By Kevin T. Van Tassell
Senator, District 26

With the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, Expressing Opposition to the Creation of New National Monuments in Utah, from the Senate floor yesterday, I thought I would take the time to explain the key elements on what this Resolution really does. SCR 11 is a joint resolution between the Legislature and the Governor’s Office requesting that state and local Utahns have the opportunity to give input before a new national park or monument is created. We know the state and its lands better than those in Washington D.C. and this would allow for us to weigh in and give our opinions on shaping the boundaries.

With about 70% of the State of Utah already owned by the federal government, we consider it a huge impact when any of our federal lands are changed from BLM or US Forest Service to National Park or National Monument. Not only are governing rules changed, but the state is forever banned from multi use to develop industry; effecting potential water development, impacting livestock grazing, and many recreational activities.

This resolution simply states that we should have more input as a state. SCR 11 would also address the Antiquities Act and asks the President of the United States and the United States Congress to refrain from using this act to designate new national monuments of any large land mass. We would amend the Antiquities Act to clarify its actual intent, which is to establish small discrete monuments or memorials as existed in Utah prior to the creation of the 1996 Grand Staircase National Monument.My hope in structuring this resolution is to have the Resolution signed by the Legislature and the Governor and ready by the time Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visits Utah in April.

Let me know if you have any further questions.