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Lawmakers reintroduce Utah red-rock wilderness bill

Eastern Wildnerss Bill Anyone? | 3:10 p.m. April 2, 2009

Let's get our Utah Congressmen to re-introduce the Eastern Wilderness bill; the Sterling Forest wiledernss act, the Endangered Eastern Wolf act, etc. and give these Democratic bozos a taste of their own elitist, ideologically driven medicine! The arrogancy of it all is galling. Don't they have enough problems in their own states and districts than to meddle in Utah affairs? Looks like East-West warfare is back in play. What a shame.

leave us alone | 3:11 p.m. April 2, 2009

it amazes me that these bills are always pushed by east coast people. to preserve this land for them to come out here and visit. well there is a problem with that a lot of us and our ancestors decided to live in this area becuase we to love it here, the only difference is we really love it, we live here, we work here, and yes some of that work is mining, drilling, logging, hunting, the list can go on and on. but we should put all of our lives and jobs ( the people who actully live in this area)on hold or stop them all together so that someone on the east coast can come vacation in an deserted area because they drove out all the people who really love it here. besides if they make all this area wilderness its only going to cost tax payers millions of dollars. yes it will! who will pay to have ranger stations, trail markings, and the army of rangers salaries paid for. It sure wont be the seirra club!!!!!!

Anonymous | 3:19 p.m. April 2, 2009

Why not: there is no political risk?

Comments continue below

J.V. | 3:22 p.m. April 2, 2009

How nice of all these east coast politicians to be willing to step up and tell us how to manage the lands that support our rural economies.

Club Sierra | 3:34 p.m. April 2, 2009

You mean, Club Sierra, don't you? They have posh highrise HQ in San Fransisco funded by scaring the innocent and well-meaning public into coughing up their checkbooks to support their Enviro-Chic lifestyles.

theda | 3:45 p.m. April 2, 2009

Hinchey says "preserve" and "protect." I say "locked up so no one except 20-something grape nuts guys can view it." Why can't we use our existing roads to access and enjoy our magnificent federal forests and deserts? Why must it all be wilderness and the roads removed? I object to the wilderness designation.

SJ | 3:47 p.m. April 2, 2009

How can future generations enjoy the land if they can't get on it to see it?

susan | 4:09 p.m. April 2, 2009

"This land is your land this land is my land from California to the New York island." Woody Guthrie

Richard | 4:15 p.m. April 2, 2009

As is always the case, the democrats are trying to discriminate against handicap people whose only way to see such beautiful country is by ATV/ UTV or motor vehicles. Just because we can't walk, doesn't mean we should be thrown out of these areas. WE care more about these areas than anyone. The roads we use are not tearing up the country or taking anything away to destroy the land.The environmentalist have never had a good idea, only their self serving, pitiful contempt for handicap people. They are trying to make sure we can't use the land our taxes are supporting.These people know nothing of protecting the natural resources and the wise use of these resources. They don't care since it is UTAH and they HAVE to HURT UTAH. They need to mind their own business and let the people who REALLY care about UTAH, handle UTAH resources. The Land owners, Hunters, ATV Riders, skiers and campers are the only ones who really care about UTAH and its lands. The Sierra Club and others like them are pitiful and prejudice against the handicap people.

Wondering | 4:20 p.m. April 2, 2009

The people in the East drove the early pioneers out and we came West and settled here. Then they sent their army here to control us. Now they are making laws to restrict our land and our property.

Seems that is the same thing they did to the Indian Tribes. But in this case they have left off beating up on the Native Americans since they have taken most of their freedoms and now they want to do the same to us.

Maybe it is time.

Why stop at 1/6th? | 4:22 p.m. April 2, 2009

Why stop at 1/16th of the State? Why not just put 100% of Utah into wilderness designation? What do people back East care? That way they will have solitude if they every decide to come visit the wilderness they call "Utah".

basinboy | 4:25 p.m. April 2, 2009

Why no comments in this one-sided article from groups that oppose wilderness? Why no comments from the Utah congressional delegation? Poor reporting IMHO.

