Press Releases
Aug 01 2012
Hatch Says Final Prairie Dog Rule an Important First Step in Protecting Utah Property Owners
The U.S. Department of the Interior Announced the Final Ruling Today
U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today applauded a finalized ruling by the U.S. Department of the Interior that will give Utahns more flexibility to combat prairie dogs. The rule announced today echoes many of the same solutions included in legislation Hatch introduced with the rest of the Utah Congressional Delegation last fall (to read more about the bill, click HERE).
“This is an important first step in the larger effort to ensure the rights of property owners are protected from federal overreach. It’s taken a lot of work, but hopefully this ruling provides a solution to the growing threat of Utah prairie dogs,” Hatch said. “Prairie dogs have been digging up the graves of loved ones and burrowing into airport runways. This rule gives Utahns more power over our lands, and will go a long way towards addressing this serious public safety threat.”
In March, Hatch secured a commitment from top officials at the USFWS to visit Utah and see the damage prairie dogs are causing firsthand, which led to USFWS announcing the 4(d) proposal weeks later, and the finalized rule today.
The final rule can be viewed HERE.
