Matheson Introduces Two Public Lands Bills

January 08, 2009

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Jim Matheson today re-introduced legislation to exchange land for the benefit of a Boy Scout camp and the town of Brian Head and to allow a youth ranch near Escalante to purchase a small parcel of federal land from the federal government.

“This legislation helps public and private land managers achieve their land management goals while at the same time providing the opportunity to have better facilities and access,” said Matheson.

Matheson said 120-acre land swap authorized in the Boy Scouts of America Land Transfer Act has been sought by both the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts and the town of Brian Head for many years. It involves trading BLM land originally deeded to the Scouts for private land owned by the township.  Matheson said he’s worked with many local officials on the bill, including former Cedar City, Utah legislator Bud Bowman, who praised the effort.

“Thanks to Congressman Matheson, this land exchange will help the Boy Scouts improve the Thunder Ridge Camp and make it more accessible.  It will also help Brian Head with its planning and development,” said Bowman.

Matheson’s other bill provides for the fair market value sale of approximately 25 acres of public land to the Turnabout Ranch in Escalante.  It solves an incorrectly drawn boundary that included some state school trust land inside the boundary of the Grand Staircase National Monument.

Senate versions of both bills are included in the proposed Senate Public Lands Omnibus bill that is now moving in that chamber.

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