Mike Lee's Controversial Border Lands Act Threatens Public Lands

Utah Senator Mike Lee has proposed a controversial bill, the Border Lands Conservation Act, which aims to alter federal land management within 100 miles of US borders. This move has sparked concern among conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts, who view it as an attempt to undermine the Wilderness Act.

The act, if passed, would significantly impact public lands, including national forests, wildlife refuges, and designated wilderness areas. It proposes rewriting parts of the Wilderness Act to allow roads, surveillance towers, and motorized vehicles in areas previously protected. Critics warn this could lead to roads splitting migration corridors, helicopters buzzing overhead, and construction sites in wilderness areas.

This isn't Lee's first attempt to modify federal land management. Previously, he proposed selling off millions of acres and transferring management to states. Lee claims the act is about security, but opponents argue it's about control and weakening conservation laws. The 100-mile buffer zone includes diverse ecosystems like Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and parts of the Boundary Waters in the north, and desert ecosystems in the south.

Meanwhile, organizations like the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC) continue to protect public lands. Since 2016, the group has maintained over 250 miles of trail in the Sierra Nevada during government shutdowns and budget cuts.

Mike Lee's Border Lands Conservation Act has raised alarm among conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. To stop the bill, people are encouraged to call their senators and support conservation organizations. Lee, up for re-election in 2029, faces potential voter backlash if the bill proceeds.