Cache County Claims 197 miles of Forest Service
Roads
|
Cache County RS 2477 Related Links: Forest Service Letter to Cache County
Council - December 2006 Cache County Council Resolution
2006-31 - RS 2477 Cache County Council Resolution 2007-13 Cache County Council Resolution 2007-12 Other RS 2477 Links: |
The battle over roads across federal land once
again has the spotlight focused on the state of Utah. Cache County, one
of the most northern counties in the state has asserted claim to more
than 197 miles of roads on the Wasatch Cache National Forest. In two
separate votes, County Council members passed resolutions claiming
County ownership of federal roads within the forest purporting to use a
civil-war era statute referred to as Revised Statute 2477.
Cache County has maintained that the motive behind these claims is
to assist with the Logan Ranger District in the upkeep and maintenance
of the roads that lie within the Forest boundaries. They intend to
apply for Utah State class B road funding to maintain these federal
roads.
In a December letter to the Council,
then District Ranger Rob Cruz was quick to point out that there were
several other options available to the County to address access and
maintenance issues that may be "simpler, less costly and provide more
certainty than ascertaining rights-of-way under RS 2477."
Mine, all mine: Cache has to prove forest
road ownership
The Salt Lake Tribune June
6, 2007. Tribune Editorial on Cache County's RS 2477 Claims.
Walsh: Cache tries a costly road grab
The Salt Lake Tribune June
5, 2007. The sagebrush rebellion seems to have taken root in Cache
County's alfalfa fields. Under the cover of a Civil War-era mining law,
the County Council has claimed 197 miles of horse trails and logging
roads. And they plan to take over another 150 miles.
Battle for roads pits feds vs. Cache
The Salt Lake Tribune June
3, 2007. Cache is not the first Utah county to tangle with a federal
land agency. But its claim to own most every mile of road on the
Wasatch-Cache National Forest is surely one of the boldest.
State
Launches Road Claims
The Salt Lake
Tribune
September 22, 2005. Aggressive plan would press ownership across federal lands in
every county. The long battle over the ownership of Utah's rural
back roads either took a giant step toward a conclusion, or was plunged
even deeper into the murk on Wednesday.
Workman
abandons claims to eight roads
The Salt Lake
Tribune
December 31, 2003. Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman
renounces--for now--RS 2477 claims to 8 trails in Big Cottonwood
Canyon, originally submitted in secret to the Utah AG's office; the
move follows news of leaks on planned claims by a County official to a
local developer, while 15 publicly disclosed claims remain on the
Mayor's list.
SLC
denies landowners motor access
The Salt Lake
Tribune
December 24, 2003. Salt Lake City says "easement denied" to
permit seekers on Cardiff Fork access road, following US Forest Service
permit approvals; cites clean water protections for which property was
purchased.
Treading
On Utah
Salt
Lake City
Weekly December 11, 2003. Odd doings surround Utah
State and Salt Lake County's policy of government by secrecy; how
secret RS 2477 road claims revealed to a developer are withheld from
citizen requests citing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); County
surveyor may have profited from insider knowledge.
Lieberman
seeks surveys of disputed Utah roads
The Salt Lake
Tribune
December 5, 2003. US presidential candidate/US Senator
Joseph Lieberman asks Interior Secretary Norton to disclose all
potential and existing Utah RS 2477 road claims on Federal lands; 1993
report to Congress indicates 5,000 RS 2477 road claims may potentially
be made.
Government
secrecy about road claims has to stop
(Op-Ed, Gale Dick, Save Our Canyons)
The Salt Lake
Tribune
November 16, 2003. Salt Lake County sets its sights on
Wasatch RS 2477 road claims in Forest Service protected
areas--forestalling and even reversing public land protections; the
President of Save Our Canyons discusses the State's refusal to disclose
planned claims to public inquiry, while the County freely shares its
claim plans with commercial developers behind the scenes.
Road-claim
disclosure riles Big Cottonwood
The Salt Lake
Tribune
November 11, 2003. Federal and Salt Lake City officials as
well as concerned citizens were shocked to discover that a Salt Lake
County Deputy DA has shared 20 secret RS 2477 County road claims with a
resort developer, but the County has not shared the claims with local
and Federal government after repeated requests through channels; Save
Our Canyons public records request brings the chronyism by government
to light.
Utah:
outdoor capital?
