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Attachment G
6/27/13 5:03 PM GAO: Recoverable Oil in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming 'About Equal to Entire Worlds Proven Oil Reserves' | CNS News
Page 1 of 2 http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gao-recoverable-oil-colorado-utah-wyoming-about-equal-entire-world-s-proven-oil
By Terence P. Jeffrey
Subscribe to Terence P. Jeffrey RSS
Rock Springs, Wyo. (BLM
Photo)
GAO: Recoverable Oil in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming 'About Equal to Entire
Worlds Proven Oil Reserves'
May 11, 2012 - 5:25 PM
(CNSNews.com) - The Green River Formation, a largely vacant area of mostly federal land that covers
the territory where Colorado, Utah and Wyoming come together, contains about as much recoverable
oil as all the rest the worlds proven reserves combined, an auditor from the Government Accountability
Office told Congress on Thursday.
The GAO testimony said that the federal government was in a unique position to influence the
development of oil shale because the Green River deposits were mostly beneath federal land.
It also noted that developing the oil would have an environmental impact and pose socioeconomic challenges, that included bringing a
sizable influx of workers who along with their families put additional stress on local infrastructure and making planning for growth difficult
for local governments.
The Green River Formation--an assemblage of over 1,000 feet of sedimentary rocks that lie beneath parts of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming--
contains the world's largest deposits of oil shale,Anu K. Mittal, the GAOs director of natural resources and environment said in written
testimony submitted to the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
USGS estimates that the Green River Formation contains about 3 trillion barrels of oil, and about half of this may be recoverable, depending
on available technology and economic conditions, Mittal testified.
The Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, estimates that 30 to 60 percent of the oil shale in the Green River Formation can
be recovered, Mittal told the subcommittee. At the midpoint of this estimate, almost half of the 3 trillion barrels of oil would be recoverable.
This is an amount about equal to the entire world's proven oil reserves.
In her oral statement before the subcommittee, Mittal said that developing the shale oil would create wealth and jobs for the country, but also
challenges for government.
Being able to tap this vast amount of oil locked within this formation will go a long way to help to meet our future demands for oil. The U.S.
Geological Survey, as you noted, estimates that the formation contains about 3 trillion barrels of oil of which half may be recoverable, she
Home News
Attachment H
6/27/13 5:03 PM GAO: Recoverable Oil in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming 'About Equal to Entire Worlds Proven Oil Reserves' | CNS News
Page 2 of 2 http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gao-recoverable-oil-colorado-utah-wyoming-about-equal-entire-world-s-proven-oil
said.
As you can imagine having the technology to develop this vast energy resource will lead to a number of important socioeconomic benefits
including the creation of jobs, increases in wealth and increases in tax and royalty payments for federal and state governments, she said.
While large-scale oil-shale development offers socioeconomic opportunities it also poses certain socioeconomic challenges that also should
not be overlooked, she testified. Oil shale development like other extractive industries can bring a sizable influx of workers who along with
their families put additional stressed on local infrastructure. Development from expansion of extractive industries has historically followed a
boom-and-bust cycle making planning for growth difficult for local governments.
In her written testimony, Mittal noted that three-fourths of the Green River shale oil is under federal land.
The federal government is in a unique position to influence the development of oil shale because nearly three-quarters of the oil shale within
the Green River Formation lies beneath federal lands managed by the Department of the Interiors (Interior) Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), she testified.
The GAO also cited potential environmental impacts from producing oil from the Green River shale that included the need to draw large
amounts of water, possible harm to water quality, and temporary degradation of air quality and the clearing of large amounts of vegetation.
"Developing oil shale and providing power for oil shale operations and other activities will require large amounts of water and could have
significant impacts on the quality and quantity of surface and groundwater resources," Mittal said in her written testimony. "In addition,
construction and mining activities during development can temporarily degrade air quality in local areas. There can also be long-term regional
increases in air pollutants from oil shale processing and the generation of additional electricity to power oil shale development operations. Oil
shale operations will also require the clearing of large surface areas of topsoil and vegetation which can affect wildlife habitat, and the
withdrawal of large quantities of surface water which could also negatively impact aquatic life."
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Attachment H
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Attachment I
South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014
COMMITTEE REPORT
February 21, 2013
H. 3552
Introduced by Reps. Clemmons and Harrell
S. Printed 2/21/13--H.
Read the first time February 19, 2013.
THE COMMITTEE ON
INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS
To whom was referred a House Resolution (H. 3552) to express support to the western states of the
United States of America and the federal transfer of public lands to the western states, and to urge the
United States Congress, etc., respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:
LISTON D. BARFIELD for Committee.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO EXPRESS SUPPORT TO THE WESTERN STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND THE FEDERAL TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS TO THE WESTERN
STATES, AND TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENGAGE IN GOOD
FAITH COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER
OF TITLE TO THE WESTERN STATES.
