BLM Land Swap: City of Price, Utah Gets 124 Acres of Federal Land for 'Public Purposes'

The Upper Price River Watershed Project Act of 2025 is a straightforward piece of legislation that cuts through federal red tape to hand over a specific parcel of federal land to a local government. Essentially, if the City of Price, Utah, asks for it, the Secretary of the Interior—acting through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—must convey all U.S. government rights to approximately 124.23 acres of BLM land, specifically those shown on the official “Proposed Conveyance Parcels” map dated May 8, 2025 (Sec. 2, Sec. 3).

The Fast Track Land Transfer

What makes this transfer notable is that it explicitly bypasses the standard rules usually governing how the BLM sells or transfers public land, specifically sections 202 and 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Sec. 3). Normally, these rules require specific planning, public input, and often environmental review before federal land changes hands. This bill essentially creates a fast lane, mandating the transfer happen upon the City’s request. For the average person, this means the typical checks and balances that ensure public land decisions are transparent are being skipped to speed up this specific local project.

What “Public Purposes” Really Means

The most important detail for anyone living near or using this land is how the City of Price will use it. The bill states the City must use the land for “public purposes,” but then adds a critical caveat: the City gets to define those purposes themselves (Sec. 3). This is where the rubber meets the road. A “public purpose” could mean building a new park or reservoir, which benefits everyone. But it could also mean something less universally beneficial, like leasing the land for a specific municipal facility or utility project. Because the definition is left entirely to the City, the residents of Price will need to pay close attention to what the local government decides to do with this new asset.

Who Feels the Change?

For the City of Price, this is a clear win. They gain control over 124 acres of land that they can now develop or manage without federal oversight, potentially streamlining local infrastructure or development projects. However, the federal land being transferred is currently managed by the BLM. While the bill doesn't specify current uses, federal lands often allow for public access for recreation like hiking, hunting, or dispersed camping. Once transferred, that land is no longer subject to federal public access rules. If you’re someone who currently uses that specific 124-acre parcel for recreation, the City could potentially restrict or charge for access, depending on the “public purpose” they choose. This shift in jurisdiction means a shift in who makes the rules about how the land is used—from the federal government to the local city council.