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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO SECURE THE PERPETUAL

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HEALTH AND VITALITY OF UTAH'S PUBLIC LANDS

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AND ITS STATUS AS A PREMIER PUBLIC LANDS STATE

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2017 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

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Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

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9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This concurrent resolution recognizes the state's commitment to remaining a public
12     lands state and encourages the pursuit of federal executive and legislative action that
13     would lead to both the retention and optimal management of public lands within the
14     state of Utah.
15     Highlighted Provisions:
16          This resolution:
17          ▸     states that Utah is a premier public lands state and is committed to remaining a
18     public lands state; and
19          ▸     asserts that local management responsibility of Utah's public lands would result in
20     greater opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing, and access,
21     as well as economic opportunities for rural Utah.
22     Special Clauses:
23          None
24     

25     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
26          WHEREAS, the state of Utah is a premier public lands state and is committed to
27     remaining a public lands state;
28          WHEREAS, Utah's public lands provide unique opportunities for outdoor recreation,
29     including skiing, camping, hunting, fishing, biking, rock climbing, and spelunking in addition

30     to economic opportunities like responsible timber harvesting, mineral development, wind and
31     solar energy development, and livestock grazing;
32          WHEREAS, Utah's leaders are focused on the conservation and improvement of public
33     lands, and the state's concern over federal management is not an issue of the public lands
34     themselves or the good federal employees who work in this area, but the historic and structural
35     failure of the federal government to manage the public lands properly without meaningful state
36     and local consultation and input;
37          WHEREAS, federal mismanagement jeopardizes's Utah communities, our forests,
38     wildlife, economies, recreational opportunities, and air quality;
39          WHEREAS, the state of Utah seeks greater management responsibility over the public
40     lands not to sell them, but to protect them in the way that they always should have been
41     protected;
42          WHEREAS, if given greater management responsibility over the public lands within
43     the state, Utah is devoted to:
44               •     increasing public access for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, as
45     well as increasing public herds of wildlife like elk, deer, bison, bighorn,
46     moose, and mountain goats;
47               •     mitigating conflicts, when they occur, between ranching interests and
48     wildlife interests;
49               •     increasing opportunities for ranching interests, while also ensuring
50     increased wildlife and sporting opportunities; and
51               •     increasing economic opportunities for rural Utah communities;
52          WHEREAS, the state is committed to retaining public lands in public ownership and in
53     improving the way the public lands are managed in the state;
54          WHEREAS, the state of Utah is regularly regarded as one of the best-managed states in
55     the country and, because of this proven track record, seeks to obtain greater management
56     responsibility over certain federally controlled public land within its borders; and
57          WHEREAS, by obtaining greater management responsibility over certain public lands

58     in Utah, the state could ensure appropriate conservation, secure public access, encourage
59     multiple use, grow the economy, and sustain proper land management:
60          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
61     Governor concurring therein, strongly urges all members of the Utah congressional delegation
62     to work in concert with Utah's legislative leadership and the Commission for the Stewardship
63     of Public Lands to draft and pass federal legislation creating a framework to ensure the
64     retention of Utah's public lands in public ownership and to provide for greater state
65     management responsibility over certain public lands.
66          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor strongly urge the
67     President of the United States, together with the United States Congress, to support all efforts
68     and actions necessary to draft, pass, and sign into law the federal legislative framework to
69     ensure the retention of Utah's public lands in public ownership and to provide for greater state
70     management responsibility over certain public lands in the state of Utah.
71          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
72     the United States, Utah's federal delegation, the Utah Attorney General, the State Board of
73     Education, local school boards within the state of Utah, county commissioners within the state
74     of Utah, and mayors and council members of all communities within the state of Utah.