Whereas, under Article IV, Section 3, of the United States Constitution, The congress shall have
power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United States; and
Whereas, the Constitutional Convention intended this provision of the Constitution to maintain
the status quo that had been established to transfer federal territorial lands only to create new
states with the same rights of sovereignty, freedom, and independence as the original states; and
Whereas, under these express terms of trust, over time the states claiming federal territorial land
ceded their western land to the confederated Union to allow the confederated government to
dispose of the lands only to create new states and apply the net proceeds of any sales of the lands
only to pay down the public debt; and
Whereas, the United States Constitution contains no expression of intent to authorize the federal
government to indefinitely exercise control over western public lands beyond the duty to manage
Attachment J
the lands pending the disposal of the lands to create new states, and therefore the lands should be
returned to the western states; and
Whereas, in order to promote legitimate federal interests, the western states should upon transfer
of the public lands directly to the state where the public land is located agree to affirmatively
cede lands for the national park system, the national wilderness preservation system, and lands
reserved for federal military use, military parks, and military reservations to the federal
government under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17, of the United States Constitution, on condition
that the lands permanently remain national park lands, and that they not be sold, transferred, left
in substantial disrepair, or conveyed to any party other than to the state where the land is located;
and
Whereas, limiting the ability of western states to access and utilize the public lands natural
resources within their borders is having a negative impact upon the economy of the western
states and therefore the economy of the entire United States; and
Whereas, in order to provide a fair, just, and equitable remedy for the federal governments past
and continuing breaches of its solemn promises to the western states, the South Carolina House
of Representatives:
(1) calls on the federal government to transfer title to all federal public lands within the
western states to the state where the land is located;
(2) urges the United States Congress to engage in good faith communication, cooperation,
and consultation with the western states to coordinate the transfer of the public lands, and
supports the western states in these efforts;
(3) calls upon the western states to agree, upon transfer of the public lands, to affirmatively
cede to the federal government all lands currently designated as part of the National Park System
under 16 U.S.C. Section 1a-1, the National Wilderness Preservation System under 16 U.S.C.
Section 1131, or for military use, military parks, or military reservations;
(4) urges that if any public land in the western states be sold to private owners, [95% of] the
net proceeds be paid to the Bureau of the Public Debt to pay down the federal debt; and
(5) calls on all other states of the United States to pass a similar resolution in support of the
transfer of the federal public lands to the western states. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this
resolution, express support to the western states of the United States of America and the federal
transfer of public lands to the western states, and urges the United States Congress to engage in
good faith communication and cooperation to coordinate the transfer of title to the western states.
Be it further resolved that upon its adoption copies of this resolution be fowarded to the United
States Department of the Interior, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker
of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the South Carolina Congressional
Delegation, and the Governors, Senate Presidents, and Speakers of the House of Representatives
of the 49 other states.
----XX----
Attachment J
8000 S Redwood Road West Jordan, Utah 84088 801-569-5150 craig@westjordanchamber.com
WESTERNGROWTHCOALITION
1he Ponorable Cary 8 PerberL
Covernor
uear Covernor:
As a unlLed coallLlon of governmenL offlclals and buslness leaders, and as clLlzens of Lhe CreaL
SLaLe of uLah, we pledge our supporL for your ongolng efforLs Lo wresL our sLaLe lands from
lederal conLrol. lndeed, we belleve LhaL Lhere exlsLs no reallsLlc and feaslble paLhway Lo flscal
susLalnablllLy wlLhouL our ablllLy Lo uLlllze Lhese lands for Lhe purposes orlglnally concelved
when uLah enLered Lhe unlon.
We flnd lL Lraglc LhaL Lhe lederal governmenL appears deLermlned Lo follow a course of
insolvency, which will drag Utah and every other state with it over the fiscal cliff. Yet trillions
ln naLural resources remaln unLapped and under lederal conLrol. lL ls ln uLahs best interest to
wean lLself from a dependency on lederal dollars by uLlllzlng Lhe wealLh and resources of our
sLaLe Lo creaLe [obs, provlde Lhe besL posslble educaLlon for our chlldren, brlng flscal
susLalnablllLy Lo our local communlLles, and secure economlc self-rellance and energy
lndependence. Such can only be accompllshed lf uLah, llke so many oLher sLaLes who have
galned conLrol of Lhelr lands, can successfully reallze Lhe same ob[ecLlve.
We urge Lhe conLlnued peLlLlon of Lhe lederal governmenL Lo honor Utahs compact of
sLaLehood, as Lhey have Lo LasLern sLaLes, by dlsposlng of publlc lands. 1he success en[oyed by
oLher sLaLes ln securlng conLrol of Lhelr lands was and ls Lhe producL of a unlLed fronL and an
unequivocal determination to reject No as an answer. These Eastern states succeeded in
compelllng Congress Lo Lransfer LlLle of Lhe publlc lands, and so should we.
We sLand wlLh you aL Lhls crlLlcal Llme, as we endeavor Lo secure a brlghLer fuLure for our
chlldren and Lhelr posLerlLy. 1he ability to control our lands and prudently draw upon Utahs
vasL naLural resources ls noL only an lmporLanL componenL of flscal susLalnablllLy, buL we
declare LhaL Lhere exlsLs no more crlLlcal lssue upon whlch our aLLenLlon and energles should
be focused.
