Penstemon Conservation Agreement Finalized
A multi-agency conservation agreement to protect two species of penstemon found in the Uintah Basin was signed July 22. The agreement is a unique case of private, county, state, and federal cooperation to protect rare plant species. Signatories to the conservation agreement are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Utah Public Lands Policy Coordination Office (PLPCO), U.S. […]
Western States Land Commissioners Association Testifies in Support of ACE Act
Western States Land Commissioners Association (WSLCA) members testified in front of Congress today in support of the Advancing Conservation and Education Act of 2014 (ACE). H.R. 4901 is a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Rep. Peter Defazio (D-OR). This legislation would provide a mechanism for the United States to acquire lands […]
SITLA Oil, Gas and Mineral Lease Offering Earns $940,000 for public schools, beneficiaries
The SITLA Oil and Gas, and Minerals groups held their quarterly lease offerings in July, generating more than $940,000 for beneficiaries. This lease offering generated more than $930,000 in bonus bids, largely in oil and gas within Duchesne County. The offering also resulted in lease of a 2,560-acre mining parcel in Garfield County and a […]
Western Land Commissioners Concerned About Clean Water Act
SITLA joined land commissioners from 22 other states for the Western States Land Commissioners Association (WSLCA) in Bismarck, North Dakota. Commissioners discussed and debated several policy issues, of which the federal Clean Water Act and proposed EPA rule change affecting waters of the United States attracted the most attention.
Supplemental Closure Order Issued for PR Springs – Modified 7/14/14
The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration issued a revised Supplemental Closure Order following unauthorized public entry on state trust lands permitted for mine development in connection with U.S. Oil Sands operations at PR Springs in Uintah and Ground counties. To protect public health and safety, the Supplemental Closure Order includes a boundary map to […]
U.S. Senate Approves Land Transfer – Ute Tribe, Public Schools and BLM to Benefit
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation, which will protect Ute tribal lands while generating oil and gas revenues for the Ute Tribe, Utah’s public schools, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Passed yesterday, the Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act (H.R. 356/S.27) allows the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) to […]
SITLA Land Sale Auction Earns More Than $650,000 for Permanent School Fund
The School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) sold two parcels of school trust land at its biannual public auction held on June 25, 2014, earning $656,000 for Utah’s public schools. The 34.91-acre Buffalo Hollow parcel in Emery County sold for $46,000 and the 364-acre Sweetwater parcel in Sevier County sold for $610,000. All proceeds […]
Western States Land Commissioners Association Applauds Introduction of ACE Act
The Western States Land Commissioners Association (WSLCA), of which SITLA is a member, applauds the introduction of the Advancing Conservation and Education Act of 2014 (ACE) by Congressman Rob Bishop R-UT and Congressman Peter DeFazio D-OR in the U.S. House of Representatives. The act, crafted by WSLCA and its members, will enhance funding of public […]
Governor Signs Bills Guiding Management of $1.87 Billion School Account, SITLA Contributions to This Account
In a ceremony Tuesday, June 17 at the Utah State Capitol, Governor Gary R. Herbert signed two bills, HCR4 and HB 168 in support of the growth and future management of Utah’s $1.87 billion Permanent State School Fund, a trust fund belonging to every K-12 public school student in Utah. Representative Mel Brown, chief sponsor […]
Oil and Gas/Minerals Groups Yield More Than $2 million at January and April Lease Offerings
The SITLA Oil and Gas, and Minerals groups held their quarterly lease offerings in January and April, generating more than $2.3 million for beneficiaries. The January lease offering generated more than $1.7 million in bonus bids, while the April offering brought in an additional $530,000. This is a sealed-bid auction for lessees to acquire either […]