Utah lawmaker; Wyoming in good position to take ownership of federal lands

Back when “men were men and states were states,” midwestern officials demanded that the federal government transfer ownership of land to the states, said Utah lawmaker Ken Ivory. The laws needed to transfer federal lands to states have been in place for some time — most of them more than 100 years ago — and Wyoming is well-positioned to join a growing coalition in the West determined to make an historic land grab, according to Ivory. “We’re going to draw significatly from our sister state of Wyoming in this great (effort),” Ivory said during his 1-plus hours of testimony before Wyoming’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee on Monday. Ivory is the lead proponent behind Utah’s Transfer of Public Lands Act, which was signed into law earlier this year. The state law demands that the federal government sign over ownership of federal lands to Utah by the end of 2014. Oh, national parks and monuments can remain with the federal government, said Ivory. Except for Escalante, he said. That’s an area that Ivory and his backers want to reconsider. Worried about public access, hunting, fishing, climbing and myriad activities the world has come to love on federal lands in the West? Well don’t, because under Utah’s model, multiple use will remain the priority, according to Ivory. Land use decisions would reside with a state-level Public Lands Commission, which would draw its members from the county government level, said Ivory...more