A withdrawal that has prevented the lease or sale of state trust land in the Kokopelli area near Moab expired Wednesday, leaving the U.S. Bureau of Land Management frustrated with a process that has gone on since 1990.
The federal agency wanted to swap some of its lands with the state so the Kokopelli area could be included in a comprehensive federal management plan. The two trust sections in question are in a slickrock area that has become popular with bikers and others recreationists.But Tuesday, the State Land Board refused to extend the withdrawal. That means applications for lease or purchase of the land by any potential user can now be considered. The BLM will have to compete with other potential users or make other arrangements to get control of the land, board members said.
Brad Palmer, area manager for the BLM's Grand Resource Area, said a proposed management plan for the land near Moab is ready to distribute for public comment. It presupposes that the BLM would gain control of the Kokopelli sections. The land board's action could complicate the federal agency's plans, he said.
The BLM probably is not willing to lease the land for recreation purposes but "could be interested in a purchase," he said. The BLM and the Division of State Lands and Forestry jointly spent $4,000 to $5,000 for an appraisal of the land, said Palmer. Federal laws, however, won't allow the BLM to pay more than the appraised value for the land, while the division is intent on maximizing the income to the school trust.
Palmer told the Deseret News some of Utah's congressional delegation have expressed interest in solving the problem through federal legislation that would provide the federal agency money to purchase the land. Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, will be in Moab soon to discuss alternatives.
Another option would be to have a private interest, such as the Nature Conservancy, cooperate with the BLM in purchasing the property.
Land Board member Gayle McKeachnie pointed out that the withdrawal status "takes consideration of this land off the table and keeps it out of sight. Why not look at it? Maybe there is a better proposal than the (BLM) exchange."
Fellow board member Douglas Bates agreed that withdrawal has been dragging on too long. "It's time to move on," he said. The Kokopelli sections had been "in the competitive process" with other interested parties before the BLM proposed an exchange, he said. "We need to break the deadlock. If it's important to the BLM, they'll take steps to acquire the land."
Maintaining the withdrawal indefinitely would be a violation of the board's responsibility as trust managers, Bates said.