1he lederal governmenL has made a sacred pledge Lo dlspose of Lhese lands. We sLand ready
Lo asslsL you ln helplng WashlngLon honor LhaL promlse. Cur prosperlLy and quallLy of llfe
depend upon our success.
8especLfully,
1he WesLern CrowLh CoallLlon
City of
Herriman
City of
Riverton
City of
South Jordan
City of
Taylorsville
City of
West Jordan
City of
West Valley
Chamber West
South Jordan
Chamber of
Commerce
Southwest Valley
Chamber of
Commerce
West Jordan
Chamber of
Commerce
!"#$% '(#"$)%
WesLern CrowLh CoallLlon Chalrman
resldenL/CLC WesL !ordan Chamber of Commerce
*$+, '#-$.
WesLern CrowLh member
WesL !ordan ClLy Manager
Attachment K
lebruary 26, 2013
1he Ponorable Cary 8. PerberL
Covernor of Lhe SLaLe of uLah
uear Covernor:
As a unlLed 8oard of LducaLlon for !ordan School ulsLrlcL, and as clLlzens of Lhe CreaL SLaLe of uLah, we pledge our
supporL for your ongolng efforLs Lo wresL our sLaLe lands from lederal conLrol. lndeed, we belleve LhaL Lhere exlsLs
no reallsLlc and feaslble paLhway Lo flscal susLalnablllLy wlLhouL our ablllLy Lo uLlllze Lhese lands for Lhe purposes
orlglnally concelved when uLah enLered Lhe unlon.
We flnd lL Lraglc LhaL Lhe federal governmenL appears deLermlned Lo follow a course of lnsolvency, whlch wlll drag
Utah and every other state with it over the fiscal cliff. Yet trillions in natural resources remain untapped and
under lederal conLrol. lL ls in Utahs best interest to wean itself from a dependency on Federal dollars by utilizing
Lhe wealLh and resources of our sLaLe Lo creaLe [obs, provlde Lhe besL posslble educaLlon for our chlldren, brlng
flscal susLalnablllLy Lo our local communlLles, and secure economlc self-rellance and energy lndependence. Such
can only be accompllshed lf uLah, llke so many oLher sLaLes who have galned conLrol of Lhelr lands, can
successfully reallze Lhe same ob[ecLlve.
We urge Lhe conLlnued peLlLlon of Lhe lederal governmenL Lo honor Utahs compact of statehood, as they have to
LasLern sLaLes, by dlsposlng of publlc lands. 1he success en[oyed by oLher sLaLes ln securlng conLrol of Lhelr lands
was and ls Lhe producL of a unlLed fronL and an unequlvocal deLermlnaLlon Lo reject No as an answer. These
LasLern sLaLes succeeded ln compelllng Congress Lo Lransfer LlLle of Lhe publlc lands and so should we.
We sLand wlLh you aL Lhls crlLlcal Llme, as we endeavor Lo secure a brlghLer fuLure for our chlldren and Lhelr
posLerity. The ability to control our lands and prudently draw upon Utahs vast natural resources is not only an
lmporLanL componenL of flscal susLalnablllLy, buL we declare LhaL Lhere exlsLs no more crlLlcal lssue upon whlch our
aLLenLlon and energles should be focused.
1he lederal governmenL has made a sacred pledge Lo dlspose of Lhese lands. We sLand ready Lo asslsL you ln
helplng WashlngLon honor LhaL promlse. Cur prosperlLy and quallLy of llfe depend upon our success.
8especLfully,
"#$%& #' (&)*$+,#-
FIchard S. Dsborn, PresIdent
Susan PulsIpher, 7Ice PresIdent
JanIce L. 7oorhIes, Secretary
J. Lynn Crane, |ember
Peggy Jo Kennett, |ember
CorbIn WhIte, |ember
Kayleen WhItelock, |ember
.'',*/%0
PatrIce A. Johnson, SuperIntendent of Schools
0. 8urke Jolley, 0eputy SuperIntendent for 8usIness ServIces
DRAFT
Attachment K
HIDALGO COUNTY
NEW MEXICO
'
RESOLUTION 2013-13
t,
SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO CREATE THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS ACT;
DEFINING LANDS TO BE TRANSFERED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
THE STATE; DEVELOPING A MECHANISM FOR THE TRANSFER OF FEDERAL
PUBLIC LANDS TO THE STATE; AND CREATING THE PUBLIC LANDS TRANSFER
TASK FORCE.