Deseret News
November 2,
2003. New Leavitt "recreation economy" task force announced
that includes State, county, outdoor gear industry reps; Leavitt
requests that State planning coordinator find ways to protect
contiguous roadless areas of more than 5,000 acres; out-of-doors
merchant applauds slow-coming action as "a step in the right
direction".
Leavitt
reverses, creates task force to protect wild lands
The Salt Lake
Tribune
November 2, 2003. Outgoing Utah Guv Leavitt announces a new
task force to designate Utah wild lands for protection, though no
deadlines for designations have been set.
Utah
roads fight among gripes of Interior bill foes
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 30, 2003. As time pressures militate against
resubmission of Interior funding bill to recover an amendment
protecting public lands against incredible RS 2477 road claims, US
Congressional Utah delegation members say they wanted Alaska to go
first on land grabs; meanwhile bipartisan amendment sponsors urge
rejection and reformulation of the bill, which now stands for floor
approval in the House.
Motorized
access to Cardiff Fork property under review
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 29, 2003. Motorized vehicle access applications in
Cardiff Fork now in public domain for comments to US Forest Service;
access proposal may impact a Salt Lake City watershed conservation
area; convicted trail vandal and current access permittee Cyle Buxton,
a road access applicant, stands to prevail regardless of public
consensus if a future RS 2477 road claim is granted against past USFS
protections.
3
fined for canyon trail work
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 29, 2003. Cyle Buxton, Scott Mackintosh, John
Anderson found guilty and fined by US District Judge over bulldozer
vandalism of the Days Fork Canyon trail.
Interior
bill stripped of wilds section
Deseret News
October 29,
2003. In the wake of the removal of public land protections
in the US Interior funding bill, US Republican Congressmen insist that
the amendment "was not needed" because the Interior/State of Utah
memorandum explicitly exempts processing claims on roads in "national
parks, fish and wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and wilderness
study areas"; environmentalists are naturally skeptical, questioning
why then the bipartisan amendment was removed; Leavitt is poised to
announce first batch of RS 2477 claims.
Rural
roads compromise killed
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 29, 2003. Republican-controlled House-Senate
committee aborts a bipartisan amendment to protect public lands against
RS 2477 claims in the final version of the 2004 Interior Department
funding bill, due largely to behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Utah
Senators and Representatives (excluding US Rep Jim Matheson) and
marshalled by Utah counties; action clears the way for implementation
of giveaway deal on public lands struck by Utah's Leavitt and
Interior's Norton.
Roads
compact is at risk
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 28, 2003. Strong bipartisan US Congress protection
against RS 2477 claims in sensitive public monuments and proposed
wilderness areas may be ripped from a pending Interior Department
funding bill, should a blocking amendment by Utah Reps Cannon and
Bishop survive.
Outdoor
retailers nag Leavitt
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 27, 2003. Outdoor Industry Association, impatient
with Utah Guv Leavitt's lack of action on wilderness promises, are
again talking about moving their annual trade show out of Utah, on the
eve of his potential confirmation as EPA Chief in Congress; doubts echo
Congressional Dems' questions about Leavitt's conservation commitment.
Interior
defends roads deal to Congress
The Salt Lake
Tribune
October 6, 2003. Department of Interior bulls forward with
surrender of claimed Utah roads and plans to expand program to 6 other
states, despite Congressional opposition as an illegal commitment under
a 1997 appropriations law; General Accounting Office and Interior
Inspector General investigate the deal.
ATV
impact
Deseret News
October 1,
2003. Forest Service swamped as ATV (all-terrain vehicle)
use--and damage--skyrockets, causing massive erosion and turning roads
and trails into spiderweb scars.
Removal
of signs reignites road war
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 20, 2003. Bureau of Land Management launches a
criminal investigation against 2 County officials involved in yet
another act of roadway vandalism; State officials condemn "timing" of
the action.
San Juan County
plans 'ATV Safari'
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August l8, 2003. San Juan County officials are organizing
their first "San Juan ATV Safari" in hopes of bringing in visitors to
boost a sagging economy. Environmental groups, worried about
damage to archaeological sites and the ecology of the region--areas of
which were formerly granted interim wilderness protection--see the
event as a blow to wilderness designation hopes using RS 2477 as a
wedge, with BLM approval. Parts of the precedent-setting
noise-maker are routed through the Forest Service-administered
Manti-LaSalle National Forest.
