Politics : politics@vcmc.info

On March 2, 2022 a group of 13 Moab ATV businesses and the BlueRibbon Coalition filed a Notice of Claim to Grand County to challenge restrictions on ATV rental and ATV outfitter and guide service businesses. On March 3, 2022 the same group of claimants filed a similar Notice of Claim to Moab City.

Also in March the Utah Legislature passed legislation that eliminated several of the most onerous regulations that were passed by the local governments in Grand County. The local governments repealed these ordinances in subsequent meetings.

However, in our Notice of Claim we also challenged restrictions such as an unreasonable noise ordinance that wasn’t affected by the legislation. Since that time we have been preparing our complaint for this Notice of Claim. We are getting to the final stages of this process, and we will have an announcement soon.

To support our Moab Legal Fund we are also announcing a fundraising sweepstakes, which offers a custom Moab vacation as a grand prize.

In the meantime, we have seen the local governments in Moab try to influence the Bureau of Land Management and United States Forest Service to restrict a wide range of recreation activity:

• They requested heavy restrictions in the USFS planning process for the Manti-La Sal forest plan.
• They requested heavy restrictions in a BLM travel plan for the Gemini Bridges/Labyrinth Rims area that will close many world-class trails.
• They requested heavy restrictions for several plan amendments for areas in neighboring Emery County.
• They are exploring public land legislation that will enact restrictions on most public land in Grand County.
• They requested that BLM develop restrictive dispersed camping plans.
• They are requesting the BLM to develop plans to turn popular trails and riding areas into day-use only areas.

BRC has engaged aggressively in each of these issues to ensure that our members and supporters have a voice in these processes. We are prepared to go the distance to ensure that you can continue to enjoy the spectacular public lands around Moab.

However, an honest assessment of the situation shows that this is a fight with multiple fronts. It is likely that several of these issues will require legal action. We’ve built a strong coalition of businesses and supporters who are keeping us in these fights, but we need to keep innovating to find ways to maintain a formidable legal fund.

This is why we are excited to announce that several of our partners have come together to offer a custom vacation to Moab that we will be giving away in a sweepstakes in order to raise money for our legal efforts in Moab.

By making a donation to our Moab Legal Fund, you will be entered to win an all-expense-paid vacation to Moab. You can customize your trip with free tours and rentals from our outfitter partners. The package includes a 2-night stay at the Wingate Hotel by Wyndham. We are also throwing in a $2,000 travel stipend to cover the travel costs to get to Moab. If you’re not interested in the vacation package, but still want to help, there is an option to win an $3,000 cash prize instead.

The only reason we can be involved in all these fights is because we have your support. In addition to your participation in the sweepstakes, sharing this sweepstakes with others is a free way that you can support BRC and be part of the fight to keep Moab open for everyone who wants to recreate there.

Ben Burr

Executive Director