If successful, a bill in the U.S. Congress may designate a new wilderness area, a new conservation area, a historic preservation site and a national monument—all in Emery County.
A congressional panel took up legislation last week that would result in all those changes to the San Rafael Swell, including the creation of a a new “Jurassic National Monument” at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.
If successful, the bill will change the way vast amounts of the San Rafael Swell is managed. But, any suggestion of what those changes will be, is premature. Any bill in the U.S. Congress is subject to changes that could look very different than the original bill.
U.S. Rep. John Curtis, R-Provo, is sponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives while Sen. Orrin Hatch is carrying the flag in the Senate.
The bill is being denounced by many environmental groups, as was the Trump administration’s action that removed more than 2 million acres of land from two national monuments six months ago.
The Emery County Public Land Management Act would give permanent wilderness protection to land now in Wilderness Study Areas. “We targeted the areas that are most broadly supported for the highest level of wilderness protection,” Curtis said during the hearing. “And we utilize the conservation area to highlight the unique history and multiple historic uses of the area.”
The bill establishes a new conservation area called the San Rafael Swell Western Heritage and Historic Mining District and creates a new national monument at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.
Emery County Commissioner Randy Johnson testified that locals and various interest groups have been working on the concept for more than two decades. He said the compromise addresses conservation goals that are broadly shared by anyone who’s spent time on the Swell.
The San Rafael “is not just a pretty place. It’s not just scenery,” Johnson said. “It is one of the most amazing, unique blends of human history and beautiful rocks anywhere in the world.”
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance are part of a coalition of environmental groups that strongly opposes the bill. Among other criticisms, they said in a news release that Curtis’ legislation undermines conservation by allowing roads in protected areas and omits popular areas like Muddy Creek.
Coalition members said they weren’t invited to testify during Thursday’s hearing.
Sen. Hatch filed an identical version of the bill in the Senate. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee has not yet reviewed the bill.
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