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SITLA lays out solar‑leasing process as Emery County raises environmental, bonding and notice concerns
Summary
SITLA officials described how trust‑land solar leases are reviewed, advertised and bonded while county members pressed for stronger local permitting, reclamation bonds and environmental safeguards after developers eyed projects such as Drunkard’s Wash. The county said it may pursue ordinances and closer coordination with SITLA.
Andy Benningfield, managing director of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration(SITLA) energy and minerals group, told the Emery County Public Lands Council that SITLA manages roughly 3.3 million acres of surface estate and additional mineral estate "for the beneficiaries," noting that about 96% of beneficiaries are public schools. He said SITLA's portfolio includes oil and gas, coal, renewables (including solar) and geothermal and that the agency is self‑funded from lease revenue.
Benningfield and another SITLA staff member explained how surface and solar leasing works on trust lands: an internal two‑week review, then external outreach that includes a three‑week newspaper public notice, RDCC posting and county notification, during which competing offers and public comments may be submitted. "Anybody can submit an application," the SITLA official said, adding that adjoining landowners are typically notified at the leasing stage and that SITLA will forward comments to prospective lessees so they understand local concerns.
County members pushed back on what they…
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