U.S. House Approves Martin's Cove Land Transfer

by Mac Blewer

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Martin's Cove Land Transfer Act (HR 4103), a bill that would transfer 900 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in central Wyoming to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

What You Can Do Please contact Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi and urge them to continue their opposition to HR 4103. Senator Thomas craig@thomas.senate.gov fax (202) 224-1724 phone (202) 224-6441 Senator Enzi senator@enzi.senate.gov fax (202) 228-0359 phone (202) 224-3424

Grassroots opposition to the bill has grown steadily over the last six months. With Wyoming's two senators opposed to the Martin's Cove land transfer, many are hoping that the legislation will die a swift death in the U.S. Senate.

Martin's Cove, enrolled on the National Register of Historic Places, is located near Independence Rock and Devil's Gate, north of Muddy Gap. The cove is believed to be the place where survivors from the Martin Handcart Company sought shelter from early winter storms in October 1856 while on their trek to the Salt Lake Valley to join other Mormons settled there. Nearly 150 members of that company suffered and died on the trek.

This scenic area, considered a sacred site by the Mormon Church, contains Native American campsites and portions of the Oregon and California National Historic Trails. It also comprises crucial winter range for antelope and deer and offers excellent public hunting and recreation opportunities.

Casper activist and public policy advocate Barbara Dobos says, "This is probably the most significant and detrimental public-lands issue in Wyoming because of the precedent it will help establish for other special interests to take our public lands. Never before has a National Historic Landmark been sold to any special-interest group by the BLM. It is shocking that some in Congress would even consider such an ill-conceived proposal."

At one point in the debate, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jim Hansen (R-UT), held Senator Craig Thomas' legislation, Senate Bill 1105, the "Grand Teton National Park Land Exchange Act," hostage in the House Resources Committee unless Senator Thomas agreed to support the Martin's Cove legislation. Senator Thomas' bill would exchange isolated state holdings threatened with development within Grand Teton National Park for federal lands outside the park's boundary.

"This sort of political strong-arming is inappropriate, but all too frequent in our nation's capital," says WOC executive director Dan Heilig. "Senator Thomas is right to oppose HR 4103. It would be a blow to public access and jeopardize national treasures across America."

As we went to press, the bill had moved on to the Senate.