If Utah’s House Bill 48 isn’t challenged by the federal government, it could have a big impact on Box Elder County. The bill was passed in the legislative session earlier this year and requires the United States to transfer federally owned public land to the state by December 31, 2014. Box Elder County includes 2,312 square miles of federal land. Box Elder County has a total of 6,729 square miles.
Some federal property would be exempt such as school and institutional trust lands, national parks, Golden Spike National Historic Site, national monuments, areas that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System and federal property within any city limits.
A statewide citizen commission will be created to manage the transfer of title and address management issues, such as multiple uses of public lands, open space, access, local planning and sustainable yield of natural resources. Box Elder News Journal
