Letter to Reps. Bishop and Chaffetz Regarding the Utah Public Lands Initiative

Letter to Reps. Bishop and Chaffetz Regarding the Utah Public Lands Initiative

More than three years ago, The Pew Charitable Trusts joined a public process begun by Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republicans, aimed at ending three decades of uncertainty over whether to protect or develop public lands in eastern Utah. The initiative was an attempt to find common ground between conservation and development interests. 

On July 14, the congressmen introduced the Utah Public Lands Initiative Act (H.R. 5780). Pew cannot support the legislation as currently written, and we have outlined our concerns in a letter to the bill’s sponsors. We remain engaged in discussions to see if the bill can be improved to a point where it could pass in the Senate and be sent to the president; however, time is short. If real progress cannot be shown, Pew believes that the president should use his authority under the Antiquities Act to protect the Bears Ears region as a national monument in October. All sides recognize that this special place needs to be preserved for future generations.

America’s Overdose Crisis
America’s Overdose Crisis

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Quick View

America’s Overdose Crisis

Sign up for our five-email course explaining the overdose crisis in America, the state of treatment access, and ways to improve care

Sign up
Composite image of modern city network communication concept

Learn the Basics of Broadband from Our Limited Series

Sign up for our four-week email course on Broadband Basics

Quick View

How does broadband internet reach our homes, phones, and tablets? What kind of infrastructure connects us all together? What are the major barriers to broadband access for American communities?