The US Congress, through the enactment of the Dingell Act on March 19, 2019, established several new wilderness areas and a new recreation area in the San Rafael Swell, located primarily in Emery County. As part of the legislation, Congress also provided for 116,000 acres of state trust lands located within these newly designated areas to be traded to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In exchange, Trust Lands will acquire an equal value of federal lands (approximately 98,500 acres) located outside of these special management areas that have better revenue-producing potential for the Trust through the development of minerals, oil, gas, coal, renewable energy, real estate, and other activities. This development provides much-needed funding for Utah’s public schools and will also create critical economic development opportunities for the surrounding rural communities. The completion of this land exchange is expected in late 2023.