WHEREAS, at statehood, the federal govemment promised all states that it would transfer title
b the public lands within the newly created states; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has called these promises
"solemn cdmpacts," "bilateral
dgreements," and "husts"
that must be performed
"in a timely fashion"; and
WHEREAS, the western states are still waiting for the federal government to keep the same
promise to them that it made and kept with all states east ofNew Mexico; and,
WfEnfeS, states like Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Florida Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama,
Mississippi were once as much as9}Yo federally controlled for decades; and
,
WHEREAS, these "western states" (as they called themselves at the time) succeeded in
compelling the federal government to transfer their public lands because they understood the
history of the public lands and the duty of the federal government to dispose of the same, and
drey banded together and refused to take
ooNo"
for an answer because federally controlled public
lands prevented them from (i) generating tax revenues to educate their children, (ii) growing
dreir economies, and (iii) responsibly managing their abundant naturdl resources. (See,
for more information); and
'
WHEREAS, despite the fact that the promise is the same to dispose of the public lands upon
being admitted as states, states east of New Mexico have less than 5% federailly controlled lands
while the Westem States (excluding Hawaii) have more than 50% federally controlled lands; and
WHEREAS, state and local government officials have a crucial responsibillity to manage our
dbundant lands and resources sfategically and prudently for the health, safety and welfare of our
citizens; and
i
WHEREAS, State Representative Yvette Henell (Dist. 51) has introduced legislation during the
2013 legislative session to create the Transfer of Public Lands Act to establish the framework for
the orderly transfer of federal public lands to the state; and
:
WHEREAS, under the proposed Transfer of Public Lands Act legislation, f'ederal public lands
will become state public lands to be managed through local planning f$r the multiple-use
(including uses like hunting, fishing, recreation, gtazing, open space, economlc activity, etc.) and
the sustained yield of our abundant natural resources on state public lands; and
Attachment K
i
WHEREAS, the proposed Transfer of Public Lands Act has received bfoad support from
d-umerous state legislators and other public officials and private individual$ and organizations
within the state; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico can no longer wait for the federal government to keep its
promise to transfer title of public lands to the state to adequately and respons[bly provide for the
educational equality, the environmental quality of our forests and lands, andlthe economic self-
reliance of our state.
i
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COI\,flVIISSIONERS OF
HIDALGO COUNTY THAT HIDALGO COLINTY wholeheartedly supports the proposed
lbgislation to create the Transfer of Public Lands Act in order hold the federal govemment to its
bng-overdue promise to transfer title to public lands to t}re state, to protect the state's public
gducation
system and economic vitality, and to preserve the important historical and cultural
contribution that our public lands provide to the State of New Mexico; and
I
tsE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT HIDALGO COLTNTY calls upon its fellow cities and
towns, counties and local, state and national elected representatives of New Mexico to exert their
full influence and authority to secure the passage and implementation of the proposed Transfer of
Public Lands Act lesislation.
, nlL
/ - <-
PASSED APPROVED AND ADOPTED this the
/wl
day of February,20
,
!
i -
L
1 Chairman
! ^
t .
- -
^ )
I
$EAL
ATTEST:
Ed Kerr. Commissioner i
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Attachment K
Enrolled Copy S.J.R. 13
1 JOINT RESOLUTION URGING GOVERNOR AND UTAH'S
2 CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SECURE UTAH STATE
3 LAND
4 2013 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Aaron Osmond
7 House Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature strongly urges the federal government to transfer
12 title to the public lands within the boundaries of the state of Utah to the state, and
13 strongly urges the Governor and Utah's congressional delegation to work to obtain from
14 the federal government the transfer of these lands to this state.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 ! fully supports the provisions of the Transfer of Public Lands Act, as currently
18 signed into law, and strongly urges the federal government to honor its long overdue
19 promise to transfer title to the public lands within the boundaries of the state of
20 Utah to the state;
21 ! declares that this action, if taken by the federal government, will allow Utah to
22 provide for the education of its children, grow its economy and job opportunities,
23 and provide for responsible management of the state's abundant natural resources
24 while preserving the important historic and cultural contributions that Utah's public
25 lands provide the citizens of Utah, the nation, and the world;
26 ! strongly urges the Governor, the Attorney General, Utah's congressional delegation,
27 Utah's local governments, and the citizens of the state of Utah to join the Legislature
28 in fully supporting the provisions of the Transfer of Public Lands Act, as currently
29 signed into law, in order to hold the federal government accountable for its long
Attachment K
S.J.R. 13 Enrolled Copy
- 2 -
30 overdue promise to transfer title to the public lands within the state of Utah to the state; and
31 ! strongly urges the Governor and Utah's congressional delegation to exert their
32 utmost abilities to obtain from the federal government the transfer to this state of the
33 public lands as specified in the Utah Transfer of Public Lands Act at as early a
34 period and on such terms as may be beneficial to the state and advantageous to its
35 citizens.
