Kane County Commission backs congressional review of Grand Staircase‑Escalante record of decision

KANE COUNTY, UT — Kane County commissioners voted Jan. 27 to adopt a resolution supporting congressional review of the Grand Staircase‑Escalante National Monument record of decision published in the Federal Register on Jan. 13, 2025.

The decision followed an extended public comment period in which multiple local guides, business owners, volunteers and long‑time residents urged the commission not to allow rapid changes to the monument that they said could harm tourism, science and grazing. Paul Gaglier, speaking for the Grand Staircase Regional Guides Association, argued that the monument supports about 1,000,000 visitors a year and contributes to local employment and real per‑capita income growth; he warned that using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to nullify the plan would create “economic instability” for grazing permits, guiding permits and other local uses.

Taylor Glover, identified in the meeting as the county’s government affairs and public lands director, briefed commissioners on concerns with the current Record of Decision (ROD). Glover said the county felt insufficiently coordinated during the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning process and cited a reported reduction of about 67,000 animal unit months (AUMs) in the plan, the potential for allotment retirement if an allotment is purchased, and designation of roughly 1,200,000 acres in a primitive zone that Glover said would severely restrict dispersed camping, gathering and target shooting.

Commissioners debated local economic and cultural implications and constitutional principles related to federal rulemaking and congressional review; one commissioner said the action would not remove monument status but would revert the plan to prior conditions or current limbo while review proceeds. After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the resolution supporting congressional review; the motion carried by voice vote with commissioners voting “Aye.”

The resolution as drafted asks Congress to use the CRA to nullify the ROD published 01/13/2025 for the monument’s resource management plan. The meeting record shows the commission’s action is an expression of local position; the county did not claim the review would immediately change on‑the‑ground permits and staff repeatedly noted implementation of the new plan had not yet occurred.

What’s next: The resolution asks for congressional action; any federal changes would occur through the federal congressional and administrative processes. The county’s staff said they intend to continue advocating for local coordination with BLM and tracking federal developments.