Utah State Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 would ask the federal government to make a federal designation in the Central Wasatch mountains.
Republican State Senator Kirk Cullimore representing Salt Lake County is sponsoring the concurrent resolution. The resolution urges the federal government to pass legislation reflecting the work of the Central Wasatch Commission and the Mountain Accord. The area is made up of parts of Summit and Salt Lake counties. The resolution acknowledges the tremendous economic, watershed, natural and recreational value of the area. Cullimore says passing the resolution is the next step in protecting the land.
“This is an important step in keeping the conversation going,” Cullimore said. “So that we can address the transportation issues, as far as I’m concerned first and foremost, but also the environmental issues, the federal designations, the water shed protections, the ski resorts, land swaps. This is an important step to get that done. This is not the end this is really just another beginning step. I think because these issues are important to all the stakeholders even the ones who spoke against it which I can appreciate those concerns. This just keeps that conversation going forward. Because we’re dealing with so much federal land throughout these canyons it’s going to require federal legislation and so there’s still a long ways to go.”
Governor Gary Herbert was asked about the where he stood on asking for federal designation versus local control in the Central Wasatch range.
“It’s not without controversy,” Herbert explained. “Again, I think the need to in fact protect water sheds as well as the environment some of these sensitive areas is one that we all ought to agree to. The problem is having local control outside your own jurisdiction. Whether the control from Salt Lake City it goes into unincorporated areas which that would be Salt Lake County purview. Or even across the boarder into Wasatch County that’s the debate. Who should in fact have jurisdictional control? Probably there needs to be some kind of a coalition put together. I think there’s a discussion about that so that what we do is we have fairness. We have all sides represented and then we make a decision that’s in the best interest of everyone. I think that can happen and that’s what I support.”
The resolution passed out of the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivision Committee unanimously and awaits it’s 2nd reading on the state senate floor.
