Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Lands topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Congressman Rob Bishop urges more local control of public lands, criticizes Antiquities Act
Summary
Rep. Rob Bishop told the Utah House on Feb. 18 that state and local officials should have greater control over federal land decisions, called the Antiquities Act "abused or misused," and said a draft lands map would be available by March 27.
Congressman Rob Bishop told the Utah House of Representatives on Feb. 18 that he supports shifting more decisions about public lands to state and local authorities and urged lawmakers to consider structural changes to how the federal government designates monuments and manages lands.
Bishop, invited to speak in a Committee of the Whole, laid out three broad points: praise for the House’s deliberative work, a call to improve how the Utah congressional delegation engages with state leaders, and a forceful critique of the Antiquities Act. He said a rough draft and map of a proposed land plan should be available by March 27 and that counties would have the option to join or opt out.
Bishop described federalism as a practical principle that allows people to make decisions for themselves and warned that, in practice, monument designations under the Antiquities Act have often been used "as a political tool to make a statement" rather than to protect antiquities. He called the Antiquities Act "the most abused or misused piece of legislation that ever has taken place" and said the statute, written in 1906, should be revised to require a NEPA-like process so local input is collected before designation.
On the land plan timeline and protections, Bishop said the forthcoming draft would include guarantees for those who recreate on, graze, or use the land economically, and would also set aside conservation areas. He told legislators the aim is finality—once decisions are made, they should be stable and resilient to later administrative action.
Representative Briscoe pressed Bishop on whether counties had finalized maps; Bishop replied that work was "coming together very, very quickly" but that some counties were still deciding and "I'll give the counties still the option of either being part of it or being out of it." Representative Noel asked about relations with Interior Department leaders; Bishop said Secretary Jewell was "positive of the approach" and that federal agency leaders had been engaged in the discussions.
Bishop closed by urging creative solutions and cooperation among stakeholders and county officials, and said he looked forward to returning with a March 27 rough draft for review. The House then dissolved the Committee of the Whole and resumed floor business.
