Utah lawmakers press case for Star Spangled Summit Act after long permit delay

Representatives Kennedy and Clancy urged support for HR 46 84, the Star Spangled Summit Act, to direct the U.S. Forest Service to issue a renewable 10‑year no‑cost special use permit allowing a community flag display on a peak near Provo, Utah. Witness Tyler Clancy described decades of the tradition and said the Forest Service’s interpretation of its special‑use rules had halted the practice.

Deputy Chief John Crockett told the committee the Forest Service ‘‘supports the intent of this bill’’ but prefers to resolve the matter administratively if the permittee submits the required operation and maintenance plan; he said his office had met with the permittee and that approval would be ‘‘expeditious’’ once an application is complete. Members from Utah expressed skepticism that administrative steps had not produced results over several years and urged congressional oversight as needed. (Tyler Clancy; John Crockett.)

What’s next: Committee members asked the Forest Service to provide a timeline for administrative permitting and encouraged the agency to expedite review while the sponsor and agency continue to discuss legislative and technical options.