S.C.R. 12

This document includes Senate Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 9:38 AM by rday. --> 1

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS
2 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
3 2010 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell
6 House Sponsor: John G. Mathis
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor strongly encourages the
11 United States Department of the Interior to develop policies that will promote the
12 responsible development of Utah's public lands.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . strongly encourages the United States Department of the Interior to consider the
16 negative impact that proposed oil and gas leasing and permitting policies will have
17 on Utah's economy, the jobs of its citizens, and the state and local government
18 revenue that funds vital services such as schools, roads, and law enforcement; and
19 . strongly encourages the United States Department of the Interior to develop policies
20 that will promote the responsible development of Utah's public lands.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25 WHEREAS, Utah is a public lands state, with approximately 74% of the state's lands
26 owned by either federal or state government;
27 WHEREAS, the state of Utah depends heavily on the tax revenue, royalty income, and

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Senate Committee Amendments 3-3-2010 rd/jlw 28

general economic activity derived from oil and gas development on Utah's public lands;
29 WHEREAS, the Legislature and the Governor of the state of Utah are deeply concerned
30 over recently announced United States Department of the Interior (DOI) policies that will have
31 a negative effect on state and local economies in Utah and put at risk many of the S. [ 300,000 ]
31a 30,000 .S jobs
32 in the region that are dependent on the oil and gas industry;
33 WHEREAS, due to Utah's vast expanses of federal public land, federal policies that
34 make it more difficult for companies to develop oil and gas in an environmentally responsible
35 manner will harm economies throughout the state and decrease state and local government
36 revenue;
37 WHEREAS, DOI policies are putting western states at a distinct disadvantage
38 compared to other regions of the country that do not have significant federal lands, acting as a
39 catalyst that will cause energy jobs and economic activity to migrate to those other regions;
40 WHEREAS, Utah's economies benefit from the productive use of federal lands and
41 DOI policies, which make oil and gas leasing and project approval more difficult, threaten to
42 delay the economic recovery of the state in the long term;
43 WHEREAS, the development of oil and gas on federal lands already takes considerable
44 time;
45 WHEREAS, policies that further slow leasing and permitting will discourage
46 companies from operating in Utah, and the state will not experience the rebound in jobs and
47 economic growth that it otherwise would as the American economy recovers; and
48 WHEREAS, the oil and gas industry in the state of Utah is a valued partner in
49 supplying oil and natural gas resources that enhance American energy security and provide a
50 meaningful solution to reducing greenhouse gas emission:
51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
52 Governor concurring therein, strongly encourage the United States Department of the Interior
53 to consider the negative impact that proposed oil and gas leasing and permitting policies will
54 have on Utah's economy, the jobs of its citizens, and the state and local government revenue
55 that funds vital services such as schools, roads, and law enforcement.
56 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor strongly
57 encourage the United States Department of the Interior to develop policies that will promote
58 the responsible development of Utah's public lands.

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- 3 - 59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the United
60 States Department of the Interior, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, and to the
61 members of Utah's congressional delegation.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-25-10 3:11 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel