Sierra Club Statement on Utah’s Baseless Public Lands Lawsuit

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Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by the State of Utah seeking to seize public lands managed by the federal government.

In August 2024, Utah filed an original complaint at the Supreme Court asking the justices to force the federal government to sell off or otherwise give away more than 18.5 million acres of federal public lands in the state. The unprecedented lawsuit was backed by Republican officials in 12 states. If it were to succeed, the lawsuit could result in the selling off of more than 200 million acres of public lands for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people to private interests, including oil and gas companies.

The lawsuit has drawn intense opposition from residents of the West and beyond, sportsmen, and other groups, and comes soon after the Republican-led Congress voted to make it easier to sell public lands to private interests. 

Scientists have identified preserving public lands in their natural states as one of the most effective methods for taking on climate change.

In response, Sanjay Narayan, Chief Appellate Counsel of Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, released the following statement:     

“The Supreme Court was correct to reject this unfounded lawsuit. More than a century of legal precedent is clear – it is the role of the federal government to manage public lands for the benefit of all Americans. This lawsuit and its backers sought to overturn that precedent, giving away public resources for the private profit of big corporations. For more than a century, our parks and public lands have been part of what makes us special as a country, and we will continue to defend the right of all Americans to enjoy and explore those landscapes.”

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.