36 Special Clauses:
37 None
38
39 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
40 WHEREAS, at statehood, Utah exacted from the federal government in its Utah
41 Enabling Act the same promise the federal government made and kept with all states east of
42 Colorado -- the promise that the federal government would "extinguish title" to the public lands
43 within the boundaries of the state;
44 WHEREAS, to facilitate the federal government's performance of this promise, Utah
45 agreed, just like states east of Colorado, to "forever disclaim all right and title to the
46 unappropriated public lands" as a means of quieting title;
47 WHEREAS, with certainty of the title, the federal government was able to give
48 certainty of title to purchasers and transferees of the public lands as the federal government
49 disposed of them in honoring statehood contracts like Utah's Enabling Act;
50 WHEREAS, Utah's expectation that the federal government would timely dispose of
51 the public lands as a material part of the benefit of its enabling act bargain is plainly evident
52 from the Utah Senate Joint Memorial Number Four from 1915, which provides, in part, as
53 follows:
54 "In harmony with the spirit and letter of the land grants to the national government, in
55 perpetuation of a policy that has done more to promote the general welfare than any other
56 policy in our national life, and in conformity with the terms of our Enabling Act, we, the
57 members of the Legislature of the State of Utah, memorialize the President and the Congress of
Attachment K
Enrolled Copy S.J.R. 13
- 3 -
58 the United States for the speedy return to the former liberal national attitude toward the public
59 domain, and we call attention to the fact that the burden of State and local government in Utah
60 is borne by the taxation of less than one-third of the lands of the State, which alone is vested in
61 private or corporate ownership, and we hereby earnestly urge a policy that will afford an
62 opportunity to settle our lands and make use of our resources on terms of equality with the
63 older states, to the benefit and upbuilding of the State and to the strength of the nation.";
64 WHEREAS, Utah's expectation that the federal government would timely dispose of
65 the public lands as a material part of our enabling act bargain is plainly evident from the
66 express language of Section 9 of the Utah Enabling Act that "five per centum of the proceeds
67 of the sales of public lands lying within said State, which shall be sold by the United States
68 subsequent to the admission of said State into the Union, after deducting all the expenses
69 incident to the same, shall be paid to the said State, to be used as a permanent fund, the interest
70 of which only shall be expended for the support of the common schools within said State";
71 WHEREAS, Utah's expectation that the federal government would timely dispose of
72 the public lands as a material part of our enabling act bargain is plainly evident from the fact
73 that the "forever disclaim right and title ... until title thereto shall be extinguished [be and
74 remain]" is the very same language contained in the enabling acts of states east of Colorado
75 where the federal government did, in fact, dispose of virtually all of its public lands;
76 WHEREAS, Utah's expectation that the federal government would timely dispose of
77 the public lands as a material part of its enabling act bargain is evident from the fact that Utah
78 did not bargain, and would never have bargained, away the "incident of sovereignty" of being
79 able to tax the lands to provide essential government services;
80 WHEREAS, the enabling act of North Dakota was done within five years of Utah's and
81 contains virtually the same word-for-word disposal language, but the federal government
82 disposed of all 3% of North Dakota's public lands such that it keeps 100% of its mineral
83 royalties, controls 100% of the access, use, and development of their lands, and, as a
84 consequence, has an abundance of public funds for education and other essential public
85 services;
Attachment K
S.J.R. 13 Enrolled Copy
- 4 -
86 WHEREAS, according to the United States Government Accountability Office in
87 testimony to Congress in May of 2012, the United States Geological Survey estimates that "the
88 Green River Formation [an area where Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming meet] contains about 3
89 trillion barrels of oil, and about half of this may be recoverable, depending on available
90 technology and economic conditions";
91 WHEREAS, according to the Institute for Energy Research in February of 2013, there
92 is more than $150,000,000,000,000 worth of energy resources locked up in federally controlled
93 lands throughout the West;
94 WHEREAS, given that the federal government continues to run unsustainable,
95 trillion-plus annual deficits, and continues to amass unsustainable national debt and unfunded
96 obligations for social services in the dozens of trillions, Utah faces inevitable reductions in the
97 amount or value of the 45.3% of federal funds that comprise total state spending;
98 WHEREAS, any reduction in federal funds to the state, which comprise the single
99 largest source of Utah's total spending, will disproportionately impact funding for education as
100 the single largest component of Utah's state budget;
101 WHEREAS, in 2012, the Legislature of the state of Utah passed by supermajorities in
102 both houses, and the Governor signed, H.B. 148, Transfer of Public Lands Act, to secure the
103 full rights and benefits of Utah's Enabling Act in the transfer of Utah's public lands to the state
104 to be managed for the multiple use and sustained yield of Utah's abundant resources through
105 local planning;
106 WHEREAS, other mountain west states are beginning to follow Utah's lead with
107 various legislative measures to secure their enabling act promise for the timely disposal of their
108 public lands;
109 WHEREAS, there is no sustainable way to increase personal or corporate taxes
110 sufficient to close even a fraction of the per-pupil funding gap in the state, a gap which is the
111 largest in the nation; and
112 WHEREAS, the ability to derive tax and other revenues from the lands, including
113 through maintaining recreation and heritage areas and other multiple uses within the state, is
Attachment K
Enrolled Copy S.J.R. 13
- 5 -
114 the only solution substantial enough to provide for the education equality of Utah's children
115 and the economic self-reliance for the state:
116 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah fully
117 supports the provisions of the Transfer of Public Lands Act, as currently signed into law, and
118 strongly urges the federal government to honor its long overdue promise to transfer title to the
119 public lands within the boundaries of the state of Utah to the state and, by doing so, allow Utah
120 to take its place equally among the states of the Union.
