America's Red Rock Wilderness Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2467
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-30T08:05:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The America's Red Rock Wilderness Act (H.R. 2467) aims to designate specific federal lands in Utah's red rock canyons of the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin Deserts as wilderness areas. This protects these lands' cultural, ecological, and scenic values for current and future generations, while preserving opportunities for traditional activities like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and spiritual practices by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: Defines "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and "State" as Utah.
- Findings: Highlights the lands as some of the largest unprotected wild public areas in the U.S., emphasizing their role in landscape connectivity, climate change mitigation (e.g., providing wildlife refuges, reducing emissions from fossil fuels), cultural significance as Indigenous living landscapes, and contribution to global conservation goals like protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030.
- Purposes: Focuses on wilderness designation, protection of values, and support for traditional land uses.
- Wilderness Designations (Title I): Designates over 100 specific areas as wilderness under the Wilderness Act of 1964 (a law that preserves undeveloped federal lands in their natural state). These include:
- Great Basin areas (e.g., Wah Wah Mountains, Notch Peak; total ~1.5 million acres across 77 sites).
- Grand Staircase-Escalante areas (e.g., Paria-Hackberry, Fiftymile Mountain; ~1.2 million acres across 40+ sites, divided into Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits Plateau, and Escalante Canyons subregions).
- Moab-La Sal Canyons (e.g., Behind the Rocks, Fisher Towers; ~250,000 acres across 17 sites).
- Henry Mountains (e.g., Mount Pennell; ~300,000 acres across 10 sites).
- Glen Canyon (e.g., Dirty Devil, Dark Canyon; ~800,000 acres across 14 sites).
- San Juan (e.g., Grand Gulch; ~500,000 acres across 15 sites, many within Bears Ears National Monument).
- Canyonlands Basin (e.g., Hatch Point/Lockhart Basin; ~600,000 acres across 12 sites).
- San Rafael Swell (e.g., Eagle Canyon; ~600,000 acres across 21 sites).
- Book Cliffs-Greater Dinosaur (e.g., Desolation Canyon expansion; ~700,000 acres across 25 sites).
- Areas are generally depicted on maps referenced in the bill, with approximate acreages provided.
- Administrative Provisions (Title II):
- Maps and Names: Requires BLM to file maps and legal descriptions with Congress; these have legal force, with public availability.
- Management: Administered by BLM under the Wilderness Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (which governs public land use), subject to existing rights.
- State School Trust Lands: Offers land exchanges for state-owned lands within designations to consolidate federal ownership, excluding mineral interests unless transferred.
- Water Rights: Reserves federal water rights for wilderness needs (priority date: enactment), without affecting prior rights; specifies these are unique to this Act.
- Roads: Sets buffer zones (setbacks) from roads to define boundaries (e.g., 100-300 feet depending on road type), with exceptions for natural barriers, fences, or minor disturbances like campsites.
- Livestock Grazing: Allows continuation of existing grazing under reasonable regulations consistent with wilderness laws.
- Fish and Wildlife: Preserves state jurisdiction over wildlife and fish management.
- Tribal Rights: Does not alter federally recognized Indian Tribes' rights or U.S. obligations to them.
- Acquired Lands: Any newly acquired federal land within designations becomes part of the wilderness and is managed accordingly.
- Withdrawal: Prohibits new entry, mining claims, mineral/geothermal leasing, or disposal of designated lands, subject to existing rights.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the National Wilderness Preservation System by adding approximately 5.3 million acres of new wilderness in Utah, building on the Wilderness Act of 1964.
- Enhances protections for areas within existing national monuments (e.g., Grand Staircase-Escalante from 1996, Bears Ears from 2016) by formalizing wilderness status, which imposes stricter limits on development than monument designations.
- Introduces specific water reservations for wilderness purposes, clarifying they do not set precedents for future laws.
- Modifies land management by mandating exchanges for state trust lands and detailed road setbacks, which refine boundaries more precisely than general wilderness guidelines.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: BLM will face increased management responsibilities for conservation, monitoring, and enforcement, potentially requiring more resources for boundary delineation, water claims, and tribal consultations. Withdrawals limit future revenue from leasing or mining on these lands.
- Citizens: Enhances recreational access for activities like hiking and camping in protected areas, while restricting motorized use, mining, and development to preserve natural conditions. Local economies tied to extraction (e.g., fossil fuels) may see reduced opportunities, but tourism and eco-related jobs could benefit.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it supports U.S. commitments to global biodiversity goals (e.g., 30x30 initiative) and climate mitigation by reducing emissions from fossil fuel activities.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Primarily BLM and Department of the Interior, responsible for implementation and management.
- State of Utah: Affected through land exchanges for school trust lands and potential loss of resource development options; may influence state revenue from minerals.
- Indigenous Tribes: Benefits from protections for cultural sites, traditional uses, and spiritual values; explicit safeguards for tribal rights.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Gain expanded protected areas for biodiversity, climate refugia, and scenic preservation.
- Local Communities and Recreation Users: Positive for hikers, hunters, and campers; mixed for those relying on grazing or off-road access.
- Industry Groups: Challenges for mining, energy extraction, and livestock operators due to withdrawals and grazing regulations.
- Wildlife and General Public: Supports habitat connectivity, species protection (e.g., bighorn sheep, buffalo), and long-term ecological health.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the Wilderness Act's framework by adding specific protections (e.g., water reservations, road rules) without altering its core principles; ensures compliance with property rights by honoring existing uses and valid claims. Potential for litigation over boundary adjustments or state land exchanges if not equitably handled.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands under the Property Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 3), promoting public welfare through conservation. No direct First Amendment issues, but protections for Indigenous spiritual uses underscore cultural rights.
- Political: Represents a push for expanded federal conservation amid debates over public land use in Western states; could heighten tensions between environmental priorities and state/local interests in economic development. Supports bipartisan conservation traditions while addressing climate and Indigenous concerns, potentially influencing future land bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
Cosponsors (69)
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] and 19 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- America's Red Rock Wilderness Act — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (41 pages)