To nullify the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan.

Bill Number

H.R. 2376

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2025-05-21T18:26:50Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill, H.R. 2376, aims to cancel a specific land management decision by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a federal agency under the Department of the Interior. The decision involves a "Travel Management Plan" for the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge areas, which are public lands in Utah. A Travel Management Plan is a regulatory framework that designates allowed routes for vehicles, trails, and other travel to protect natural resources while permitting recreation.

Key Provisions

• The Secretary of the Interior is prohibited from putting into effect, managing, or applying the "Decision Record Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan," dated January 2025.
• This decision record is declared to have no legal authority or impact, effectively voiding it.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill directly overrides a finalized administrative decision by the BLM, which would otherwise guide travel and access on these public lands under existing federal laws like the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (which requires such plans to balance conservation and use).
• No new laws or frameworks are created; instead, it removes the enforcement of this specific plan, potentially reverting to prior management rules or leaving a gap until a new plan is developed.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The BLM and Department of the Interior would lose authority to enforce the plan, possibly requiring resources to address any resulting management vacuum or legal challenges. This could delay or alter ongoing land use policies in the affected areas.
• On Citizens: Local residents, hunters, off-road vehicle users, hikers, and other recreational visitors to the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge may experience unchanged or expanded access to trails and roads, depending on prior rules. Environmental protection measures in the plan (e.g., route restrictions to prevent erosion or wildlife disruption) would not be applied.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this concerns domestic public land management.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of the Interior, which handle public land oversight.
• Local Communities and Users: Residents of southern Utah (near the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge), including ranchers, tourists, and outdoor enthusiasts who rely on these lands for grazing, hunting, and recreation.
• Environmental and Conservation Groups: Organizations advocating for wildlife protection (e.g., for bighorn sheep in the Henry Mountains) may oppose the nullification if the plan included conservation benefits.
• Congressional Representatives: The bill's sponsor, Rep. Maloy (R-UT), represents Utah interests, highlighting state-federal tensions over land control.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: This act of Congress overriding an agency decision could set a precedent for legislative intervention in administrative rulemaking, potentially inviting court challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act (which governs how agencies make rules). It ensures the plan cannot be enforced without further congressional or agency action.
• Constitutional: Raises questions about the balance of powers between Congress (which holds authority over public lands under the Property Clause of the Constitution) and the executive branch's implementation of laws.
• Political: Reflects ongoing debates over federal land management in Western states, where local control is often favored over national regulations; it may influence similar bills targeting BLM decisions and highlight partisan divides on conservation versus economic use of public lands.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-03-26: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To nullify the Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge Travel Management Plan. — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (2 pages)