The Emery County Public Lands Management Act was heard before the Federal Lands Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Randy Johnson, public lands consultant for Emery County and Emery County Commissioner Kent Wilson were in attendance. Hearings are the first step in the process before it will come for a vote in the House. There will be Senate hearings and a vote in the Senate on the bill. The Emery County Public Lands Council and the Emery County Commission are hopeful this will be the year for the lands bill to pass.
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on H.R. 5727, Representative John Curtis’ bill the Emery County Public Land Management Act of 2018. This historic conservation bill, introduced with Senator Orrin Hatch, protects over one million acres in Utah’s Emery County. The product of two decades of local outreach and public meetings, this bill establishes a gold standard for future efforts to resolve long lasting problems facing our public lands.
“This bill is a win for everybody. It balances the needs of funding for Utah’s schools and conserving some of our nation’s most pristine land and resources,” Congressman Curtis said. “I am excited to champion this bill that helps add new resources and economic development opportunities to Emery County, and brings together conservation organizations, motorized and non-motorized recreation, sportsmen, local officials and governments, the State of Utah, the Congressional delegation, and many others. This is truly a local solution championed by the locals closest to the land.”
Randy Johnson, representing Emery County, testified in support of the Emery County Public Land Management Act.