A Utah senator says he’s reworking a controversial proposal to sell off as much as 3.3 million acres of public land across the West — including Arizona areas west of the Valley and areas surrounding Buckeye — following backlash from outdoor recreation advocates and conservationists.
Critics of the bill's stipulation said Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) plan could sell off lands around fast-growing areas like Buckeye, where nearby federal lands surround the city. Lee’s proposal would have paved the way for large-scale housing development on public lands currently used for hiking, camping, riding and other outdoor activities.
Rep. Paul Gosar, Buckeye's Republican U.S. congressman, told inBuckeye he was happy with Lee's reconsideration.
"While I am pleased that Senator Lee’s proposal was deemed to be non-compliant with Senate parliamentarian rules and is currently not in the final budget reconciliation bill being considered in the Senate, as an outdoorsman, I remain very concerned with the indiscriminate sale of public lands that would adversely impact citizens who enjoy them,” Gosar said.
Buckeye residents are not out of the woods yet. Lee said Monday that he would now plan to target parcels located within five miles of population centers—a move that could affect communities like Buckeye, where initiatives for rapid population growth have sparked debates about housing access and land use.
"Rather than using public lands as a bargaining chip in budget negotiations, as Senator Lee’s proposal did, I strongly believe Congress must first engage in robust debate, conduct public hearings and consider testimony from all interested parties, including local stakeholders, long before any legislation is enacted," Gosar said.
The draft prohibits the sale of certain protected lands, like national parks, monuments, recreation areas and wilderness areas, according to reports.
Last year, the Bureau of Land Management sought public comment on the city of Buckeye's proposal to lease approximately 640 acres of public land through the Recreation and Public Purposes Act to expand Skyline Regional Park.
“I have often stated that America’s public lands should be for the public and the federal government has numerous reasons to promote the highest use of public lands. Importantly, public access, sportsmanship, grazing, and tourism are all connected to our public lands," Gosar said. "There is a process for making sure that our lands are being used for the best benefit of the people and I have consistently opposed large-scale policies that convert public land into exclusive-use zones with no meaningful protections for recreation access."
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