Legislative committee unwilling to endorse land bills now

SALT LAKE CITY — Despite the urging of representatives from four rural counties and an architect of the successful Washington County Lands Bill, a committee of lawmakers is unwilling at this point to endorse any county efforts to have Congress set aside wilderness protections.

"I applaud the efforts being made here and I understand the concerns," said Rep. John Mathis, R-Vernal. "But I don't know if I am ready to support this," given the time-constrained nature of the Wednesday presentation.

Although the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee already lacked a quorum to take an official position after the end of a lengthy discussion, several members expressed concerns over endorsing federal legislation that would impose use restrictions on thousands of acres of land.

Piute, San Juan, Emery and Wayne counties are all on the brink of having legislation crafted and sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, that would set aside certain portions of the counties as wilderness or within the boundaries of National Conservation Areas.

One such designation would include the San Rafael Swell in south central Utah's Emery County.

Former Emery County Commissioner Randy Johnson, who was key player in the crafting of the Washington County Lands Bill that was passed by Congress in 2009, has been retained by the counties to help shepherd the designations.

Such agreements have been brokered through compromise among a wide variety of groups, with a nod toward some areas that plainly demonstrate wilderness qualities. The proposals also preserve multi-use and help the counties to retain the ability to be economically viable, Johnson said.

"We're not closing down roads, we're not changing lifestyles," he said. "We are building a proposal that makes the most sense."

Lee has asked for the Utah Legislature to give its support to the county land bills through a resolution that could be voted on in special session this fall.

Such an endorsement would signal unity among lawmakers, backed by the varied county commissions.

Johnson said he believes it is appropriate for the committee on Wednesday to vet county land proposals, but wondered aloud at having the success of the measures hinging on the two houses of the Utah Legislature.

Such concern evidently played out among the small membership of the interim committee, where Mathis and some other lawmakers said they are loathe to restrict development for future generations.