SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, June 21, 2006 -- A recent statewide poll of registered voters in Utah shows strong support for holding public hearings throughout Utah on recent proposed legislation affecting federal public land in Washington County. The draft legislation, proposed by Senator Robert Bennett and Representative Jim Matheson, is entitled the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2006. Although the Utah Wilderness Coalition and others have called for a series of public meetings around the state, Sen. Bennett and Rep. Matheson have not yet indicated whether or not they plan to do so.

Eighty-nine percent of registered voters polled affirmed that they think public hearings should be held in different locations around Utah before the legislation is voted on in Washington, DC. Support was remarkably consistent: More than 4 out of 5 voters in every region of the State, including Republicans, Independents, and Democrats, say that hearings should be held.

Question: Utah Senator Bob Bennett has proposed legislation regulating the use of federal public lands in Washington County, Utah. It includes selling thousands of acres of land, designating new wilderness areas, and creating new highway and pipeline rights-of-way. Do you think public hearings should be held in different locations around Utah before Senator Bennett’s legislation is voted on in Washington, DC?

Strongly Yes: 64%
Yes: 25%
(combined “yes” selections: 89%)

No: 5%
Strongly No: 2%
(combined “no” selections: 7%)

“The Washington County bill is a complex and far reaching proposal that will affect lands of the Shivwits Band, many important public lands, and Utahns across the state,” said Glenn Rogers, Shivwits Band Chairman. “I believe we need public hearings to make sure all Utahns are heard, and clearly other Utahns feel strongly about holding public hearings before this proposal moves forward.”

The polling found that support for hearings remained extremely strong after respondents were presented with arguments on both sides of the issue (below). By more than a 5 to 1 margin, those who think hearings are needed outnumbered those who do not. This huge majority who favors hearings includes more than 3 out of 4 voters in every region of the state.

Question: Which of the two statements comes closer to your view?

Some (Other) people say that no public hearings on the legislation are needed in Utah. They say the legislation is the result of two years of collaborative work by a diverse group of Utahns, which included everyone with a stake in the outcome, including environmentalists. They say it is time now for Congress to move forward and pass Bennett’s bill.

OR

Other (Some) people say that public hearings are needed in Utah because all Utahns should have the opportunity to comment on legislation that affects federal public lands in the State. They say that a handful of meetings in Washington County is no substitute for statewide public hearings and that Senator Bennett’s proposal needs broader public review.

Public Hearings Are Needed: 80%
Public Hearings Are Not Needed: 15%

“Public hearings are a necessary part of moving forward with the Washington County bill,” said Washington County resident Nina Fitzgerald. “Utah citizens feel it is important to be involved in the process and planning for future growth, and at this point, many people feel that they have been short-changed on the public input process regarding this bill.”

The telephone poll of 620 registered voters in Utah was conducted on June 2-6 by Salt Lake City-based Dan Jones & Associates for the Utah Wilderness Coalition, an alliance of national and local groups who favor stronger protection Utah’s public lands.

“These great landscapes belong to all Americans and they all should have the ability to attend hearings and make their opinions known,” said Jim Baca, former director of the Bureau of Land Management. “All Americans’ names are on the deed to these lands and they should be consulted before any actions are taken that will damage those lands. Any denial of that consultation and hearing process is not in anyone’s best interests.”

To date, two open houses were held by the Washington County Commission on April 5th: one in St. George and one in Hurricane. Oral comments were not accepted at these open houses. Attendees were asked to mail written comments to the Utah Congressional Delegation within two weeks time.