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Oppose Mass-Privatization of Public Lands: Bill Aims to Prevent Natural Asset Companies in Utah

Mar 28, 2025

Categories: Action Alert | BLM | Dirt Bike | Dispersed Camping | Fight for Every Inch | Natural Asset Companies | Off-Roading | SXS | Utah
Why you should submit here, even if you already have elsewhere!

We keep them honest. If everyone only comments through the government/agency site, we have to take their word on how many comments were received. By submitting through BRC, we create an independent record of our community’s response that can’t be buried or under-reported.

We protect your voice. If this fight ends up in court, having our own record of submitted comments means we don’t have to wait a year or more for a government agency to turn over documents. We can move quickly with proof that thousands of you spoke up.
We keep you in the loop. When you comment through our site, we can send you updates on what comes next. If you only use the government/agency site, you’re depending on them to tell you what happens next — and they won’t.

Double coverage matters. Even if you’ve already commented through the government/agency site, submitting through ours makes your voice count twice — once in their system, and once in ours. That way they know the OHV community is watching and tracking every move.

For years, BRC has been trusted to run action alerts like this. Thousands of members and supporters have used this system effectively to defend access to public lands. This isn’t about collecting your info — it’s about building the strongest, most transparent record possible to hold agencies accountable.

Why you should submit here, even if you already have elsewhere!

We keep them honest. If everyone only comments through the government/agency site, we have to take their word on how many comments were received. By submitting through BRC, we create an independent record of our community’s response that can’t be buried or under-reported.

We protect your voice. If this fight ends up in court, having our own record of submitted comments means we don’t have to wait a year or more for a government agency to turn over documents. We can move quickly with proof that thousands of you spoke up.

We keep you in the loop. When you comment through our site, we can send you updates on what comes next. If you only use the government/agency site, you’re depending on them to tell you what happens next — and they won’t.

Double coverage matters. Even if you’ve already commented through the government/agency site, submitting through ours makes your voice count twice — once in their system, and once in ours. That way they know the OHV community is watching and tracking every move.

For years, BRC has been trusted to run action alerts like this. Thousands of members and supporters have used this system effectively to defend access to public lands. This isn’t about collecting your info — it’s about building the strongest, most transparent record possible to hold agencies accountable.

In early 2024, BlueRibbon Coalition spent months sounding the alarm for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposal to create Natural Asset Companies, and the SEC withdrew the proposal. This was a huge victory as many of BlueRibbon’s members engaged in this process to prevent the sell of our public lands to the deepest pockets on Wall Street. The purpose of the Natural Asset Company is to securitize and privatize the “ecosystem services” on public lands. Although the withdrawal of the rule was a win, it did not prevent the SEC from proposing the rule or a similar rule in the future.

NACs are corporate entities that assign financial value to ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water purification, biodiversity preservation, and soil health. While intended to attract investment for conservation efforts, there are concerns that NACs could restrict productive land uses vital to Utah’s economy, including agriculture, energy production, and recreation. Those supporting the rule estimated that the market for NACs would be over $4 quadrillion dollars. This proposal made any other attempt to privatize natural resources look like a childhood lemonade stand. Not surprisingly, many who are currently expressing concerns that public lands would be sold off to the highest bidder support the creation of NACs.

On March 11, Senator John Curtis, Senator Mike Lee and Representative Mike Kennedy, all of Utah, introduced the Natural Asset Company Prohibition Act. This legislation aims to prevent Natural Asset Companies (NACs) from entering agreements that affect Utah’s land, water, or natural resources. ​

The bill’s sponsors argue that allowing NACs to operate in Utah could enable private and foreign investors to control lands essential to local communities. Senator Mike Lee, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, stated that NACs “pose a direct threat” to Utah’s industries by potentially seizing control of critical lands. Similarly, Representative Mike Kennedy expressed concerns that NACs could “lock away farmland and natural resources,” undermining the state’s rural economy. ​

If enacted, this legislation would ensure that decisions regarding Utah’s natural resources remain under local control, safeguarding the interests of communities that depend on these lands for their livelihoods and cultural practices.​

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