Utah Challenges Federal Control Over 18.5 Million Acres of Public Land
State leaders argue that local management would better serve environmental and community needs, while critics warn of risks to landscapes and resources.
- Utah's lawsuit questions the constitutionality of federal control over 'unappropriated' lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
- Governor Spencer Cox and other state officials claim federal mismanagement harms Utah's environment and economy.
- Environmental groups and legal experts dismiss the lawsuit as a political stunt with little chance of success.
- The state aims to manage the land for mining, grazing, recreation, and energy development if the lawsuit succeeds.
- This legal action is part of a broader conflict between Western states and the federal government over land management policies.
The Federalist 
Washington Examiner 
The Salt Lake Tribune 
Denver Gazette 
The Seattle Times 
Associated Press 
ABC News 