV closures and closed Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in parts of the Monument to protect soils, watersheds, wildlife, and primitive area values. The BLM rejected the State's request to designate the entire Monument as OHV-limited and explained closures are needed to meet resource-protection rules.
Grazing Allotments Made Unavailable
The BLM decided certain grazing allotments in the Monument will remain unavailable to livestock grazing to protect ecological and hydrological functions. The RMP ties new or modified structural range improvements to a land health assessment within the last 10 years and to protection of Monument objects.
Commercial and Noncommercial Timber Limits Kept
The BLM kept limitations that effectively prohibit commercial timber harvest in much of the Monument and restrict noncommercial harvest in areas managed for wilderness characteristics to protect Monument objects and landscape values. The decision notes commercial harvest hasn't been authorized in over 20 years.
Overnight Camping Permit Requirement Stays
The BLM kept the Proposed RMP requirement that all overnight campers in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument obtain a free-use permit. The permit will be available in person or online, will not limit the number of permits, and is intended to share safety and resource-protection information.
Highway 89 Visual Protection Upheld
The BLM retained a VRM (Visual Resource Management) Class II designation for a four-mile segment of the Highway 89 utility corridor to protect the Cockscomb formation while still allowing utility access, maintenance, or development. The State's request for VRM Class IV or Class III for that corridor segment was not accepted.
Invasive Plant Management Expanded but Timeline Not Adopted
The BLM intends to expand allowable management of invasive plants, including Russian olive and tamarisk, where consistent with other plan direction, but did not adopt the State's exact goal language to eradicate these species by 2030. The BLM said its approach is not inconsistent with the State's overall objective.
R.S. 2477 Route Access Left Conditional
The BLM declined the State's request to open claimed R.S. 2477 routes (including the V-Road) now and said it will update management if routes are later determined to be held by the State or counties under R.S. 2477. Current closures or access decisions remain until such determinations occur.
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