Today, the state of Utah, in partnership with all 29 counties, announces the first 20 road applications to submit to the Bureau of Land Management as part of an open, administrative process to resolve R.S. 2477 road disputes. Every single road being submitted existed before 1976, can be traveled by car or truck and is not in a national park, wilderness area, wilderness study area or fish and wildlife refuge. These applications represent the first of many that will be submitted to resolve a nearly 30-year legal dispute through common-sense action, rather than contentious litigation. Key benefits of these applications and the process used include the following:

• Information about these roads will be available for anyone to see on the state website utah.gov.   Information includes aerial photographs (pre- and post-1976), ground-level photographs, land ownership and maps.
• Anyone will have the opportunity to comment to the Bureau of Land Management before a decision is made.
• None of the applications are in Utah’s most sensitive landscapes.
• The state’s rural transportation system is secured and local property rights are protected, providing certainty to rural Utah.

Visit the RS2477 Website for more details.

The Roads:
The state and counties will submit an application to the Bureau of Land Management for each of the following road segments, requesting a recordable disclaimer of interest that documents their right to use and maintain the road “as is, where is.”

1. East Hardesty Road, Box Elder County
   East Hardesty Road is a primary transportation corridor through federal lands in Box Elder County. It is mainly used for ranching, camping, hunting, and other tourism and recreation purposes.
   
2. “D28,” Daggett County
   Daggett County roads D28 and D30 are used to access injection wells that are part of Questar Corporation's Clay Basin Underground Storage Facility. They are used by ranchers to access their grazing areas and stock watering ponds. D28 and D30 also provide alternate access to the Clay Basin Camp which is where Questar employees live. These roads are open to the general public and are used by hunters and sightseers. D28 and D30 also access the Clay Basin Questar Plant and connect to a main road which accesses the SF Phosphate Pumping Station before connecting to US Hwy 191 which provides access to Rock Springs, Wyoming.
   
3. “D30,” Daggett County
   Daggett County roads D28 and D30 are used to access injection wells that are part of Questar Corporation's Clay Basin Underground Storage Facility. They are used by ranchers to access their grazing areas and stock watering ponds. D28 and D30 also provide alternate access to the Clay Basin Camp which is where Questar employees live. These roads are open to the general public and are used by hunters and sightseers. D28 and D30 also access the Clay Basin Questar Plant and connect to a main road which accesses the SF Phosphate Pumping Station before connecting to US Hwy 191 which provides access to Rock Springs, Wyoming.
   
4. Kennedy Wash Road, Uintah County
   Kennedy Wash Road is used to access existing oil and gas fields. Sportsmen also use the road throughout the year for hunting, camping and other forms of recreation. The ranchers have used it for years to access grazing allotments. Established sometime between 1890 - 1900.
   
5. Five Mile Draw Road, Duchesne County
   Five Mile Draw Road is used to access grazing allotments, and mineral extraction areas. It is also used for recreational purposes such as hunting and searching for decorative rock.
   
6. Bitter Creek Road, Uintah County
   Bitter Creek Road is a primary east-west transportation corridor for Uintah County. It ties together several roads which access the south end of the county. Bitter Creek Road is used for oil and gas development and production, recreational uses such as hunting and camping. It is also used for livestock grazing, land management, accessing School & Institutional Trust Lands, and transportation of products, to name a few. Established sometime between 1921 - 1930.
   
7. Southam Canyon Road, Uintah County
   Southam Canyon Road provides access to private property on the White River, and is also used for accessing grazing allotments, oil and gas development and production, hunting, recreation, and camping. The Bureau of Land Management has used the road for years in the management of their lands. Established sometime between 1909 - 1920.
   
8. McCook Ridge Road, Uintah County
   McCook Ridge Road is one of the main north-south roads through Uintah County, connecting to Grand County, Utah. It is used to access SITLA Lands, oil and gas development and production, firewood and fence post harvesting, and communications sites. It is also used for recreation such as camping and hunting. Established sometime between 1890 - 1900.
   
