Friday, February 3, 2017

Utah’s Chaffetz backs off on plan to sell off ‘excess’ public lands

SLTrib.com - Full Article

By COURTNEY TANNER | The Salt Lake Tribune
February 2 2017

‘I hear you’ » Republican congressman’s move is lauded by conservationist groups.

Over "fear it sends the wrong message," Rep. Jason Chaffetz will abandon his bill that called on the Interior Department to dispose of or sell 3.3 million acres of "excess" public lands.

Chaffetz, R-Utah, had reintroduced the legislation in January, saying the disposal was "long overdue." He's backed off the plan since then, seemingly in response to the many conservationist groups that protested the plan on social media.

With the note "I hear you," the congressman vowed to withdraw the bill Wednesday evening on Instagram.

"I'm a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands," Chaffetz posted. "The bill would have disposed of small parcels of lands Pres. Clinton identified as serving no public purpose but groups I support and care about fear it sends the wrong message..."

Read more here:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/4895033-155/utahs-chaffetz-backs-off-on-plan

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