The Great American Outdoors Act provides that money from oil and gas development will help pay for maintenance needs at national parks, but even though Utah has plenty of parks and plenty of oil and gas wells, the Beehive state got overlooked. In fact, Utah got 7.3 million from the US Dept of Interior for projects on BLM lands but nothing for it's national parks. Contrast that to states like NY that got 50.5 million, VA that got 247.5 million and even Oregon who got 12.5 million. Even though Utah ranks 4th for natural gas production and 5th in oil and gas production from public lands, it's national park maintenance needs were left begging. Utah is home to 5 national parks and has a deferred maintenance backlog of 225 million. As Utah Rep John Curtis said, "ownership brings responsibility, if the federal government is going to own this land, they need to step up and take care of it. We are all waiting for the Biden administration promise of unity and being a president for all. When you see dollars like this going to blue states and neglecting red ones, it makes that sound hollow. If he is going to be president for all he needs to treat us all the same regardless of our political philosophies."
