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Emery County Public Lands Council: agency updates, commission comments and public concerns
Summary
Council received brief agency updates on state parks grooming, Skyline Mine assessments, Buckhorn Road right-of-way maintenance, and DWR big-game application dates; commissioners urged better coordination and the public voiced concerns about wild horses and solar project environmental review.
The Emery County Public Lands Council convened March 3 at the county courthouse and approved the Feb. 3, 2026 minutes by unanimous vote (motion by Varian Allen; seconded by Ben Grimes).
Agency reports delivered routine operational updates: Tifnie Hansen (State Parks) described trail grooming at Millers Flat and Skyline, campground improvements at Huntington State Park, and seasonal hiring; Dal Gray (Division of Oil, Gas and Mining) reported on workforce transition and water-flow assessments at Skyline Mine and plans for Fossil Rock coal management; Kyle Beagley (BLM) reported right-of-way access on Buckhorn Road to allow cleaning of dips for flood control; and Chris Wood (Division of Wildlife Resources) reminded residents that the big-game application season runs March 19 through April 23 and that permit numbers would be released shortly.
Commissioners stressed the need for a structured feedback mechanism to improve collaboration among agencies and local stakeholders. Council members also expressed interest in inviting experts on nuclear energy and Valor representatives to future meetings to expand local understanding of federal discussions referenced by Washington staff.
During public comment, several citizens raised concerns about wild-horse management approaches and environmental impacts from solar projects, with specific criticisms focusing on perceived inadequacies in public input and environmental assessments for some land-use decisions. The chair closed public comment and adjourned the meeting.
Votes at a glance: Approval of Feb. 3, 2026 meeting minutes — motion by Varian Allen, seconded by Ben Grimes; outcome: unanimous approval.
What’s next: Agencies will continue outreach and the BLM scoping period for wild-horse management remains open for public comment.