Outdoor
retailers bend a bit
Deseret News
August 15,
2003. Saying a "recreational economy is not good enough",
$18B outdoor industry Association Board's probationary decision to stay
still rests on wilderness protection; 6M-acre interim wilderness
protection not addressed by the Guv in agreement; SLC rival Denver
remains an OIA alternative trade show venue.
Outdoor
retailers agree to stay put
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 15, 2003. "Cautiously encouraged", OIA officials
agree to keep $24M per year Outdoor Retailer shows in Utah, but will
watch developments to see if the State will follow Guv's assurances on
wilderness protection under RS 2477; otherwise, will move shows after
2005.
Will
trade shows leave S.L.?
Deseret News
August 14,
2003. Dutch-owned conglomerate VNU's child company VNU
Expositions Inc. says Outdoor Retail show is not the OIA's to move out
of Utah, but says OIA is a favored client with weight; an Association
announcement is pending.
(Opinion)
No longer the place?
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 14, 2003. As Utah faces the loss of OIA convention
business over RS 2477-based wilderness caps, should we wonder if the
OIA's stand is the only way to protect the future of wilderness in Utah
given the State's attitude of secrecy and subversion, in the face of
citizen concerns?
Rec
show eyes 'new' Leavitt
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 13, 2003. As Leavitt vies for Environmental
Protection Agency post, an Outdoors Industry Association representative
says spotlight on the Guv's outdoor record--in particular, his RS 2477
claims involvement--may help the State retain OIA convention business;
Leavitt has yet to respond to OIA's concerns.
Leavitt
says outdoor industry should help him get what wilderness he can
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 10, 2003. Claiming a compromise stance, Governor
Leavitt explains his views in an interview, as he seeks to persuade the
outdoor recreation gear industry that he is no spoiler; Utah
environmental groups say name-calling and actions do not portray a
friend to the wilds.
Leavitt
fights to keep rec shows
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 10, 2003. Utah Governor Leavitt will meet again with
a skeptical Outdoor Industry Association in the wake of RS 2477
Interior deal, in an attempt to keep $24M convention business; as a
trade show opens, OIA leading lights promise an announcement on the
issue, characterize industrial development ventures and destructive
land use as bad for outdoor business.
(Opinion)
A shoe drops in the forest
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 9, 2003. Why is the State of Utah seeking another
agreement with the US Dept of Agriculture's Forest Service similar to
the deal struck with the US Dept of the Interior's Gale Norton,
affecting current roadless and watershed lands in the Wasatch, and will
the State use RS 2477 loophole claims to pre-empt new wilderness?
The State refuses to say. But the process must remain open
so that citizens still retain some power to influence their government.
County
to wait on road claims
Deseret News
August 6,
2003. Despite dissensions, Salt Lake County joins 28 other
County governments and the State of Utah in supporting a proposed State
deal with US Agriculture's Forest Service, squaring off against citizen
groups and City's water concerns; County will wait on the outcome of an
impending lawsuit contesting the State/US Interior pact before
informing the public of secret RS 2477 claims.
Leavitt
asks for moderation in debate over roads on wild lands
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 7, 2003. As Governor Leavitt's RS 2477 claims control
pact with US Interior's Norton awaits Congressional ratification, the
Gov calls for involvement at the political center from Utah factions in
address to control-hungry County reps and Federal land managers in a
bid to build an "outdoor economic ecosystem"; says current protected
lands, unused pre-1976 and impassible trails will be excluded from
State's claim evaluation criteria.
Leavitt
says wilds 'extremists' twist facts
Deseret News
August 7,
2003. Utah Governor Leavitt takes to the road to declare
anti-RS 2477 environmental media campaigns insincere; claiming the
"moderate" high ground while courting outdoor retailers, he declares a
target of 6 million wilderness acres off-limits, but says wilderness
designation is solely up to Congress while anti-wilderness road
designation is up to the State.
State
considers forging Forest Service roads deal
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 6, 2003. The State of Utah may attempt to strike a
deal with the US Forest Service (US Agriculture) similar to the
Leavitt/Norton deal made with the US Dept of the Interior, if the
latter holds up under challenge, says State's Randy Johnson to Salt
Lake County Council; claims that current wilderness will not be part of
the State's deal; County land grabs will not be precluded under deal.