121 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah declares that
122 this action, if taken by the federal government, will allow Utah to provide for the education of
123 its children, grow its economy and job opportunities, and provide for responsible management
124 of the state's abundant natural resources while preserving the important historic and cultural
125 contributions that Utah's public lands provide the citizens of Utah, the nation, and the world.
126 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature strongly urges the Governor, the
127 Attorney General, Utah's congressional delegation, Utah's local governments, and the citizens
128 of the state of Utah to join the Legislature in fully supporting the provisions of the Transfer of
129 Public Lands Act, as currently signed into law, in order to hold the federal government
130 accountable for its long overdue promise to transfer title to the public lands within the state of
131 Utah to the state.
132 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature strongly urges the Governor and
133 Utah's congressional delegation to exert their utmost abilities to obtain from the federal
134 government the transfer to this state of the public lands as specified in the Utah Transfer of
135 Public Lands Act at as early a period and on such terms as may be beneficial to the state and
136 advantageous to its citizens.
137 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the United
138 States Department of the Interior, United States Department of Agriculture, the Majority
139 Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the
140 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of Utah's congressional
141 delegation, and the Governors of the other 49 states.
Attachment K
__________________ County Farm Bureau RESOLUTION 2013-___________
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FULL AND PRESENT IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS ACT (Utah HB 148 2012)
WHEREAS, at statehood, the federal government promised all states that it would transfer title to
the public lands within the newly created states; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has called these promises "solemn compacts," "bilateral
agreements," and "trusts" that must be performed "in a timely fashion"; and
WHEREAS, Utah and the other western states are still waiting for the federal government to honor
to them the same promise it made and kept with all states east of Colorado; and
WHEREAS, states like Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama,
Mississippi were once as much as 90% federally controlled for decades; and
WHEREAS, these western states (as they called themselves at the time) succeeded in compelling
the federal government to transfer their public lands because they understood the historical duty of the
federal government to dispose of the same, and they banded together and refused to be silent or take No
for an answer because federally controlled public lands prevented them from (i) generating tax revenues to
educate their children, (ii) growing their economies, (iii) caring for their lands, and (iv) responsibly
utilizing their abundant natural resources. (See, www.AmericanLandsCouncil.org for more information);
and
WHEREAS, despite the fact that the promise is the same to dispose of the public lands upon being
admitted as states, states east of Colorado have less than 5% federally controlled lands, while the Western
States (excluding Hawaii) have more than 50% federally controlled lands; and
WHEREAS, in Utah, the federal government controls nearly 65% of our lands; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, Congress changed its policy regarding our public lands (Federal Lands
Policy Management Act, or FLPMA) to retain public lands in federal ownership ignoring the 200-year-
old obligation of Congress to transfer title to our public lands;
1
and
WHEREAS, this policy change by Congress has failed western communities and schools, forest
health, wildlife preservation, watershed management, and jobs and the economy, both locally and
nationally; and
WHEREAS, withdrawals of public lands from use and economic activity, through such federal
action as monuments and wilderness designations, constricts the value of [State]s School Trust Lands and
reduces the funds available for educating our children; and
WHEREAS, state and local government officials have a crucial responsibility to manage our
abundant lands and resources strategically and prudently for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens;
and
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C/.1,?@AD(<61+
Attachment K
WHEREAS, in the 2012 session, the Utah House and Senate passed by supermajorities the Transfer
of Public Lands Act and Joint Resolution on Federal Transfer of Public to establish the framework and a
deadline for the orderly transfer of federal public lands to the State; and
WHEREAS, under the Transfer of Public Lands, federal public lands will become state public lands
to be managed through local planning for the multiple-use (including traditional uses like hunting, fishing,
recreation, grazing, open space, economic activity, etc.) and the sustained yield of our abundant natural
resources on state public lands; and
WHEREAS, the Transfer of Public Lands Act has received broad support from the governors, state
attorneys general, state legislators, members of many Western congressional delegations, multiple counties,
and other public officials, and private individuals and organizations throughout the western states and
beyond (even the South Carolina House of Representatives passed a resolution in support of the transfer of
public lands to willing western states); and
WHEREAS, the implementation of the Transfer of Public Lands Act will require the persistent and
relentless efforts of counties and their citizens, giving guidance, encouragement and support to governor,
attorneys general, legislatures along with the unwavering support of local governments and public and
private individuals and organizations.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE
______________________ COUNTY FARM BUREAU that the County Farm Bureau wholeheartedly
supports the full implementation of the Transfer of Public Lands Act in order hold the federal government
to honor its long-overdue promise to transfer title to public lands to the State of Utah in order to protect the
State's public education system and economic vitality, and to preserve the important historical and cultural
contribution that our public lands provide to the State of Utah, the nation, and world; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Farm Bureau calls upon its fellow county farm
bureaus, towns, cities, counties, and school districts to do all in their power and influence to support Utahs
elected officials, including particularly Utahs governor, attorney general, legislature, congressional
delegation and county commissioners to exert their utmost abilities, influence and authority to fully
implement the Transfer of Public Lands Act and secure the transfer of our public lands to the State, with
time being of the essence.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor, Attorney
General, Senate President, Speaker of the House, each member of Utahs congressional delegation, the
Utah Association of Counties, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Superintendent of Utah State Office
of Education and State School Board, State School Boards Association, State Superintendents Association,
Utah PTA, Director of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), Utah State
Chamber of Commerce, the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, and to the American Lands Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this the _____
th
day of ___________, 2013.
