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Committee flags federal bill and KegNoll airstrip EA as issues that could reshape local access
Summary
Committee members were alerted to a bill being marked up in the Senate that could restrict BLM travel management plans and heard that the KegNoll airstrip proposal is being considered via an EA after staff ruled out several siting options inside the wilderness boundary.
Members of the Emery County Trails Committee discussed two federal-level items that could affect local trail access and recreation planning.
Legislation: One committee member (speaker 15) told the group that a bill referred to as the "Historic Road Race Protection Act" was scheduled for markup in Senator Lee's committee. The speaker said the bill, as described at the meeting, would "prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from obligating or expending funds on any travel management plans, whether it's the development of a plan or the implementation of an existing plan," and specifically named the San Rafael Desert and San Rafael travel-planning areas as examples of potentially affected plans. Committee members responded that the bill could limit local management tools and urged monitoring of committee action.
KegNoll airstrip and EA: BLM/state staff (speaker 5) described recent work on the KegNoll airstrip issue, noting the airstrip lies within or adjacent to wilderness boundaries. Staff said they evaluated siting in nearby cherry stems and outside wilderness but found erosion and maintenance concerns; they reported direction to pursue an exception based on pre‑existing features and to prepare an environmental assessment. Agency staff said risks and legal constraints exist and that the matter may require further formal review.
Moab TMP and litigation: Staff also noted that reassessments in nearby Moab could prompt reexamination of some routes in the San Rafael travel management plans; the committee was told litigation is ongoing in some TMP areas.
Why it matters: If enacted or implemented as described, the bill would narrow federal implementation options for travel management plans and could affect local trail designation processes; the KegNoll decision could also set precedents for access inside or adjacent to wilderness boundaries.
Next steps: Committee members asked staff to monitor legislative progress, to flag potential impacts on local projects and to provide updates at future meetings.
