Land Management

The reorganization would have included moving the agency's headquarters to Salt Lake City and closing nearly two dozen research facilities. Congress may later choose not to extend the restrictions.

Hunters and hikers were among almost 133,000 people opposing potential changes to the Travel Management Rule in national forests. Snowmobile groups were part of the 1% of commenters in favor.

When the rule was first enacted in 2001, the government held hundreds of public hearings that took nearly two years. For ending the rule, there are no public hearings scheduled except in Alaska.

Half a dozen companies have applied to mine Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments since July. Environmentalists called it a harbinger for further exploitation.

The proposal would flip current motorized use rules on their head, allowing access unless designated otherwise. Recreationists called the change overdue, but conservationists fear a free-for-all.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the rule hampers land and wildfire management. Environmental groups argue that, according to the government's own data, it would actually increase fire risk.

Conservationists argue wilderness study areas are a way to protect land, while some outdoor recreationists argue it locks up land. Public comment on the proposal is open until Friday.

The new U.S. Forest Service chief pointed to an already devastating wildfire season, arguing active management is critical to wildfire resilience and the long-term health of forests.

The Roadless Rule protects millions of acres of public land. Environmental groups have expressed support for the rule, but federal lawmakers were more divided.

In other news, a world-renowed BASE jumper was one of two people killed in an accident near Moab. And, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams has two primary challengers for his District 7 seat.