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America's Red Rock Wilderness Act

12/15/2023, 4:07 PM

Summary of Bill S 1310

Bill 118 s 1310, also known as America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, is a piece of legislation that aims to protect and preserve over 9 million acres of public land in Utah. The bill seeks to designate these lands as wilderness areas, which would prohibit any development, mining, or other activities that could harm the natural environment.

The Red Rock Wilderness Act has been introduced multiple times in Congress, but has yet to be passed into law. Supporters of the bill argue that these lands are home to unique and fragile ecosystems, as well as important cultural and historical sites. They believe that designating these areas as wilderness would ensure their protection for future generations to enjoy.

Opponents of the bill, however, argue that restricting access to these lands could have negative economic impacts on the region, particularly for industries such as mining and energy development. They also argue that the federal government already owns a significant amount of land in Utah, and that further restrictions are unnecessary. Overall, the Red Rock Wilderness Act is a contentious piece of legislation that highlights the ongoing debate between conservation efforts and economic development in the United States. Its fate in Congress remains uncertain, but it continues to be a topic of discussion among lawmakers and stakeholders.

Congressional Summary of S 1310

America's Red Rock Wilderness Act

This bill designates specified lands in Utah as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Specifically, such lands are (1) Great Basin, (2) Grand Staircase-Escalante, (3) Moab-La Sal Canyons, (4) Henry Mountains, (5) Glen Canyon, (6) San Juan, (7) Canyonlands Basin, (8) San Rafael Swell, and (9) Book Cliffs-Greater Dinosaur.

Additionally, the bill sets forth administrative requirements for (1) the exchange of state-owned lands within such areas, (2) federal reservation of water rights, (3) measurement of setbacks for roads with adjacent wilderness, (4) authorized livestock grazing, and (5) withdrawal of such lands from disposition under certain public land laws.

Current Status of Bill S 1310

Bill S 1310 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 26, 2023. Bill S 1310 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on April 26, 2023.  Bill S 1310's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S1385-1390) as of April 26, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1310

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
44
Democrat Cosponsors
42
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
2

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1310

Primary Policy Focus

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Potential Impact Areas

- Land transfers
- Utah
- Water use and supply
- Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1310

America's Red Rock Wilderness Act
America's Red Rock Wilderness Act
A bill to designate as wilderness certain Federal portions of the red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts in the State of Utah for the benefit of present and future generations of people in the United States.

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