By Loren Campbell, President, Utah Public Lands Alliance

What the Maloy-Amodei Amendment Really Does

This bill does not mandate the sale of public land. It simply makes 94 specific parcels—totaling 12,982 acres—available for purchase by local governments at fair market value. Of these, 12,920 acres are in Washington County. That’s just about 2% of the 629,000 acres of BLM-managed land in the county, or 1.5% of all federally managed land in the area.

The requested parcels originate from long-standing local planning documents. Some have been under Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP) requests for years. This bill provides the mechanism to finally act on these plans through a transparent process involving appraisals and local decision-making.

Empowering Local Control

Utah has consistently called for the transfer of certain federally managed lands to local control—this bill is a direct response to that need. Allowing local governments to acquire these parcels enhances their ability to manage them in ways that benefit residents, whether for infrastructure, parks, utilities, or other public purposes.

Critics have claimed these parcels will be used for “affordable housing.” But in Utah, the amendment includes no specific use restrictions—and only a handful of parcels are even being considered for housing. Each municipality will determine land use based on their community needs, with no federal mandate or blanket development plan.

Preserving Recreation and Scenic Values

We conducted a parcel-by-parcel analysis of all 94 areas, including map reviews and field visits for those requiring closer inspection. Of these, 32 parcels were flagged for deeper review. Working alongside representatives from the Washington County Water Conservancy District, Washington County, Congresswoman Maloy’s office, and recreation advocacy groups—including Utah

Public Lands Alliance, Desert Roads and Trails Society, and the BlueRibbon Coalition—we evaluated each parcel’s potential impact on OHV use, other recreation, and scenic value.

The result? We found no significant adverse impacts to OHV access or outdoor recreation. Many parcels are already encumbered with utility easements or limited-use authorizations. Transferring these lands to local control will improve the ability to make upgrades such as utility extensions, road improvements, or public access enhancements.

A Public Purpose for the People

Every parcel identified in the amendment serves a clear public purpose—whether for water infrastructure, trailheads, civic expansion, or improving public access. By converting these areas from uncertain federal status to accountable local stewardship, this amendment gives communities the tools to responsibly meet growing regional needs.

Conclusion: Rejecting Misinformation, Embracing Opportunity

Unfortunately, much of the media coverage surrounding this bill has relied on emotional appeals rather than facts. Let’s set the record straight: this amendment empowers local governments to purchase select parcels for meaningful public use. It does so with safeguards, local input, and full appraisal transparency.

We stand in full support of Congresswoman Celeste Maloy for her leadership and responsiveness to Utah’s long-standing call for balanced, responsible land management. This amendment is good for Washington County, good for local governance, and good for the people who call this land home.

Click any of the articles below for more information

Final Site Specific Review of BLM Land Transfer

amodei-amendment-NVUT-Land-Sales

UT5_Water_Conservancy_Compressed

UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025

UT 4 – Washington County Land Conveyance West Half – April 9 2025

UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025

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Visit www.UtahPLA.com  or email President@UtahPLA.com to learn more about our Mission

We Need Detailed Comments on Congressional BLM Sale

There has been a lot of discussion about the Maloy-Amodei Amendment recently that will transfer 11,000 acres of BLM land to local governments in Southern Utah and Nevada. The purpose of the land transfer is for either infrastructure improvements for things like water (4372 acres of it is for Washington County Water Conservation District) or to allow local governments to buy land at reduced cost near other urban areas to provide affordable housing.

UPLA has been analyzing some of the parcels for conflicts with recreation, but I can really use your help. Please take a look at the attached maps, and if you see any conflicts with either these purposes or adversely impact recreation, please email mailto:president@utahpla.com with as much detail as possible. At this point, whether you’re for it or against it is not what we’re looking for, I need details of conflicts with current uses or lands. Also attached is the complete text of the amendment if you care to read it.

We already scheduled a meeting with Washington County Water District to discuss their parcels, but I really need your help with others.

Thank you.

Loren Campbell

NV 1 – Fernley Economic Development Act – October 6 2020NV 2 – Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act Disposal Map – February 6 2025”]UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025UT 4 – Washington County Land Conveyance West Half – April 9 2025

UT 3 – Washington County Land Conveyance East Half – April 11 2025

UT 2 – City of St George Utah Land Conveyance – March 28 2025

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NV 2 – Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act Disposal Map – February 6 2025

NV 1 – Fernley Economic Development Act – October 6 2020

amodei-amendment-NVUT-Land-Sales

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TODAY ON HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES BELOW

Utah’s OHV community has experienced a temporary pause in new travel management planning due to the administrative transitions within the Department of the Interior (BLM) and Department of Agriculture (USFS). However, this pause is only temporary. Travel planning will resume in accordance with the 2017 Settlement Agreement—a process that continues to shape the future of motorized access across our public lands.

This update outlines what lies ahead, what challenges we face, and how every one of us can help protect access for all.

What is the 2017 Settlement Agreement?

