The Bureau of Land Management issued its final environmental assessment and a proposed resource management plan amendment for the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area and surrounding central Utah region on Thursday. The proposal aims to establish a framework for managing the landscape by balancing historical recreation with modern usage levels.
The proposed amendment follows directions from the 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The plan seeks to amend the 2008 Price Resource Management Plan to ensure consistency with the federal act, which includes provisions like the Emery County Public Lands Management Act.
The project involves approximately 217,000 acres of public land in Emery County designated as the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area. Additionally, section 1234 of the Dingell Act releases approximately 17,420 acres of land previously managed as Wilderness Study Areas surrounding the recreation area.
BLM Green River District Manager Elijah Waters said the proposal provides a balanced approach intended to clarify management direction for the landscape. He noted that by reducing overlapping designations and establishing a more consistent, sustainable framework, the agency can better manage recreation and other vital uses in the area.
A 30-day public review and protest period began May 14, 2026, and is scheduled to close on June 15, 2026. This period coincides with a 60-day consistency review by the Governor of Utah.
The BLM Price Field Office is leading the project. Instructions for filing a protest are available on the BLM website and via the National NEPA Register.
