Landmark Dingell Act land exchange completed
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SALT LAKE CITY — Today, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum joined Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Utah Senator John Curtis to sign the agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Utah Trust Lands Administration to complete the final step of a historic land exchange.
Congress mandated the exchange as part of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, known locally as the Emery County Land Exchange. Through the exchange, the State of Utah will gain 47 water rights; approximately 83,000 acres with sub-surface mineral estate; approximately 4,000 surface-only acres; and approximately 5,000 acres of sub-surface mineral, oil and gas, and coal-only estate.
"This mutually beneficial land exchange benefits Utah and the entire country by advancing American energy production, supporting local jobs and economies, and improving the recreation experience on Utah’s iconic landscapes," said Acting BLM Director Jon Raby. “Not only will the BLM’s management of world class recreation opportunities be improved, but this action will help the State of Utah play a critical role in President Trump’s initiative to unleash American energy resources."
The parcels being conveyed to Utah are estimated to contain approximately 32 million recoverable tons of coal, approximately 2.5 million barrels of oil, and approximately 25,800 million cubic feet of natural gas. Other uses these parcels may be available for include housing development, recreation, livestock grazing, and critical minerals development. The revenues from development of these parcels will directly benefit funding for Utah public schools.
As part of the Dingell Act, Congress created a number of new recreation and conservation designations in eastern Utah, including the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area and the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area. In exchange for the rich mineral deposit parcels, the BLM will receive approximately 116,042 acres of isolated state lands within many of these protected areas, which will help consolidate and simplify management of public lands in the areas.
The land exchange reflects the Trump administration’s continued commitment to creating stronger, more prosperous communities across Utah by facilitating the development of abundant domestic energy and mineral resources. The public and state lands are located across 18 counties in Utah: Beaver, Carbon, Emery, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Rich, San Juan, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Wayne counties.
More information, including a final map of exchanged lands, is available at the BLM National NEPA Register.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.