The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument would be one of the casualties of Herbert’s crusade.  Copyright James Kay

Some Utah politicians, including the Governor, never waste an opportunity to indulge in criticism of the federal agencies that manage the nation’s public lands, including BLM lands in Utah.  But there’s new proof that when they do so they are out of step with Utahns and others across the West who express strong support for protecting these special places.

In a cross-cutting survey of attitudes toward public land protection in six Western states, researchers found that Utahns are right on par with the rest of westerners in support of conservation.  The Colorado College State of the Rockies Project’s Conservation in the West Survey found:

• 76% of Utahns think that we can protect air, water and land resources while at the same time maintaining a good economy.
• Over 90% said that national parks and monuments are both essential parts of the state’s economy and quality of life.

With such compelling support for conservation, you’d think the priorities of Utah politicians, like Governor Gary Herbert, would reflect this reality by supporting new protections for Utah’s remarkable redrock wilderness.

Think again.

Instead, the governor is channeling the worst of his inner “Sagebrush Rebel” by using a 19th century law — R.S. 2477, repealed more than 30 decades ago — as the basis for a massive lawsuit to establish control over “highways” across federal public lands, virtually immune from federal regulation.  Please call Governor Herbert at 800-705-2464 and ask him to stop his attack on our precious public lands.

These “highways,” many of which are actually hiking trails, dry stream beds and cow paths, would invite rampant and destructive off-road vehicle use and create obstacles to the protection of proposed wilderness lands.  Soil erosion, noise, water pollution, and degraded native plant and wildlife habitat would all result.

What’s worse, many of these claimed “roads” cut through some of Utah’s crown jewels, found in the recent survey to be so important to Utah’s economy and quality of life, including Zion, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks as well as the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

Does Governor Herbert really think bringing off-road vehicles into places like the Muley Twist of Capitol Reef or Hackberry Canyon in the Grand Staircase is going to help bring more people to the state and improve Utahns’ quality of life?

Now is your chance to act and tell Governor Herbert that his misguided crusade against the federal government has gone too far. Call Gary Herbert today (800-705-2464) and tell him to stop the land grab!

Posted by Richard Peterson-Cremer

Today, House Republicans are continuing their unprecedented attacks on our special places – including the redrock canyon country of southern Utah.  This time, they’re going after the Antiquities Act, which gives the President the authority to designate national monuments.  In fact, one bill won’t do – today, they’re taking testimony on five separate bills, including one from Rep. Rob Bishop, which would place Utah off limits to any future national monument designations.  This short-sighted proposal removes the President’s most important conservation tool.  Please urge your member of Congress to oppose this attack on our national monuments.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Copyright James Kay.

In Utah, the crown jewels of the National Park System were originally national monuments and when Arches was first designated, locals and the Congressional delegation alike cried bloody murder.  Today, you’d get the same reaction if anyone tried to undo the protections afforded by Arches, Zion and Bryce – all first protected under the authority of the Antiquities Act.  And with the intervening 15 years, Utahns, including local residents, now appreciate the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, designated in 1996.  For as Headwaters Economics pointed out, the economies of gateway towns like Kanab, Boulder and Escalante have shown sustained growth since the designation.  National monuments are not only good for the land, they are good for local communities as well.

House Republicans want to take away the best administrative tool to protect the redrock country from oil & gas drilling, mining and off-road vehicle abuse.  But with your help, we can stop them.  Please take a moment to contact your member of Congress today and ask him/her to oppose the next assault of the Great Outdoors Giveaway.

Posted by Richard Peterson-Cremer

Amidst partisan gridlock in DC, natural disasters and a faltering economy, we were gladdened to see President Obama’s announcement last week of the third annual National Wilderness Month.  We expect this time that these words will be followed by action and leadership, since the administration’s record on wilderness so far has resulted in very little.

Earlier this year the White House threw the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the bus when it allowed House Republicans to place a funding limitation on the agency’s signature Wild Lands policy.  Later, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar showed no resolve when he capitulated to a handful of anti-wilderness politicians and shelved the initiative indefinitely – leaving millions of acres of redrock wilderness subject to the Bush administration’s harmful policies.

So where does that leave us now?

The BLM is currently collecting wilderness suggestions from local elected officials, tribal representatives and other stakeholders – but noticeably not the public.  Salazar is hoping the resulting “Crown Jewels Report” will spontaneously transform into an Omnibus Public Lands bill just like the one awaiting the President when he took office, for which he is still taking credit.  We’d love to see that happen, but given the partisan strife in Congress and the latest reactions to the BLM’s suggestion from our neighbors in Wyoming as well as several Utah counties, we’re not holding our breath.

We agree with the President that there is much to appreciate in our nation’s wilderness landscapes and hope you do so every month of the year.  But we need leadership from the administration when it comes to this pressing issue and lately, it’s been lacking.  In the weeks to come, we’re going to make sure the President hears your voice and realizes the importance of protecting Utah’s wilderness heritage. Stay tuned…

Posted by Richard Peterson-Cremer

Crown jewel: n. The most prized asset or possession in a group

Right now, the Bureau of Land Management is compiling a report that it’s going to send to Congress listing our nation’s public land “Crown Jewels.”  In our opinion, no list would be complete without the Greater Canyonlands region included.

Please tell the BLM to include the Greater Canyonlands region in its Crown Jewels report.

When we look at America’s redrock wilderness, it’s hard to say which landscapes are the most ecologically important, threatened or spectacular – but when we get down to it, the Greater Canyonlands region always rises to the top.

Centered around the confluences of the Green, Colorado and Dirty Devil Rivers, the Greater Canyonlands includes remarkable archeological sites, critical wildlife habitat, outstanding primitive recreation opportunities and unparalleled solitude.

That’s why we joined with other conservation groups like the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and National Parks Conservation Association in submitting a letter nominating the Greater Canyonlands region for the “Crown Jewels” report.  Now, we need you to write to BLM Director Bob Abbey in support of that proposal.

Tell BLM Director Bob Abbey to protect Greater Canyonlands.

We’ve been highlighting all of the reasons that the Greater Canyonlands region deserves protection over the past several months. People are starting to listen – thanks to your help.

Please take action today and help us bring greater attention to the imperiled landscapes of the Greater Canyonlands region!

Thank you for making your voice heard.

Posted by Richard Peterson-Cremer