Article a little one-sided? | 4:20 a.m. April 3, 2009

Thanks Deseret News for getting both sides of the story...... Amazing, more people outside the state telling us what's best for us. This isn't about Dems or Republicans.....this is about protecting Utah's land from those who claim to protect it from afar. I say enough!! I'm tired of the Robert Redford wannabes who stop land progress once they've built their mansions on it.

Person from the east | 6:25 a.m. April 3, 2009

Some from the east do care and think it is an outrage. You won't find Congressman Maurice Hinchey suggesting the same thing for the Catskill Mountains which are within his district. The only thing he is fighting for in his home district is more flood monitoring gauges for some of our local streams. The reality is that when Rep. Hinchey is opposed in our district the candidate is often underfunded. Rep. Hinchey has not had a close election since 1994. This is very empowering and makes him feel invincible. When election time comes around again I would suggest seeing if you can help the east cause and help fund a candidate with prudence.

Woody Guthrie | 7:05 a.m. April 3, 2009

is a communist and his folk song is like a mantra of Marxism. Who appointed Woody Guthrie as our Theologian in Chief? C'mon. It's not "your" land if you didn't pay for it and pay propety taxes on it. The reason the west has vast amounts of "public land" is th dates of admission into the Union..Eastern states are elitist (particularly the North east ivy league states) and have absolutely no concept of the vast wide-open spaces of the west, and what it takes to support communities, cities, counties -- and provide all of the services they expect when they jet-in for a weekend at Moab, get lost and expect local taxpayers to pick-up the tab for their search and rescue. There's NO tax base like in the East with public land to support public schools, like in the East.

Himself | 7:23 a.m. April 3, 2009

This is all about property rights. In discussion on McMansions many said if folks don't like giant houses all they have to do is buy the property.
If people in Utah don't like what the feds do with their land they can go buy it.

Alaska | 8:33 a.m. April 3, 2009

Remember that it's not "Utah land." It's land that belongs to all Americans that happens to lie within state boundaries that were drawn later. It's public land, land that belonmgs to the people of the United States.

TL | 10:30 a.m. April 3, 2009

This proposed legislation is about doing the right thing for THE LAND. The choice is simple---either open these public lands up to energy development and motorized recreation, or preserve them in their natural state for future generations of Utahns and others to enjoy. Relatively few places still exist where we have such a choice to make. Hopefully the policy makers will do what's in the best interest for THE LAND. By doing so, they will have done the right thing for THE PEOPLE as well.

jackj | 10:50 a.m. April 3, 2009

Follow the money. Sierra Club, used to have a $5o million budget, could not varify on their site. Wilderness socity had a $20 million budget, could not varify on their site. SUWA had a $5 million total assets with a $2 million budget last year. NRDC could not varify on their site. If these are 501c3 organizations this information should be available. If you were to add all the true consevationist, people that care about and use the land, in the state I doubt if it would amount to more than $1 or $2 million. This is what we are fighting. Our only hope are the local politicians as our senators don't seem to be listening.

To: leave us alone | 12:46 p.m. April 3, 2009

I live out here and I'm sick of watching us tear up our own land. Maybe someone else needs to step in, kinda like my parents used to do when they got sick of me and my sister fighting (which was usually when I started hurting her....what a nice parallel!)

If there were restrictions on the most pristine lands, I'd be happy not to drive my ATV there (when I get enough money to get one...anyone selling a used one?) and canoe or ride my neighbors horses out there instead. We mess with this precious earth too much to be allowed to do whatever we want, wherever we want.

Now your gonna say I don't make my money off the land. I'll be honest. I do, but most of it is tourism, but I don't think wilderness will help my own business.

Anonymous | 12:50 p.m. April 3, 2009

Richard-
If you would read the rules and exceptions of designated Wilderness, you'll see that handicaps are allowed to bring in modes of accesibility.

And I want there to be an overlook in Utah 10 years from now where I don't have to look at any human development. Just cause we don't choose to go there on foot doesn't mean it isn't important.

