Commission adopts amendments to county public‑lands resource management plan to align with state draft language

Bryce Armstrong of Community Development reviewed proposed amendments to Utah County’s resource management plan (RMP), explaining that state legislation in 2015–2016 required counties to adopt resource management plans for public lands and that a 2021 state effort (PLIPCO) produced draft language for counties to consider. Armstrong said the RMP amendments are advisory, apply only to public lands as defined in state code (primarily federal lands managed by BLM and Forest Service and some state lands), and are intended to give the county a coordinated voice in federal land decisions.

Staff proposed integrating state draft language into existing plan elements on energy resources, land access and critical minerals and adding new sections on pipelines and utility corridors. Armstrong said Utah County includes a significant amount of federal and state land: "approximately 40% of the county is federal public lands, and then another 14% is state property," and argued the updates would help the county preserve its stated goals for multiple use and sustainable yield.

Commissioner Lee moved to adopt item 4 as presented. A second was offered and the commission approved the motion by voice vote, 3–0. Staff said they met with the PLIPCO representative and integrated feedback before bringing the redlined amendments back to the commission.