Utah challenges feds’ control over millions of acres

State Attorney General Sean Reyes petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether the federal government can indefinitely hold about 18.5 million acres for no designated purpose. The sovereignty of Utah is severely limited while the government controls nearly 70 percent of land in the state, Reyes said.

About half of the federally-held land comprises national parks, forests, or other areas designated by Congress, according to Reyes’ office. The other half, about 35 percent of the state’s total area, is federally held without a designated government plan or purpose. Holding unused land in limbo deprives Utah of significant rights and resources, Reyes added. Nothing in the constitution allows the government to hold unappropriated swathes of states forever, he said.

The Bureau of Land Management has continually failed to keep public lands accessible, and even appears to be pursuing closure and restriction of the land, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement. It is time for all Utahns to stand for their land, he added. The Bureau of Land Management told WORLD it has no comment on the litigation. The Supreme Court has also not said whether it will hear the case.

What will this mean for national parks? The lawsuit will not affect appropriated lands with a defined use, like national parks or tribal lands, Reyes said.