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Utah · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Highway 279 / Shafer Basin / Long Canyon

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value and a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 62 active mining claims, 3 oil and gas leases and 12 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 12,626 acres and was designated October 31, 2008, in the Moab Field Office RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.

Acres12,626
DesignatedOct 31, 2008Moab Field Office RMP
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value and a scenic valueand found it important
Inside, at least80claims, leases, rights of way and allotments

The line

Highway 279 / Shafer Basin / Long Canyon
Mining claim, 62Right of way, 12
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 12 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 62 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 4 leases and 3 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 62 claims sit inside this line: 62 active, 62 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 62 as Active.

  • A1 LITHIUM INC62claims

BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.

The rights of way

12 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 11 under non-energy facilities and 1 under other energy facilities.

  • MOAB FIELD OFFICE8rights of way
  • Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
  • UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO1right of way
  • US DEPT OF ENERGY1right of way
  • MOAB SALT1right of way

The oil and gas leases

3 active oil and gas leases sit inside the line. 3 of them took effect before the area was designated on October 31, 2008.

  • Holder not listed by BLM3leases

Not counted: 1 more lease BLM lists as Interim.

Grazing allotments

3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

  • Big Flat-Tenmile132,642acres
  • Arth'S Pasture34,074acres
  • Potash19,460acres

The nearest areas

More from BLM's Utah office

Every area BLM's Utah office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Highway 279 / Shafer Basin / Long Canyon. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.

The rule's abstract

The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands