Utah · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
San Rafael Canyon
BLM found a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 3 active mining claims and 3 rights of way inside the line today, and five grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 15,152 acres and was designated October 31, 2008, in the Price Field Office RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 3 claims sit inside this line: 3 active, 3 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 3 as Active. None of the 3 claims was located before the area was designated.
- DIAMOND K GYPSUM INC3claims
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
3 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 3 under non-energy facilities.
- PRICE FIELD OFFICE1right of way
- EMERY COUNTY (Utah)1right of way
- EMERY CO ROAD1right of way
Grazing allotments
5 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Buckhorn47,156acres
- Oil Well Flat42,890acres
- North Sinbad42,631acres
- Fuller Bottom13,253acres
- Little Holes10,477acres
The nearest areas
- Rock Art SitesUtah · 649 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it12miles
- Rock Art SitesUtah · 512 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it13miles
- Heritage SitesUtah · 100 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it14miles
- Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur QuarryUtah · 766 acres · 1 right of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it15miles
- Interstate 70Utah · 33,068 acres · at least 18 active mining claims and 17 more BLM lists as Filed, 15 rights of way, 11 grazing allotments covering part of it15miles
More from BLM's Utah office
Every area BLM's Utah office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like San Rafael 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