A proposal by Congresswoman Celeste Maloy to sell thousands of acres of public land in the state was yanked from President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” that was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in the overnight hours.
The effort was yanked by House Republican leaders as they did the reconciliation process. Rep. Maloy proposed selling 11,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in southwestern Utah. A similar measure by a Nevada congressman would have tried to sell 500,000 acres of land in Nevada.
"I worked hard with my colleagues in the House and locally elected officials to make sure that the one big, beautiful bill represented the unique needs of Utahns. My lands amendment would have delivered critical relief to fast-growing communities in my district. Ultimately, it was removed from the reconciliation package," she said in a statement Thursday. "I still supported the bill, because it delivers a strong economy that will benefit Utah and the country as a whole. I will continue to fight for Utahns to responsibly manage federal lands that currently landlock our communities and hinder economic growth."
Her effort was heavily championed by Washington County and the City of St. George, who argued it could help deal with infrastructure and growth needs.
Big, Beautiful Bill' approved by House after overnight session:
"We were disappointed that some groups falsely presented this amendment as if it were a land grab. In actuality, the amendment was intended to protect existing critical infrastructure or future critical infrastructure that would be built on already disturbed public lands. Only approximately 9 acres would have been used for attainable housing, at a spot adjacent to a future cemetery and an existing residential subdivision," the city said in a statement on Thursday. "We thank Rep. Maloy for her efforts and we will continue to have conversations with our legislators about our critical infrastructure needs."
Washington County Commissioner Victor Iverson insisted the land would have been sold to the county or city and used for existing access.
"I know there’s been a lot of focus on the 11,000 acres, but in reality what people need to know is those acres are not one big block," he told FOX 13 News on Thursday. "It’s mostly roadways, transportation, future pipelines and small amount of recreation trail area."'
But conservation groups praised the halt to the land sale.
"We’re thrilled with the outcome. This was a deeply unpopular effort by Rep. Maloy to facilitate the sale of 11,000 acres of public lands in Utah," said Steve Bloch, the legal director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. "Lands adjacent to Zion Park, lands popular for recreation. It's the wrong move for Utah and we’re glad to see it stripped from the bill."
Environmentalists suddenly found themselves in alignment with an old foe when Republican Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke championed striking the land sale. He was Interior Secretary under President Trump's first term when Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monument were shrunk. Recently, Rep. Zinke formed a bipartisan "public lands caucus" in Congress.
In a statement, the congressman defended his push to not sell public lands.
"I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back. God isn’t creating more land," Rep. Zinke said.
Bloch said they were grateful for the assist.
"You know, Rep. Zinke when he served as Interior Secretary, did some real damage to federal lands in Utah and across the nation. Maybe this will be the first step in a redemption tour," he quipped.
There is a chance the land sale is resurrected. Sen. Mike Lee now chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and could push for it to be brought back now that the bill is in the U.S. Senate.
"He could make another run at this," said Bloch. "We’ll obviously be watching that and be ready to spring into action."
Commissioner Iverson said Washington County has not yet spoken to Sen. Lee about whether they will push for it to be brought back. He noted the lack of a land sale is not necessarily hindering existing county business, but it would have made management easier.
"The congresswoman was just trying to help us have a tool in our toolbox," he said. "She’s actually done a good job by raising the issue and helping people understand the complexity of federal ownership in the West."
