Utah Sues to Challenge Federal Control of Unappropriated Public Lands

The lawsuit filed by the state of Utah challenges the federal government’s control over millions of acres of unappropriated public lands, as stated in the complaint. The state is seeking a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the government can continue to hold these lands without designating a specific purpose for them. These unappropriated lands, totaling about 18.5 million acres, have not been set aside for national parks, monuments, wilderness areas, forests, tribal lands, or military use. The lawsuit argues that Utah is being deprived of its sovereign powers over a significant portion of its territory due to the federal government’s ownership of these lands. Despite repeated efforts by state leaders to have the government relinquish control, these attempts have been unsuccessful. Utah Governor Spencer Cox highlighted the limited access to and management of natural resources due to federal control over two-thirds of the state. The lawsuit has drawn opposition from groups like the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, who are concerned about the potential impact on Utah’s landscapes. Please rewrite the given sentence for me.

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