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Committee member presses Forest Service on 122,780 acres of recommended wilderness in Manti-La Sal draft plan
Summary
A committee participant questioned whether 122,780 acres of recommended wilderness in the draft Manti-La Sal National Forest plan meet agency standards and asked if recommendations conflict with the Utah Wilderness Act of 1984; the agency said it received and is reviewing state comments.
During the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources exchange, Speaker 1 raised concerns about the 2023 draft Manti-La Sal National Forest management plan, saying it included 122,780 acres of recommended wilderness that, in Speaker 1’s view, "do not meet the Forest Service's own standards for wilderness" and may conflict with the Utah Wilderness Act of 1984, which Speaker 1 described as an agreement that provided no future Utah wilderness designations.
Speaker 1 asked whether the Forest Service would commit to working with the state and cooperating agencies to reevaluate and remove these recommendations before the final land management plan is complete. Speaker 2 replied that the agency has received state comments, is reviewing them, and will work with the state during the review process.
Context: The exchange frames the question as one of compliance with agency standards and prior statutory agreements; Speaker 1 asked to be kept apprised and offered assistance in that review.
Next steps: Speaker 2 indicated the agency is considering submitted comments and that further adjustments to the draft plan could follow the review process.
