By Tracie Sullivan
Iron County officials are expressing concern over a new public land policy issued by the Biden administration, raising questions about its potential impact on local land management practices.
The new Bureau of Land Management rule, known as the “Conservation and Landscape Health Rule” or the “Public Lands Rule,” has sparked controversy across Utah. The upcoming enforcement of the rule, slated to take effect in 30 days, will redefine the management of 22.8 million acres of public land overseen by the BLM in Utah, as well as approximately 245 million acres nationwide.
The rule places a higher priority on conservation under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).
FLPMA, enacted by Congress in 1976, forms the cornerstone of public lands management in the United States. It mandates that these lands be managed to accommodate a variety of interests and activities, including recreation, grazing, mineral extraction, and conservation.
Among other changes, the rule allows for the leasing of public lands for conservation purposes, a move that has drawn criticism from those who rely on these lands for traditional uses such as grazing and extracting resources. Iron County Commissioner Paul Cozzens emphasized the importance of preserving the multiple uses of public lands in Iron County.
Our community depends on access to public lands for various activities, including grazing, which supports our local economy, “Cozzens said. “This constant pressure to push our ag community off the public lands is terrifying,” he added. “That’s our food and the Biden administration and these radical conservation groups just continue to try to lock up the land and it’s hurting our ranchers.”
Iron County Commissioner Marilyn Woods echoed Cozzens’ sentiments, expressing frustration with the perceived lack of consideration for local interests in the rule-making process. “This rule is another example of federal overreach that disregards the needs and priorities of the citizens,” Woods said, “and now we are facing potential restrictions on our ability to utilize our own lands.”
Cozzens also highlighted the role of ranchers as “stewards of the land,” noting their contributions to preserving natural resources. “If we want to talk about conservation, our ranchers are our best environmentalists,” he said. “They are the ones who put in the water, do the vegetation treatments, restore the land, and manage the encroachment of the Pinyon Juniper that is invasive and hurting our wildlife and our water supplies.”
The concerns raised by the commissioners reflect broader opposition to the BLM rule among Utah Republicans, who argue that it undermines the principle of “multiple-use” management enshrined in federal law.
Governor Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes have pledged to challenge the rule in federal court, citing its potential negative impacts on Utah’s lands and wildlife.
“The added layers of red tape and federal bureaucracy embedded in the BLM’s Public Lands Rule create new roadblocks to conservation work. The health of Utah’s lands and wildlife will suffer as a result,” Cox said. “This Rule is contrary to the bedrock principle of ‘multiple-use’ in the BLM’s governing law, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.”
Efforts to repeal the Public Lands Rule have also gained traction in Congress, with Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, sponsoring legislation aimed at overturning the rule and promoting conservation policies rooted in local input.
In contrast, proponents of the new rule argue that the measure will bolster ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. The Pew Charitable Trusts assert that the rule will empower the BLM to prioritize conservation efforts alongside other land uses.
“Historically, BLM’s multiple-use policy has focused on mining, oil and gas exploration, and other development rather than outdoor recreation and conservation on the 245 million acres [nationwide] that the agency manages,” the Pew Charitable Trusts said in a statement supporting the BLM’s action. “But now, the new rule will enable BLM to put the stewardship of wildlife habitat and cultural resources as well as Americans’ access to outdoor recreation on equal footing with other uses.”
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Iron County Commissioners Express Frustration Over New BLM Conservation Rule3 min read

By Tracie Sullivan
Iron County officials are expressing concern over a new public land policy issued by the Biden administration, raising questions about its potential impact on local land management practices.
The new Bureau of Land Management rule, known as the “Conservation and Landscape Health Rule” or the “Public Lands Rule,” has sparked controversy across Utah. The upcoming enforcement of the rule, slated to take effect in 30 days, will redefine the management of 22.8 million acres of public land overseen by the BLM in Utah, as well as approximately 245 million acres nationwide.
The rule places a higher priority on conservation under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA).
FLPMA, enacted by Congress in 1976, forms the cornerstone of public lands management in the United States. It mandates that these lands be managed to accommodate a variety of interests and activities, including recreation, grazing, mineral extraction, and conservation.
Among other changes, the rule allows for the leasing of public lands for conservation purposes, a move that has drawn criticism from those who rely on these lands for traditional uses such as grazing and extracting resources. Iron County Commissioner Paul Cozzens emphasized the importance of preserving the multiple uses of public lands in Iron County.
Our community depends on access to public lands for various activities, including grazing, which supports our local economy, “Cozzens said. “This constant pressure to push our ag community off the public lands is terrifying,” he added. “That’s our food and the Biden administration and these radical conservation groups just continue to try to lock up the land and it’s hurting our ranchers.”
Iron County Commissioner Marilyn Woods echoed Cozzens’ sentiments, expressing frustration with the perceived lack of consideration for local interests in the rule-making process. “This rule is another example of federal overreach that disregards the needs and priorities of the citizens,” Woods said, “and now we are facing potential restrictions on our ability to utilize our own lands.”
Cozzens also highlighted the role of ranchers as “stewards of the land,” noting their contributions to preserving natural resources. “If we want to talk about conservation, our ranchers are our best environmentalists,” he said. “They are the ones who put in the water, do the vegetation treatments, restore the land, and manage the encroachment of the Pinyon Juniper that is invasive and hurting our wildlife and our water supplies.”
The concerns raised by the commissioners reflect broader opposition to the BLM rule among Utah Republicans, who argue that it undermines the principle of “multiple-use” management enshrined in federal law.
Governor Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes have pledged to challenge the rule in federal court, citing its potential negative impacts on Utah’s lands and wildlife.
“The added layers of red tape and federal bureaucracy embedded in the BLM’s Public Lands Rule create new roadblocks to conservation work. The health of Utah’s lands and wildlife will suffer as a result,” Cox said. “This Rule is contrary to the bedrock principle of ‘multiple-use’ in the BLM’s governing law, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.”
Efforts to repeal the Public Lands Rule have also gained traction in Congress, with Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, sponsoring legislation aimed at overturning the rule and promoting conservation policies rooted in local input.
In contrast, proponents of the new rule argue that the measure will bolster ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation. The Pew Charitable Trusts assert that the rule will empower the BLM to prioritize conservation efforts alongside other land uses.
“Historically, BLM’s multiple-use policy has focused on mining, oil and gas exploration, and other development rather than outdoor recreation and conservation on the 245 million acres [nationwide] that the agency manages,” the Pew Charitable Trusts said in a statement supporting the BLM’s action. “But now, the new rule will enable BLM to put the stewardship of wildlife habitat and cultural resources as well as Americans’ access to outdoor recreation on equal footing with other uses.”

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