The 2017 agreement—between BLM, SUWA, and BlueRibbon Coalition—mandated the reassessment or creation of 11 Travel Management Plans in Utah:

• Completed Plans: Henry Mountains & Fremont Gorge, San Rafael Desert, San Rafael Swell, Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges
• Upcoming or In Progress: Dinosaur North, Book Cliffs, 9 Mile Canyon, Indian Creek, Dolores River, Trail Canyon, Paunsaugunt

To date, over 2,000 miles of motorized routes—many of them offering dispersed camping, scenic access, and historic corridors—have been closed. These closures are being actively contested by groups such as BlueRibbon Coalition, Ride with Respect, Colorado Trail Preservation Alliance, Colorado OHV Coalition, and others. The State of Utah itself is involved in over 70 lawsuits challenging these restrictions, often citing RS 2477 rights-of-way and provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).

What’s Next?

Although BLM has temporarily marked some planning statuses as “Cancelled,” this is a bureaucratic reset. Work is only paused—pending direction from agency leadership and realignment of priorities. The next plans expected when restart begins will be:

1. Trail Canyon
2. Paunsaugunt
3. Dolores River (which may gain 45 additional miles of designated routes)
4. Dinosaur North

Throughout every NEPA phase, your route documentation—photos, narratives, and GPS logs—will be critical in defending these trails.

Why Are Roads Being Closed?

Travel management closures often stem from:

• Executive Order 11644 (signed in 1972 by President Nixon), which introduced the “minimization criteria” requiring agencies to limit OHV access to reduce environmental impacts. Unfortunately, agencies have adopted overly broad interpretations, often without adequate scientific or user input.
• “Natural reclamation” (a route appears unused due to overgrowth)
• BLM arbitrarily favors some forms of recreation over others.
• “Duplication” (parallel routes being labeled redundant despite offering different terrain, camping, or scenic value)
• Environmental concerns (wildlife habitat expansion or soil/watershed protection—often with minimal data)
• User conflicts, with noise complaints frequently cited but rarely substantiated

Will the Trump Administration Solve These Problems?

BlueRibbon Coalition has identified 26 harmful Executive Orders impacting access—four of which have already been rescinded, including reversals of the Biden Administration’s 30×30 agenda and the BLM Conservation Rule. While we anticipate further support under a Trump-led administration, legal and public pressure must continue from our side.

What Can You Do?

To turn the tide, we need every OHV enthusiast engaged. Here’s how:

1. Start Using TrailSaver to Make Impactful Comments, especially on Kanab Area Trails in Pausaugant and Trail Canyon

Visit www.TrailSaver.com after each ride in Utah to document:

• Obstacles, campsites, viewpoints, historic or geologic features
• Photos and notes that demonstrate the value of these routes

When travel plans reopen, TrailSaver will send your notes and photos back to you—with a guide on how to turn your report into an effective public comment. Need help? Submit your draft to our Comments Coach, Rose, for personalized assistance in making your comment legally substantive.

2. Help Us Change the Law

UPLA will support our work with BlueRibbon Coalition to create permanent protections for our access in Washington DC, which includes mobilizing grassroots support for key legislation, maintaining strong relationships with Congressional Members, and working with a professional lobbyist to expand our reach.

Please urge your lawmakers to support the following SEVEN access-focused bills and Actiions.

• Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act (S.4215): Ensures motorized access for those using OHVs as mobility aids
• Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act (H.R. 3397): Blocks “conservation leasing” that sidelines recreational use
• Ending Presidential Overreach on Public Lands Act (H.R. 5499): Requires Congressional and state input for national monument designations
• Historic Roadways Protection Act (H.R. 7635): Protects RS 2477 roads from federal closure
• Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 7983): Streamlines forest management to reduce wildfire-related closures
• Green Tape Elimination Act (H.R. 6395): Speeds up trail and facility work by cutting redundant environmental reviews
• Joint Resolution to Overturn NPS Rule on Glen Canyon-Call your Senator’s today to urge them to Vote Yes on Joint Resolution 30 to overturn the rule prohibiting OHV access in Glen Canyon. THE SENATE IS VOTING ON THIS TOMORROW, MAY 7, SO PLEASE MAKE YOUR CALLS TODAY.

Make calls to your State Senator and Congressional Representative TODAY! Here’s a link to find your members of Congress.

3. Donate to UPLA Now to Allow us to Double your Donation to BlueRibbon Coalition

Join UPLA as a member and make a donation. Between now and May 31, UPLA will not only match your gift to BRC, but for every donation of at least $50 BlueRibbon will also mail you a free copy of Volume 3 of their Lost Trails Guidebook, which features 22 backcountry routes located within 10 proposed or recently designated National Monuments as a Thank You. 

Final Word

Access to public lands isn’t guaranteed—it’s defended. Your voice, your photos, your outreach, and your dollars make a difference. Let’s ensure the roads we ride today remain open tomorrow.

Just a few days after the advocates gave up on the effort to create the Dolores River National Monument, they are now proposing the area be designated as a National Conservation Area. We are strongly opposed to this effort as it is just a stepping stone to even more restrictions. Here is what we are sending to support opposition of this new threat to motorized recreation and dispersed camping.

