One third of all the land in the United States is owned by the federal government, and 90 percent of that land is in the Western United States. The federal government currently manages over 30 million acres of public lands in Utah. A number of politicians and stakeholders claim that the federal government is mismanaging public lands and should relinquish control to Utah. This is not a brand new concept for Utah, but has become more of a possibility in recent years through the Utah Public Lands Initiative and House Bill 148. The legislation would entail the federal government handing over 30 million acres of land to the state of Utah which would enable Utah to sell the land to developers and essentially open up millions of acres to extractive
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The Western Caucus also opposes the expansion of the Clean Water Act and many other conservation acts that may slow economic growth. Additionally, many members of the Western Caucus have endorsed legislation known as “The Action Plan for Public Lands and Education” or APPLE where they would sell or lease five percent of the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service Lands with revenue funding education. (Citation Needed Western Caucus) While five percent does not sound like a lot of land this is over one million acres. This is the first step in a destructive trend that would encourage the degradation of public lands for quick revenue. As startling as just five percent is, what will happen when the funds from the sell or lease of the land is not enough to support a growing population or runs short. This would open the door for similar legislation that would allow for the sell or lease of additional land. This would diminish public lands all while the population continues to grow larger. This method of educational funding is a band aid fix on an open wound. There are many other ways to increase school funding without assaulting Utah’s public
The Western Caucus also opposes the expansion of the Clean Water Act and many other conservation acts that may slow economic growth. Additionally, many members of the Western Caucus have endorsed legislation known as “The Action Plan for Public Lands and Education” or APPLE where they would sell or lease five percent of the Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service Lands with revenue funding education. (Citation Needed Western Caucus) While five percent does not sound like a lot of land this is over one million acres. This is the first step in a destructive trend that would encourage the degradation of public lands for quick revenue. As startling as just five percent is, what will happen when the funds from the sell or lease of the land is not enough to support a growing population or runs short. This would open the door for similar legislation that would allow for the sell or lease of additional land. This would diminish public lands all while the population continues to grow larger. This method of educational funding is a band aid fix on an open wound. There are many other ways to increase school funding without assaulting Utah’s public