_______________________________
______________________, President
_____________ County Farm Bureau
Attachment K
For questions or more information see www.AmericanLandsCouncil.org or contact:
Utah Rep. Ken Ivory, 801.694.8380, voteivory@gmail.com.
RESOLUTION (States East of Colorado)
TO EXPRESS SUPPORT TO THE WESTERN STATES OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA FOR THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS TO THE WESTERN
STATES, AND TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENGAGE IN GOOD
FAITH COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER
OF TITLE TO THE WESTERN STATES.
Whereas, under Article IV, Section 3, of the United States Constitution, The congress shall have
power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United States; and
Whereas, the Constitutional Convention intended this provision of the Constitution to maintain
the status quo that had previously been established to transfer western public lands only to create
new states with the same rights of sovereignty, freedom, and independence as the original states;
and
Whereas, under these express terms of trust, over time the states claiming western lands ceded
them to the confederated Union to allow the confederated government to dispose of the lands
only to create new states and apply the net proceeds of any sales of the lands, if any, only to pay
down the public debt; and
Whereas, the United States Constitution contains no expression of intent to authorize the federal
government to indefinitely exercise control over western public lands beyond the duty to manage
the lands pending the disposal of the lands to create new states, and therefore the lands should be
now transferred to the western states; and
Whereas, States such as Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida had as
much as 90% federally controlled lands for decades but they were successful in joining with
other states and compelling Congress to transfer title to their public lands; and
Whereas, in 1959, the United States granted directly to the State of Hawaii, the United States
title to all the public lands and other public property within the boundaries of the State of Hawaii,
title to which is held by the United States immediately prior to its admission into the Union.
Whereas, in order to promote legitimate federal interests, the western states should upon transfer
of the public lands directly to the state where the public land is located agree to affirmatively
cede lands for the national park system, the national wilderness preservation system, and lands
reserved for federal military use, military parks, and military reservations to the federal
government under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17, of the United States Constitution, on condition
that the lands permanently remain national park lands, and that they not be sold, transferred, left
in substantial disrepair, or conveyed to any party other than to the state where the land is located;
and
Whereas, limiting the ability of western states to access and utilize the abundant natural
resources within their borders locked up in federally controlled lands is having a negative impact
Attachment K
For questions or more information see www.AmericanLandsCouncil.org or contact:
Utah Rep. Ken Ivory, 801.694.8380, voteivory@gmail.com.
upon the economy of the western states and therefore the economy of the entire United States;
and
Whereas, in order to provide a fair, just, and equitable remedy for the federal governments past
and continuing breaches of its solemn promises to the western states, the [Legislative Body of
___________ State: (1) calls on the federal government to transfer title to all federally managed
public lands within the western states to the state where the land is located; (2) calls upon the
members of the [State] Congressional Delegation to exert their utmost abilities to compel the
federal government to transfer title to all federally managed public lands to the western states
wherein it is located; (3) urges the United States Congress to engage in good faith
communication, cooperation, and consultation with the western states to coordinate the transfer
of the public lands, and supports the western states in these efforts; (4) calls upon the western
states to agree, upon transfer of the public lands, to affirmatively cede to the federal government
all lands currently designated as part of the National Park System under 16 U.S.C. Section 1a-1,
the National Wilderness Preservation System under 16 U.S.C. Section 1131, or for military use,
military parks, or military reservations; (5) urges that if any public land in the western states be
sold to private owners 95% of the net proceeds be paid to the Bureau of the Public Debt to pay
down the federal debt; and (6) calls on all other states of the United States to pass a similar
resolution in support of the transfer of the federally managed public lands to the western states.
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, by this
resolution, express support to the western states of the United States of America and the federal
transfer of public lands to the western states, and urges the United States Congress to engage in
good faith communication and cooperation to coordinate the transfer of title to the western states.
Be it further resolved that upon its adoption copies of this resolution be forwarded to the United
States Department of the Interior, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker
of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the [State] Congressional
Delegation, and the Governors, Senate Presidents, and Speakers of the House of Representatives
of the 49 other states.
Attachment K
7/14/13 10:31 AM Benton on Public Land
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Thomas Hart Benton Springfield-Greene County History
Local History Website of the SMSU Department of History
Thomas Hart Benton, The Public LandsTheir Proper Dispositions
(excerpts)
I do not know how old, or rather, how young I was, when I first took up the
notion that sales of land by a government to its own citizens, and to the highest
bidder, was false policy; and that gratuitous grants to actual settlers was the
true policy, and their labor the true way of extracting national wealth and
strength from the soil. It might have been in childhood, when reading the Bible,
and seeing the division of the promised land among the children of Israel: it
might have been later, and in learning the operation of the feudal system in
giving lands to those who would defend them: it might have been in early life in
Tennessee, in seeing the fortunes and respectability of many families derived
from the 640 acre head-rights which the State of North Carolina had bestowed
upon the first settlers.
