READ THE AMENDMENT
WHAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD DO.
The Udall Amendment to the 2007 Interior, Environment and Related
Agencies Appropriations Bill would de-fund the archaic R.S. 2477 (learn
more about R.S. 2477) loophole that grandfathers "highway"
rights-of-way on claims made back when the old law existed.
WHY WE NEED PROTECTION.
The Administration invites a land rush by using the R.S. 2477
loophole to give away valuable lands that belong to all Americans
(check out just some of the wild places at risk).
Individual states, local governments and private interests benefit
at the expense of our federal tax dollars. What's worse, all
this land is up for grabs without environmental review or meaningful
public input. Many of these so-called highway claims cross National
Parks, Monuments, Wildlife Refuges, Wilderness, and other wild,
untouched lands treasured for their natural qualities, quiet
recreation opportunities, and historic and cultural resources.
Representative Udall's amendment would take away the tax dollars
that pay for this Administration's give-away of our public
lands.
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHOUT THIS PROTECTION.
The Administration has developed two ways to give away highway
rights-of-way under R.S. 2477.
- On January 6, 2003, the Administration revised the Interior
Department’s disclaimer of interest regulations as a way to hand
over R.S. 2477 highway claims to states, counties, and interest
groups. Click here for more on the disclaimer rule.
- On March 22, 2006, former Interior Secretary Gale Norton – in her final days in office – released a hastily-crafted policy that
appears to be another attempt to promote road development across
federal lands with perfunctory agency oversight rather than
establish a thoughtful process for validating R.S. 2477
rights-of-way claims. Click here for more on the Norton policy.
The Administration's policies threaten Congressional protections
for National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Wilderness, National Forests,
Wild and Scenic Rivers, and sensitive lands across the West.
WHAT'S AT RISK.
Lands all across the west are at risk. Check out:
The Mark Udall Amendment would help ensure that claims to public
lands rights-of-way are legitimate. Please support the Amendment.
