Utah officials open talks with outdoor trade group

Gov. Gary Herbert had faced a Wednesday deadline from the Outdoor Industry Association to "share his vision" for preserving outdoor recreation on public lands. But the association, satisfied the Republican governor will deliver, said it moved the deadline to January, when it holds its next Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City.

Leaders of the 4,000-member-strong trade group are upset with Herbert's plans to sue the federal government for control of public lands. The Legislature has authorized lawsuits, with Utah officials looking to open more federal lands to motor vehicles and energy development.

Three of the governor's top aides paid a visit last week to the Boulder, Colo.-based Outdoor Industry Association, marking the start of what both sides are calling an open dialogue.

The discussions covered the "timing and process for the governor to deliver his vision for outdoor recreation in Utah," association spokeswoman Avery Stonich said Wednesday.

The delegation was made up of Herbert's chief of staff, Derek Miller; Spencer Eccles, executive director of his economic development office; and his environmental adviser, Alan Matheson.

"It was a very productive and cordial meeting," Matheson said. "We went to follow up on a commitment to develop an outdoor recreation vision — a statement of how and why outdoor recreation is important to the state."

The Outdoor Industry Association showed its resolve Aug. 1, just before the start of its summer trade show. It gave Herbert an ultimatum: Drop the threat to take over federal lands or risk losing the shows that draw thousands of visitors and inject more than $40 million yearly into the state economy.