We had 2 big wins in the Utah State Legislature this last session.

S.B. 67 would have gutted the ability for Counties and Local Government to protect roads from being closed.  Class A, B, C and D roads from being closed across private land. At one point this bill had increased in size to almost 290 lines of text, barely resembling the text of the previous law. With Hurculean effort during the last hours of the bill being passed, the Senator’s office was flooded with almost 500 emails received overnight. The bill was amended the next day. You can read the text of the bill here

H.B. 471 was a bill introduced by Representative Phil Lyman and Senator Curtis Bramble. By the time the bill was passed, it had 12 CoSponsors, something very rare to have such strong support. The bill asserts ownership and exclusive jurisdiction of roads included on a county travel plan and requires due process before the federal government may close a road.
-The bill:asserts ownership and jurisdiction over roads included on a county’s class B and
class D road map or a county travel plan unless the road has been closed through
proper adjudicative proceedings;
-The bill  llows the state or a county to disregard any attempted closure of a road without due
process;
-The bill asserts that the burden of proof to show the need to close a road or to claim
ownership falls on the federal government;
-It allows the state and county to disregard the alleged closure.
This was a huge accomplishment, you can read the text of the bill here.

Many thanks to our OHV Advocate Brett Stewart for watching and influencing these bills.

Last month we got word that the Trail Canyon Travel Management Plan was being released soon and that the Barracks Trail and Poverty Wash were likely to be closed as they are in Alternative B, which is the alternative BLM selected in Moab that closed so many miles of trails. We will have another chance to save this trail when the Draft Environmental Analysis is released, probably in April, and we will notify you when comments open up.

If these trails are important to you, you need to get prepared in writing comments about how this harm you. Take a trip out there and run the trail, take photos of how you use the trail, and your favorite spots.

Thank you for those of you that submitted emails to us, they were touching and exactly what we were looking for. We will keep them until comments open, and then contact you about submitting them directly to BLM.

Through the generosity of UPLA’s supporters, cooperating clubs, and a match of $50,000, Loren Campbell presented BlueRibbon Coalition with $103,317 to fight against the constant onslaught of route closures in Utah in the closing ceremonies of Winter 4×4 Jamboree.

The final check was presented to BlueRibbon Coalition’s Public Policy Director, Simone Griffin. Board President Ranch Pratt and Board Members Matt “Sarge” Westrich and Phil Rawlings also expressed their appreciation for the Community’s support.

Here is a partial list of Donors that supported this effort

• Winter 4×4 Jamboree
• Moab Friends for Wheelin
• Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association
• UTV Takeover
• Contra Costa Jeepers
• Ride Utah
• Esprit de Four
• KMAC Corporation
• FMCA 4 Wheelers
• San Diego 4 Wheelers
• and over 150 Individual Donor

Thank you so much for fighting!

Artec Industries is donating $10,000 in Gift Cards for entries in our Sweepstakes During Winter 4×4 Jamboree. You’ll be entered to win up to $10,000 in Artec Gift Cards as Flash Prizes during Winter 4×4 Jamboree, plus chances to win a $30,000 Dream Build on your Rig in the Grand Sweepstakes.
All Donations Will Benefit BlueRibbon Coalition

www.ArtecIndustries.com
www.BlueRibbonCoalition.org

Watch the Fox 13 News story about the David & Goliath story of BLM and SUWA stripping 317 miles of OHV access in Moab Labyrinth Canyon. This decision only appears to affect motorized OHV now, but the decision details will affect many others including equestrians, photographers, mountain bikers, rock hounders, and even base jumpers.
We need to start acting as big as we are. Get involved and support BlueRibbon Coalition with your time and your money by Donating Here.

St. George, UT — December 5, 2023

Utah Public Lands Alliance (UPLA) is pleased to announce a significant donation of $70,000 to the BlueRibbon Coalition for their Legal Defense Fund. This generous contribution is a testament to UPLA’s unwavering commitment to preserving public lands’ accessibility for all Americans. The presentation of the donation will take place during the Utah Public Lands Alliance’s Board Meeting on December 7, 2023, at 6:00 PM. The event will be hosted at Dixie 4 Wheel Drive, located at 73 N 900 E, St. George, UT 84770.

Loren Campbell, President of Utah Public Lands Alliance, and Ben Burr, Executive Director of BlueRibbon Coalition, will be present at the event to commemorate this important occasion. The $70,000 donation is made possible through the UPLA’s initiative to match up to $50,000 in donations from a broad coalition of supporters across the United States. This collective effort highlights the shared commitment to preserving the accessibility and integrity of public lands for current and future generations.

Campbell expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Preserving our public lands for responsible recreational use and ensuring accessibility is a shared responsibility. We are proud to support BlueRibbon Coalition in their efforts to defend these lands legally. The overwhelming response from supporters across the nation demonstrates the collective strength of our community in safeguarding our natural heritage.”

Ben Burr, Executive Director of BlueRibbon Coalition, added, “We are grateful for the Utah Public Lands Alliance’s dedication to the cause. This donation is one of the largest single donation ever received by BlueRibbon and will help us in our legal fight to continue advocating for the responsible use of public lands. The support from UPLA and their broad coalition of donors is instrumental in our efforts to protect these lands for everyone.”

The presentation event will provide an opportunity for both organizations to express their gratitude to supporters and showcase the importance of collaboration in preserving public lands. Ben Burr will be available to update attendees on the Moab closures and provide a chance to learn more about the initiatives undertaken by UPLA and BlueRibbon Coalition to protect the nation’s cherished natural resources.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Loren Campbell, President@UtahPLA.com, 909-499-3295

About Utah Public Lands Alliance: Utah Public Lands Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and advocating for responsible access and use of public lands in Utah and surrounding areas. UPLA works to protect the cultural, recreational, and economic value of public lands for current and future generations.

About BlueRibbon Coalition: BlueRibbon Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving public lands for responsible recreational use. The organization focuses on advocacy, litigation, and education to ensure that public lands remain accessible for a wide range of recreational activities.

You can donate to the campaign here