Attorney General Derek Brown testified before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urging lawmakers to ensure that Utah and its local communities have a significant role in managing federal lands within the state. Brown emphasized that with 68% of Utah’s land under federal control, decisions made at the national level have direct consequences for residents, the economy, and the environment.
Brown stated, “Federalism isn’t just an abstract principle; it is a daily necessity, especially when the federal government controls 68% of our state. Decisions made in Washington, D.C. have direct and long-lasting impacts on Utah’s communities, economy, and environment.”
He discussed past failures in federal planning processes where local voices were not included. As an example, he cited the 2015 sage-grouse plans: “The 2015 sage-grouse plans were developed without incorporating Utah-specific science. This led to unnecessary restrictions and years of litigation.” He contrasted this with more recent efforts: “But the most recent sage-grouse planning process was a success because the previous and current federal administrations listened to Utah’s concerns and incorporated local feedback into their plans.”
Brown also spoke about broader problems caused by excluding state input from land management decisions. These include delays in infrastructure projects, inconsistent permitting procedures, and missed opportunities to use local expertise—issues he said were evident during development of earlier sage-grouse plans.
He called for reforms to federal statutes governing land management and permitting processes so that state perspectives are consistently considered: “Attorney General Brown is, and has consistently been, a champion of local expertise and state leadership in public land management decisions.” He added that Utah offers valuable knowledge based on experience and science: “Utah brings deep local knowledge, on-the-ground experience, and science to the table,” reminding senators that “Utahns deserve to have their voices heard in decisions that impact our land.”
Brown’s written testimony is available online along with video coverage of his appearance before the committee.