When I came to the Territory of Missouri in 1815, and saw land exposed to sale
to the highest bidder, and lead mines and salt springs reserved from sale, and
rented out for the profit of the federal treasury, I felt repugnance to the whole
system, and determined to make war upon it whenever I should have the power.
The time came round with my election to the Senate of the United States in
1820: and the years 1824, '26, and '28, found me doing battle for an
ameliorated system of disposing of our public lands; and with some success. I
resolved to move against the whole system, and especially in favor of graduated
prices, and donations to actual and destitute settlers: I did so in a bill, renewed
annually for a long time; and in speeches which had more effect upon the public
mind than upon the federal legislation counteracted as my plan was by schemes
of dividing the public lands, of the money arising from their sale, among the
States.
[When the settler cultivates the land,] ... the improved condition of the land
enables him to pay taxes, and consume durable goods, and to sell the products
which command the imports which pay duties to the government, and this is the
"well-regulated revenue" which comes through the course of circulation, and
through the "political secretions" of the State, and commends [itself] above all
revenue derived from the sale of lands.
The whole annual receipts from land sales at this time (1850) are about two
millions of dollars: the annual receipts from customs, founded almost entirely
upon the direct productions of the earth, exceed fifty millions of dollars! giving a
comparative difference of twenty-five to one cultivation over sales . I have
looked up respective amounts of federal revenue, into the treasury from these
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two sources [since the] establishment of the federal government; and the
customs to have yielded, in that fraction over one thousand millions net--the
lands to have yielded a little less than a hundred and thirty millions gross, not 1
millions clear after paying all expenses of its sales and management. This is a
difference of twenty-five to one--with the further difference of endless future
production from one, and no future production from the land once that is to say,
the same acre of land is for ever through cultivation, and pays for itself in
purchase.
These Atlantic States were donations from the British crown; and the great
proprietors distributed out of their possessions with a free and generous hand. A
few shillings for a hundred acres, a nominal quitrent, and gifts of a
hundred, five hundred, and a thousand acres, to actual settlers: such were the
terms on which they dealt out the soil which is now covered by a nation of
freemen. Provinces which now form sovereign States, were sold from hand to
hand, for a less sum than the federal government now demand for an area of
two miles square.
I quoted the example of all nations, ancient and modern, republican and
monarchical, in favor of giving lands, in parcels suitable to their wants, to
meritorious cultivators; and denied that there was an instance upon earth,
except that of our own federal government, which made merchandise of land to
its citizens--exacted the highest price it could obtain--and refused to suffer the
country to be settled until it was paid for. The "promised land " was divided
among the children or Israel--the women getting a share where there was no
man at the head of the family with the daughters of Manasseh. All the Atlantic
States, when British colonies, were settled upon gratuitous donations, or
nominal sales. Kentucky and Tennessee were chiefly settled in the same way.
The two Floridas, and Upper and Lower Louisiana, were gratuitously distributed
by the kings of Spain to settlers, in quantities adapted to their means of
cultivation--and with the whole vacant domain to select from according to their
pleasure. Land is now given to settlers in Canada; and 30,000 sterling, has
been voted at a single session of Parliament, to aid emigrants in their removal
to these homes, and commencing life upon them.
The new States of the West were the sufferers by this federal land policy. They
were in a different condition from other States. In these others, the local
legislatures held the primary disposal of the soil, so much as remained vacant
within their limits, and being of the same community, made equitable alienations
among their constituents. In the new States it was different. The federal
government held the primary disposition of the soil; and the majority of
Congress (being independent of the people of these States), was less heedful
of their wants and wishes. They were as a stepmother, instead of a natural
mother: and the federal government being sole purchaser from foreign nations,
and sole recipient of Indian cessions, it became the monopolizer of vacant lands
of the West: and this monopoly, like all monopolies, resulted in hardships to
those upon whom it acted. Few, or none of our public men, had raised their
voice against this hard policy before I came into the national councils. My own
was soon raised there against it: and it is certain that a great amelioration has
taken place in our federal land policy during my time: and that the sentiment of
Congress, and that of the public generally, has become much more liberal in
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land alienations; and is approximating towards the beneficent systems of the
rest of the world. But the members in Congress from the new States should not
intermit their exertions, nor vary their policy; and should fix their eyes steadily
upon the period of the speedy extinction of the federal title to all the lands within
the limits of their respective States; to be effected by. Preemption rights, by
donations, and by the sale (of so much as shall be sold), at graduated prices-
adapted to the different qualities of the tracts, to be estimated according to the
time it has remained in market unsold--and by liberal grants to objects of
general improvement, both national and territorial.
Excerpt from The Public LandsTheir Proper Dispositions, in Thomas Hart
Benton, Thirty Years View (NY: D. Appleton and Company, 1854) 1:102-107.
Website Created and Maintained by F. Thornton Miller, SMSU Department of History
Attachment K