From Deseret News archives:
San Juan County official named senior adviser on lands policy
Huntsman's office announced Stevens' appointment as the coordinator of public lands policy Friday. He will assume his new post on May 15.
Stevens will consolidate disparate functions in the governor's office, the Attorney General's office, the Utah Natural Resources Department and the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
"If we don't speak to each other, we get inconsistent positions taken by the state," said state Rural Affairs Coordinator Gayle McKeachnie. "It will be the same people doing basically the same work, but now they will have a boss to coordinate their work so they are speaking to each other."
Stevens' office will deal with such issues as gaining local control of roads crossing federal lands.
A coalition of businesses, environmental groups and others said they will place advertisements in Sunday's Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News criticizing state efforts to "turn dirt trails across scenic public lands into highways."
He was appointed to Outdoor Recreations and Economic Ecosystems Task Force, a panel set up by former Gov. Mike Leavitt, continued by his successor Gov. Olene Walker and now Huntsman.
Stevens also serves as co-chairman of the State RS2477 project the Civil War-era law Utah is using in a bid to legitimize historic makeshift roads built across federal lands.
Stevens cited that law, repealed in 1976, when he led a Jeep rally through Arch Canyon last year. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance protested the rally, saying it caused erosion, tore up vegetation and dumped sediment in washes.
"Because Utah is so dependent upon effective interaction with the federal government it is vitally important to have someone as qualified as Lynn Stevens coordinating public lands policy for the state," Huntsman said in a prepared statement.
Comments
- Thousands protest in Iran 8:47 a.m.
- Reid: Senate close on health bill 8:45 a.m.
- Stocks push higher as dollar rises 8:41 a.m.
- Messy Monday morning commute 8:22 a.m.
- U.N. climate conference opens 7:55 a.m.
- Blast outside Iraqi school kills 8 7:53 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:49 a.m.
- Wanted: Bank robber with bad breath 12:40 a.m.
- Philippine police clash with clan 12:28 a.m.
- Officer responding to call killed 12:28 a.m.
- BYU and Utah's bowl games
- BYU professor remembered
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations
- Cougars going back to Vegas
- TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
- The forgotten ship: USS Utah
- Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
- Utes excited to go to San Diego
- Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
- Bring the true spirit of Christmas
- Letters: Liberal because LDS
258 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
219 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
136 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
131 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
114 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
98 - Harpring's NBA career is over
95 - Cougars going back to Vegas
89
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
To "James A. Marples" if the government spends $500000 to create 1 full time...
The miracle is in the details. A superficial reading of the Book of Mormon...
Thanks. What I said though was after a garbage team beats us, "that team"...
From a die hard, true-blue, BYU fan, I say "Go Utes!" I hope you have a...
This one will sink Huckabee's chance as a presidential contender. Anyone...
It's hard to believe that Vegas is the best bowl the MWC can get. With all...
This is about as good a bowl as BYU could hope for...playing a well respected...
I am losing more and more interest in college football each year. Seeing this...
Have not heard anyone point out that by having TCU and BS play the BCS also...
"Why is it OK with you to pay for an illegal, unnecessary war we were lied...



You can be the first to comment on this story.