Final Opposition Article on Dolores NCA

UPLA has completed our final draft of comments and you can find them here. 

If you’re ready to submit your comments, visit this BLM EPlanning site, wait for the Green Participate Now Button to come up and submit your comments. 

Comments Must be Submitted Today Monday December 16, 2024

Thank you for your Support!

Utah Public Lands Alliance

Together We Can Win,

But We Can’t Do It Without You

Comments are due to BLM by December 16, See bottom of article for how to submit your comments

The Environmental Assessment for the Land Exchange that will affect the West side of the Sand Mountain OHV/SMRA has been released, and we need your comments submitted by December 16. See the bottom of this page to see how to submit your comments. In the Scoping period in this plan, 1476 comments were received, but only 30 were deemed “substantive”. It is critical for not only this plan, but all land actions, that we work to make our comments “substantive” to be recognized. Here’s a short tip sheet on substantive comments

UPLA’s Natural Resource Consultant, Rose Winn, will review comments that are emailed to her by December 14 and work to tailor them so they are considered “substantive” Let’s take advantage of this opportunity and turn the tide on submitting comments that are counted.  See the details at the bottom of this article for more on submitting your comments.

What’s the current situation?

The original location of the Exchange would have included transfer of the area 200’ east of the Toilet on Pipeline road all the way to Long Valley (marked by Orange line on map), this would have impacted all of West Rim Trail in addition to other areas. Through the joint efforts by UPLA and Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD), we were able to get BLM to reduce the size of the Exchange by moving the boundary about 500’ west (new boundary marked by Blue Line) This reduced the size of the Exchange by 234 acres. Click Here to See the Map

UPLA and other OHV leaders have been working with WCWCD since 2023 to arrive at agreements to be incorporated into the Exchange. WCWCD has already agreed with a Board Resolution to most of the conditions, and we are currently working with them to add some additional clarity now that the EA has been released. Click here to view the WCWCD Original Resolution (in Bold)  as well as the additional items we are working to add in italics.

There is a lot of pressure to make this Exchange happen. Because there is little question that the Exchange will have a Negative impact for OHV, UPLA’s position is that we although we are generally opposed to the Plan, but with mitigations that will protect most OHV in the area, we would be accepting of the Exchange because of the value of the Reservoir and related recreation around it. We are opposed to the Exchange if the land is not used for this purpose. We are asking that the EA be withdrawn and resubmitted for public comments once they complete significant additional evaluations.

What we need you to comment on:

• How have you used the Exchange Land personally? What trails have you used, for how long, by yourself, families or groups, how often? Have you used the dispersed camping area in Long Valley/Washington Dam, why you use it, how often? Who have you used it with? Have you participated in maintenance or cleanups of the area in the past to retain its natural beauty? If the dispersed camping area in Long Valley is no longer available, where would you go and how would affect your visits? What types of vehicles do you use to recreate in the Exchange area? What other concerns do you have? Some of the Dispersed camping along Pipeline Road will also likely be affected, if you’ve used that, please add your comments about that as well.
• An alternative that was also not explored in the EA was the possibility of adding other areas to the SRMA for Open OHV. If you have specific suggestions for alternatives for either dispersed camping or OHV, please mention those.
• We are concerned that BLM only addressed that the Intended Use of the EA is limited to development of the land as a Reservoir, (Reference Section 3.2 of the EA for this) A Reservoir will provide not only water needs, but also will provide an alternate form of recreation. Although the Reservoir is the most likely use, there is significant chance that they will elect not to build the Reservoir. If that decision is made, we are very concerned that other types of development such as residential or housing will create unwelcome consequences for the area, such as user conflicts between homeowners and OHV. There are ways that this concern can be mitigated, but the fact that they were not evaluated in the EA means resulted in those consequences not being considered. Submission of comments that express concern for Exchange land being used for any other purpose than Recreation, and that the EA is Inadequate because it failed to analyze this important, and not unlikely, future consequence.
• We know that some of the trails on the East side of Long Valley are used extensively by Dirt Bikers frequently. We really need comments from the Dirt Bike/Mountain Bike community.
• Your comments should be specific to your personal interests or experiences and should cite the EA whenever possible. Always include as many of the tips above about your specific concerns, including as many of the details as possible. some of the details above.
• Be sure to mention in your comments if you are a Member of BlueRibbon Coalition or Utah Public Lands Alliance

How do you submit comments?

If you would like to have UPLA’s Natural Resource Consultant review your comments first and work to ensure they are considered substantive, please email them to Rose@UtahPLA.com If you want this review, you should send your comments to her no later than December 14. You will still need to report your comments directly to BLM

Comments should be submitted on the BLM EPlanning Website https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022389/510 It may take a moment when you get to the site, but you should see a Green Participate Now button. If you don’t see it, click on the How to Get Involved link and wait for the Green Participate Now Button to appear on the page.

Other References:

BLM Draft EA with Highlights of Significant Sections (To see the highlights, you’ll need to download the file and open with Adobe Reader)

UPLA Significant Notes on Draft EA

UPLA Comments on EA-Expect to see this on Friday after our next meeting with WCWCD