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> Joint Resolution Opposing Designation of Public Lands Currently Urged by Congress and the Bureau of Land Management
Public Lands:
Joint Resolution Opposing Designation of Public Lands Currently Urged by Congress and the Bureau of Land Management
Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: hjr10
Sponsor: Rep Aaron Tilton (R-Springville)
Legislative Session: 2008 General Session
This resolution calls on congress to oppose wilderness protection for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands and encourages to BLM to keep lands open for all consumptive uses such as oil and gas production, mining, etc.
Status
Although this bill has no force of law, the sentiment it expresses is hostile to the wishes of the people of Utah who, in poll after poll, express strong support for wilderness protection for Utah's amazing redrock country. If you don't want the legislature going on record opposed to wilderness designation in Utah, keep reading and then take action.
HJR 10 was reported favorably by the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on 20 Feb on a 6-0-1 vote. It moves to the senate floor. Now is a good time to contact your senator to state your opposition.
The resolution was bad when it was introduced, and the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee amended it and made it even worse on February 6th. Now it talks about the oil shale and tar sands potential in the Uintah Basin. Utah's oil shale and tar sands are for the most part extremely low-grade hydrocarbons that would create massive environmental damage if exploited.
The full house approved the resolution on a 58-11-6 vote on February 14th. Below are the names of the representatives who voted AGAINST the rhetorical attack on wilderness. If one of these is your representative, call or e-mail to say thanks.
Biskupski Fisher, Janice Litvack Riesen
Chavez-Houck Hemingway McGee Seelig
Cosgrove Johnson Moss
This regrettable resolution now passed the senate with a 22-3-4 vote. Only these three senators voted correctly.
Jones McCoy Romero
If one of these is your representative, call or e-mail to say thanks.
Find your representative's contact information with the district maps.
Action Needed
Find out if your representative or senator voted for this irresponsible resolution.
More information
Read the amended resolution text here.
Contact
Get the e-mail and telephone contact information for your representative or senator from the district maps.
Background
The vast majority of destuctive land uses such as mining or oil drilling on public or private land in Utah proceed with few restrictions or regulations. The Sierra Club and its partners in the Utah Wilderness Coalition advocate the protection of the most spectacular remaining public lands managed by BLM.
 The 9 million plus acres recommended for wilderness in America's Redrock Wilderness Act represent considerably less than half of the public lands in Utah managed by the BLM.
HJR 10 advocates keeping pristine public lands in Utah like that pictured at left open for tar sands and oil shale mining. Read the magazine Popular Mechanic's article about the financial and environmental impact of tar sands mining in Alberta, Canada.
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