9. Weiss Highway, Juab County
   Since at least the 1930s and continuing to the present, Weiss Highway has been used for ranching, farming, hunting, fishing, prospecting, mining, homesteading, sightseeing, camping, recreation, search and rescue, law enforcement, land management, accessing state and institutional trust lands, joy riding, and simply traveling to and from numerous points throughout the county. This road is the main--and in most places the only--east-west route traversing Juab County.
   
10. Alexa Lane, Millard County
    Alexa lane’s primary use is to access the remaining portion of the Swasey Bottom Road. State and Federal government has used Alexa lane for management purposes, predator control, gathering wild horse herd numbers, and law enforcement for the Division of Wildlife Resources. In the 1980's the Intermountain Power Project used the road to erect their major power lines and they have continued to use that road to access their power line road for maintenance and repair. The military uses the air space above the road.
    
    Many residents and non-residents currently use Alexa lane to travel in and through the area for various recreational uses which include horseback riding, site seeing, ATV riding, biking, target shooting, wood gathering, picnicing, camping, viewing wildlife, spelunking, rock hounding, hunting for big game, small game and upland game. The road is used to access animal troughs, and manmade ponds. Sheepmen use the road for accessing grazing allotments and for trailing sheep to and from allotments and to haul water to their stock. Cattlemen use the road for the same purpose.
    
    The road is currently used by the Millard County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue units for search and rescue operations. The Sheriff Department also uses this road for law enforcement purposes. This is a road which the Millard County Road Department maintains and on which they do noxious weed control.
    
11. Dowdell Canyon Road, Millard County
    Dowdell Canyon Road is used by state and federal government officials for land management purposes, predator control, gathering wild horse herd numbers, and law enforcement for the Division of Wildlife Resources. In the 1980's the Intermountain Power Project used the road erect their major power lines and they have continued to use that road to access their power line road for maintenance and repair. The military uses the air space over Dowdell Canyon Road for training flights. This road is also used to access State School Trust Lands.
    
    Many residents and non-residents currently use the road to travel in and through the area for various recreational uses which include horseback riding, site seeing, ATV riding, biking, target shooting, wood gathering, picnicing, camping, viewing wildlife, spelunking, rock hounding, hunting for big game, small game and upland game. The road is used to access animal troughs, manmade ponds. Sheepmen use the road for accessing grazing allotments and for trailing sheep to and from allotments and to haul water to their stock. Cattlemen use the road for the same purpose.
    
    The road is currently used by the Millard County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue units for search and rescue operations. The Sheriff Department also uses this road for law enforcement purposes.
12. Snake Pass Road, Millard County
    Snake Pass Road is used by state and government officials for land management purposes, predator control, gathering wild horse herd numbers, and law enforcement for the Division of Wildlife Resources. In the 1980's the Intermountain Power Project used the road erect their major power lines and they have continued to use that road to access their power line road for maintenance and repair. The military uses the air space over Snake Pass Road for training flights.
    
    Many residents and non-residents currently use the road to travel in and through the area for various recreational uses which include horseback riding, site seeing, ATV riding, biking, target shooting, wood gathering, picnicing, camping, viewing wildlife, spelunking, rock hounding, hunting for big game, small game and upland game. The road is used to access animal troughs, manmade ponds. Sheepmen use the road for accessing grazing allotments and for trailing sheep to and from allotments and to haul water to their stock. Cattlemen use the road for the same purpose.
    
    The road is currently used by the Millard County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue units for search and rescue operations. The Sheriff Department also uses this road for law enforcement purposes. This is a road which the Millard County Road Department maintains and on which they do noxious weed control.
    
13.  Vance Springs Road, Beaver County
    The Vance Springs Road is a heavily used and regularly maintained road. It is used to access private property and state lands. Previously the road has been used to access mining operations. Currently it is used for livestock ranching, camping, hunting, tourism, rock hounding, pine nut hunting, and other types of recreation. The road is a main route to access Nevada.
    
