Utah, other Western states ask Supreme Court to return millions of acres of land back to the states

This has been a very contentious issue for a long time! The federal government owns too much land!

Trump is not yet in office, but e.g. calls for more federalism is already moving forward!

Additionally, the administration of the senile, demented and corrupt 46th President worsened the situation restricting land use for environmental reasons.

"... In August, Utah filed a lawsuit against the federal government, arguing that it’s unconstitutional for the feds to retain unappropriated land in a state indefinitely.

Since the lawsuit was filed, a dozen other states, including Idaho, Alaska and Wyoming, have filed briefs asking the court to hear the case. Additionally, a coalition of counties in Arizona and New Mexico, the Pacific Legal Foundation, the Utah Legislature and the Wyoming Legislature have also filed briefs in support of the lawsuit. ...

The lawsuit only applies to unappropriated lands, which are those the federal government holds without any clear congressional designation. As a result, the lawsuit won’t impact national parks, forest lands, monuments or tribal lands. ...

In Utah, the federal government controls nearly 70% of the state’s total land area, which is second only to Nevada, which has nearly 85% of its land in federal control. Of the 22.8 million acres in Utah controlled by the BLM, 18.5 million acres are “unappropriated.”

While the federal government disposed of much of the land it controlled in the East, the Homestead Act of 1862 allowed certain citizens to claim land in the U.S. territories of the West, so long as they lived and cultivated the land. Similar laws were passed in the years that followed in order to encourage more people to move out West.   ...

The proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back was the BLM’s Public Lands Rule. The rule created “restoration leases” or “mitigation leases.” These work just like oil and gas or cattle grazing leases, except the “use” of the land would be to conserve it, which typically means erasing or eliminating human impact on the untouched landscape. ...

Another factor likely motivating Utah’s decision to file the lawsuit now is the Supreme Court decision in June that shot down the 1984 doctrine known as "Chevron deference," which allows federal agencies broad latitude in interpreting laws when Congress hasn’t provided specific guidelines. ...

The Department of the Interior under the Biden administration had made a number of decisions limiting oil and gas production, as well as mining opportunities. Against Utah’s wishes, The BLM closed over 317 miles of popular roads and trails, an action the State of Utah says impacts recreational activities and local businesses that rely on tourism. The BLM is also considering future restrictions. ..."

Utah, other Western states ask Supreme Court to return millions of acres of land back to the states | Just The News "“The federal burden in the West infringes on our sovereignty and undermines our equality with other States, all in direct violation of the Constitution,” Rep. Harriet Hagemen, R-Wyo., said."