Federal ownership of land is a very live wire political issue in Utah, which is why I find it outrageous that President Obama, on the way out the door, would try to irrevocably federalize 1.3 million acres in the state,…
Approximately 5.3 percent of land in La Paz County is privately owned. The balance is state, federal and Tribal land. “With the control of this land we can go out and try to attract businesses to come into the county…
From the beginning, land issues and jurisdiction created heated debate, decided many elections, kicked off a civil war and nearly destroyed our country before it ever got started. Property rights, being the cornerstone of our nation, have been well worth…
The protection of our nation's historic, cultural and natural resources is among the noblest of pursuits. However, turning our backs on the democratic process to do so undermines who we are as Americans. Despite what extreme environmental groups may preach,…
If you think forest management is any better, check out the red and green mosaic that covers most of the West. The red is a tinderbox of pine trees killed by the pine bark beetle, ready to ignite with the…
Since Obama took office in 2008, he has set aside more than 550 million acres in two dozen monuments — the most of any president in U.S. history. Such wanton disregard of local economy has become a legacy of disparity…
The BLM this month announced that the rule was final and on Monday, Garfield County agreed to spend as much as $40,000 with the Texas-based property-rights organization, the American Stewards of Liberty, to halt it. Western counties join in opposition…
This Washington-centric approach to management stifles creative, collaborative solutions to competing interests that could be resolved at local, state, or regional levels without the added baggage of national political battles and federal regulatory processes. While states and local communities may…
Allowing states to regulate the energy resources on federal lands means more efficient and accountable management. States share the cost of the maintenance of federal lands and have regulatory structures to manage federal lands within their boundaries. Excerpts from Daily…
“So count on a flood of new fee proposals. I bet they have a big backlog of fees they want to charge that they haven’t been able to implement for the last two years,” said Kitty Benzar, whose Western Slope…