14. Hickory Peak Road, Beaver County
    The Hickory Peak Road was used to access multiple mining operations. One of these operations, the Herrington Hickory Mine was in operation near the turn of the century. The road is now used for livestock ranching, camping, hunting, and other types of recreation.
    
15. Harkley Mountain Road, Beaver County
    The Harkley Mountain Road was used in the 1940’s or 1950’s to access the Honeyboy Mine. It was and also is used for livestock ranching, camping, hunting, and other types of recreation. There are water developments along the road which must be accessed and maintained.
    
16. Forshea Springs Road, Piute County
    Forshea Springs Road is also known as “PCRD143” and “Swift Springs Road.” It provides a route for transporting water from the mountain to the valley, and is therefore an important road for livestock management. Other current uses include the following: livestock usage, horseback riding, hiking, hunting, land management, wildlife management, search and rescue, fire management, seed harvesting, prospecting, and sightseeing. The historical usages of this road include all of the current uses and may have also included mining, and natural resource exploration.
    
17. Horse Valley/Flat Road, Beaver County
     The Horse Flat Road is used for livestock ranching, camping, hunting, and other types of recreation.
    
18. Baboon Peak Road, Iron County
    Baboon Peak Road terminates at two or three mountaintop communication facilities. The road is used by the facility managers, by the utility maintenance people delivering power to the site, by livestock permittees, and hunters. In the past, it has been used by mining interests for exploration. Some general recreation use besides hunting is evident. The road also traverses School and Institutional Trust Lands property.
    
19. Bald Hills Road, Iron County
    Bald Hills Road is traveled by livestock ranchers, recreation users, and a considerable amount of hunters. It has also been used for previous and current mining exploration. This is a through road that connects Iron and Beaver Counties. It is used also to access School and Institutional Trust Lands. It is used by many State and Federal land management agency personnel.
    
20.  “0182”, Washington County
    Washington County Road 0182 is also known locally as “Blake Lambing Grounds Road.” It is used for ranching, livestock production, mineral exploration, hunting, site seeing, and other forms of outdoor recreation. This road also connects with the following RS 2477 Roads: 0173, 0178, 0180, 0184, 0185, 0275, 0276, 0278 and 0848. These roads all have similar uses.

4:04:59 PM    

Today, soon-to-be Gov. Olene S. Walker appointed Gayle F. McKeachnie to serve as lieutenant governor for the State of Utah.  Following Gov. Mike Leavitt's resignation Nov. 5, Walker and McKeachnie will take their oaths of office.

McKeachnie is currently a partner of the law firm McKeachnie, Allred, McClellan & Trotter, P.C., located in Vernal and Roosevelt, Utah.  A practicing lawyer since 1970, McKeachnie represents clients in the areas of business, natural resources, local government, and estate planning.

"McKeachnie is passionate about public service and has an ability to build productive relationships that will keep this administration moving forward," said Walker.

McKeachnie served four terms in the Utah House of  Representatives, where he began working with Walker.  As a legislator, he was at various times the chairman of the Rules Committee, was Hous parliamentarian, and served as majority whip.

"I believe the governor and lieutenant governor must work together as a team to effectively meet the needs of the state and to serve its great citizens," Walker said.  "Gayle and I bring complementary skills and experiences to the table.  I also wanted to name an individual who could assure the Office of Lieutenant Governor reaches its full potential and who could step into my shoes as governor if necessary."

"I admire Lt. Gov. Walker greatly and look forward to working with her as Utah's new governor," said McKeachnie.  "I've served in the legislative and judicial branches and believe I am well prepared to expand my experience into the executive arena."

McKeachnie was the special assitant Utah attorney general on various matters involving public lands.

Now the chairman for the Utah State University (USU) Board of Trustees, McKeachnie also taught as an adjunct professor for USU and Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School.

McKeachnie has served on several boards, committees and task forces for community issues and local and state government.

He has a B.A. in political science and a minor in Spanish from Southern Utah University and received his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law.  He also studied business in the University of Utah management program.  McKeachnie is married to Kathlene Argyle McKeachnie.  They are the parents of seven children.

12:03:11 PM