Anonymous | 1:46 p.m. April 3, 2009

Many of these areas have been used for various activities over the last few decades/century and if management is removed that doesn't bode well for the areas that are needing help. Also, why 9 million acres? Why don't these groups find the areas in need of the most protection and concentrate on those?
At a presentation I attended the proposed areas are parceled due to the presence of roads, why can't you people just leave it alone! I wish these ecotourists would visit and then leave and remember us fondly and then call it good.

basinboy | 1:46 p.m. April 3, 2009

All those who oppose this wilderness bill should contact Congressman Mathison or his Field Rep, Pam Juliano, immediately to ensure that no Utah congressman votes in favor.

Truth | 1:56 p.m. April 3, 2009

Give them 9.4 million acres and they'll demand 94 million acres.

kv2 | 3:40 p.m. April 3, 2009

There are nearly 23 million acres of public land inside Utah - 9.4 designated as wilderness would leave more than half open for whatever use is deemed necessary. It's about balance! Also, the land doesn't belong to Utah - it never has! If Utah wants the land, then Utah should pay the fair-market value for the land including the resources that lay inside it. That's good-ol fashioned capitalism. As far as the Easterners line goes - what about Utah's politicians meddling in other states' business? What about introducing legislation protecting sections of the Mormon trail in Wyoming? Remember that one? Why should Utah be able to tell Wyoming what they can do with their land? What about supporting legislation to make Nevada the dumping ground for America's nuclear waste? Remeber that one? The land belongs to everyone - not just Utahns. Everyone pays taxes to manage it. The question is: how should we manage it? Setting aside some land for the future is just good conservatism!

Cosmo | 4:59 p.m. April 3, 2009

The states should eliminate the federal government.
It has outlived it use. It is also far beyond it's constitutional authority, and is destroying this nation and it's people. The people created the states, the states created the federal government, it is way pass time that we have it disbanded.

new sheriff | 7:30 p.m. April 3, 2009

the public land (blm) belongs to the whole country even though you don't seem to think so you are part of the united states the land was ignored and abused by the last administration and now its time for some counterbalance this widerness bill is long overdue .

Oh please.... | 6:47 p.m. April 5, 2009

I am so tired of people claiming that when land is being "used" we are abusing the land....and saying that the previous administration wanted to slash and burn the west....come on. Give me a break. Responsible use is really the best thing for the land....not some "high minded" save the planet BS.

middle class | 1:02 p.m. April 7, 2009

I am tired of the rich kids; Swiss, NY etc with fat trust funds telling the rest of us how to protect our lands. They did a real good job protecting the pine bark beetles 20 years ago and now Colorado is losing 90% trees. Don't you get annoyed with those that think they know everything? We need Term Limits on Senators; life time Senators are ruining our country. We cannot wait for them to die on the job. <:{{{{{{X

A fellow Westerner | 6:50 p.m. April 8, 2009

I am also from the inter-mountain west (Colorado) and I support this bill, as does my representative. This is not about East vs. West! It is about keeping incredibly unique, beautiful terrain intact and undisturbed for us, our children, and our grandchildren. There is literally nowhere else on earth with terrain like it. Some of the best memories of my life are from exploring canyons in the San Rafael Swell with my parents when I was little. Do we really want to leave these amazing places open to the whims of the BLM, which acts completely independently of our states? Just look at what the BLM has let energy developers do to many parts of Western Colorado... I doubt any of us want that for these incredible places in Utah.

tjrocks | 7:49 p.m. Oct. 26, 2009

It seems people that have never traveled the back country of these desert areas are trying to close them so that no-one will have access. Groups like the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), who’s only agenda is to close land access, these groups would like nothing more than to completely close all back country desert and forest areas to all mechanized/motorized vehicles. Their written rhetoric is all over these United States and they are very good at printing and passing out misinformation on issues that affect all Americans, I know most present and future generations do not share the views or opinions of the SUWA or other similar selfish groups. There exist thousands of miles of back country roads and trails that are used by off-road people and tourist that visit Utah. These vacationers are vital to the well being of the small towns in this area of Utah because of the tourist dollars that are spent for food, housing, rentals the list can be very long. We also need to keep people working, this legislation would cost jobs, many thousands of jobs.

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