Dear friend:


We have terrific news to share with you that bodes well for protecting Utah's wild lands!

On Saturday, January 18, Judge Urbina of the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of SUWA and other conservation groups to temporarily block the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from leasing more than 110,000 acres of Utah wilderness. 

This ruling from Judge Urbina prohibits the BLM from issuing oil and gas leases for Utah wildlands until the lawsuit is

Area near Arches National Park offered for lease             photo by Scott Braden

Our challenge is against the BLM's December 2008 oil and gas lease sale, which included areas near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon.  The BLM's sale was based on hastily approved resource management plans that have opened up million acres of Utah's public lands to potential damage.

Thanks to everyone who has taken an interest in this issue and worked so hard to prevent these leases from being issued. By continuing to work together we will protect Utah's wild lands!

The staff at SUWA