(Opinion)
Unhappy trails
The Salt Lake
Tribune
August 3, 2003. Is there really a need for secrecy in
disclosing County RS 2477 claims in the Utah Attorney General's Office?
Could
trails become roads?
Deseret News
August 1,
2003. Utah's Attorney General pooh-poohs City concerns about
paving road claims in Wilderness watersheds but will not disclose 22
County claims made since 2000; the State Assistant AG states that
County claims on trails in non-Wilderness areas including the new
Willow Heights preserve, cannot lead to paving and development under
the terms of the Norton/Leavitt agreement.
SLC
worries road fight could affect watershed
The Salt Lake
Tribune July
31, 2003. Salt Lake City's Public Utilities Director worries
that Salt Lake County RS 2477 road claims on 7 more trails in hitherto
undeveloped areas may open the way to tainted water in Wasatch
watersheds; the County admits that further canyon trail claims have
been submitted to Utah's Attorney General.
Road
rules face long ride
The Salt Lake
Tribune July
28, 2003. While an amendment targeting RS 2477 claims
offered by Rep. Jim Matheson fails, a Congressional trio backs a
compromise amendment between environmental and Utah counties forces on
Dept. of Interior funding measure--limiting future wilderness
designation but preserving current protected set-asides intact.
Utah
road deal survives in House
Deseret News
July 18,
2003. Among general setbacks for wilderness conservation in
the Western states included in Interior budget bill riders, Utah's US
Congressional Representatives Cannon and Bishop succeed in blocking
Colorado Rep. Mark Udall's, Utah Rep. Matheson's budgetary amendments
to water down Utah State and County RS 2477 claims control.
Leavitt-Norton
rural roads deal clears the House
The Salt Lake
Tribune July
18, 2003. Foreshadowing wilderness protection shortfalls
across the US West, US House's funding of Utah RS 2477 claims control
process is a qualified victory for the State of Utah and Utah counties;
process spawned by Utah-Interior deal could become a model for
anti-conservation local governments in Western states.
Private
property rights
The Salt Lake
Tribune June
30, 2003. (Letter to the Editor) A retired couple in Helena,
Montana, describes an RS 2477-based San Juan County seizure, involving
bulldozing a right-of-way across their land; highlights property
owners' lack of constitutional due-process remedies against County
bullying under Utah's deal memorandum with the US Department of the
Interior.
Beware
the consequences of RS 2477 right-of-way claims
The Salt Lake
Tribune June
21, 2003. (Op-Ed) Ranch owners Jana and Ron Smith recount
the impacts of a Kane County RS 2477 claim on their property, and
explore potential threats under the statute to private land owners and
to public lands.
There's
a Way to End the RS 2477 Road Mess
The Salt Lake
Tribune June
15, 2003. (Op-Ed) Colorado Congressman Mark Udall describes
his proposed bill, HR 1639, to limit RS 2477 claims, which may threaten
private as well as public lands, to those made within another 4 years.
Salt
Lake County won't ID its road claims
Deseret News
May 5,
2003. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff denies Salt Lake
County Council's request to publicly announce RS 2477 claims on 15
roadways, and turns down The Deseret News GRAMA request for access to
claims information, invoking lawsuit work product.
A
Secret Wilderness
Salt
Lake City
Weekly May 1, 2003. A new era of secrecy and
exclusion of the public from decision-making is inaugurated,
exemplified by Federal, state, county governments' closed-door deals
under the auspices of RS 2477, as activists and the public are
routinely denied government information.
Assaulting
Wilderness
The Salt Lake
Tribune
April 20, 2003. (Editorial) US DOI Secretary Gale Norton and
Utah Governor Mike Leavitt cut 2 deals that attack wilderness
designation.
Activist
Says Governor's Process Is Flawed, Unfair
The Salt Lake
Tribune
April 20, 2003. (Op-Ed) SUWA activist Heidi McIntosh
discusses R.S. 2477 right-of-way claims--is this really all about
roads?
Environmentalists
scrambling to counter Utah wilds lawsuit
Deseret News
April 11,
2003. State wants to kill efforts to identify new sites in
West.
Deal
Struck on Control of Roads on Public Land
The Salt Lake
Tribune
April 10, 2003. US DOI Secretary Gale Norton and Utah
Governor Leavitt sign an agreement to end Federal/State contention over
control of features on public land.