Real Estate & Property Law

Condemnation of Federally Owned Lands

By Alan Ackerman

WND.com

He said the federal agency was hoping the county would wait with its action until the federal assessment and planning process was finished.

The move came only days after Gov. Gary Herbert of Utah authorized the use of eminent domain to take some of the U.S. government's most valuable parcels in his state.

Lawmakers hope Utah's attempt to address federal authority over land in its borders will be copied in other states.

While governments routinely use eminent domain to take private property for public use, it's seldom been applied to other government property. But in Utah, lawmakers believe the federal ownership of millions of acres in the state is restricting economic development.

Amador said the county board vote "was really was of the most energizing and exciting things I've been involved within 20 years."

Once again, Utah is claiming that as it moves forward, other states will follow and attempt to condemn (by eminent domain) federally owned lands.  This is not as simple as it looks!
 

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on April 09, 2010 (boomark / email).