Wilderness Laws Applicable to Utah

The Wilderness Act of 1964

Public Law 88-577 (09/03/1964)
To establish a National Wilderness Preservation System for the permanent good of the whole people, and for other purposes. This is the act of Congress that provided a legal definition of wilderness and how it is to be managed, and designated the first wilderness areas.

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976

Public Law 94-579 (10/21/1976)
The Bureau of Land Management Organic Act. Section 603 of this law established the 15-year BLM wilderness study that concluded in 1991. The Utah BLM WSA Planning Project was conducted under the authority of Section 202.

Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978

Public Law 95-237 (2/24/1978)
To designate certain endangered public lands for preservation as wilderness, and for other purposes. Lone Peak Wilderness established.

Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984

Public Law 98-406 (8/28/1984)
To designate certain national forest lands in the State of Arizona as wilderness, and for other purposes. Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness and Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness established.

Utah Wilderness Act of 1984

Public Law 98-428 (9/28/1984)
To designate certain national forest system lands in the state of Utah for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System to release other forest lands for multiple use management, and for other purposes. Areas designated: Ashdown Gorge Wilderness, Box-Death Hollow Wilderness, Dark Canyon Wilderness, Deseret Peak Wilderness, High Uintas Wilderness, Mount Naomi Wilderness, Mount Nebo Wilderness, Mount Olympus Wilderness, Mount Timpanogos Wilderness, Pine Valley Mountain Wilderness, Twin Peaks Wilderness, and the Wellsville Mountain Wilderness.

Utah Schools and Lands Exchange Act of 1998

Public Law 105-335 (10/31/1998)
To provide for the exchange of certain lands within the State of Utah. Utah school trust lands within the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, units of the National Park System, and national forests were exchanged for other federal lands and mineral rights.

Public Law 105-355

Public Law 105-355 (11/6/1998)
Boundary adjustment on Mount Naomi Wilderness. A parcel of land known as the Hyde D. property was privatized and approximately 7.25 acres were added.

Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000

Public Law 106-353 (10/24/2000)
To establish the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, and for other purposes.

Mount Nebo Wilderness Boundary Adjustment Act

Public Law 107-334 (12/16/2002)
To make certain adjustments to the boundaries of the Mount Nebo Wilderness Area, and for other purposes. Approximately 279.3 acres were removed and 293.2 acres were added.

Mount Naomi Wilderness Boundary Adjustment Act

Public Law 108-95 (10/03/2003)
To make certain adjustments to the boundaries of the Mount Naomi Wilderness Area, and for other purposes. Approximately 31 acres were removed and another 31 acres were added.