House endorses San Rafael Swell National Heritage/Conservation Area resolution

The Utah House passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 on Feb. 12, 1998, urging Congress and the President to create a San Rafael Swell National Heritage Conservation Area covering parts of Carbon and Emery counties. The House vote was 63 yes and 3 no.

Supporters described SCR2 as a locally driven compromise that balances heritage-area designation, conservation, tourism-based economic development and continued multiple use including grazing and recreation. The sponsor noted cooperation among local leaders and Emery County commissioners (Randy Johnson, Kent Peterson and Bevin Wilson were named on the floor) and said the resolution preserves local stewardship while encouraging federal recognition and management coordination.

Several members asked for clarification on how a National Heritage Area differs from wilderness designation. Speakers explained the heritage-area concept as a people-managing approach intended to concentrate public visitation in prepared areas and reduce search-and-rescue burdens, while the National Conservation Area component would encompass existing wilderness-study areas and enable more integrated management (federal day-to-day management would remain with the Bureau of Land Management).

Supporters framed SCR2 as a model of local-state-federal collaboration. The resolution does not change federal designation unilaterally; it requests Congress and the President to consider the designation. The floor record includes expressions of local pride and repeated praise for the county commission’s engagement and stakeholder-led planning. The resolution passed and will be forwarded per standard legislative procedure.