Federal lands have been a hot topic in 2025 as areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and more are undergoing major changes.

Recently, it was announced that approximately 48,000 acres of Utah's federal public lands would be opened to oil and gas drilling and mining , including acres adjacent to Utah's top national parks. The move quickly drew public backlash, who fear the mining operations will cause pollution in the famed destinations.

Now, a coalition of conservation organizations has submitted a joint statement , called "Scoping Comments" on 59 parcels, totaling more than 71,000 acres across Utah , Colorado , and New Mexico , that were opened for lease. In the letter, they outlined their legal objections to the move, an

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