Utah Administrative Code Topic - School and Institutional Trust Lands
In the Utah Administrative Code, the regulations for the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) are found primarily under Title R850 - School and Institutional Trust Lands, Administration.
SITLA is a unique state agency in Utah, created in 1994, with a specific and singular mission: to manage and develop Utah's 3.4 million acres of trust lands to generate revenue for 12 state institutions, primarily K-12 public schools. Unlike public lands (like national parks or forests), trust lands are held in trust for specific beneficiaries, and SITLA operates under a fiduciary responsibility to maximize financial returns from these lands.
Title R850 outlines the comprehensive rules by which SITLA carries out this mission, covering various land management, resource development, and administrative processes.
Key Regulations and Areas Covered in Utah Administrative Code R850:
Title R850 is highly detailed, reflecting the complex nature of land management and resource extraction. Here's a breakdown of some of its most significant rules (chapters):
R850-1 - Definition of Terms: Provides a glossary of terms used throughout SITLA's rules.
R850-2 - Trust Land Management Objectives: Outlines the core principles and goals that guide SITLA's management decisions, emphasizing its fiduciary duty to maximize revenue for beneficiaries.
R850-3 - Applicant Qualifications, Application Forms, and Application Processing: General rules for anyone applying to lease, purchase, or otherwise use trust lands.
R850-4 - Application Fees and Assessments: Details the fees associated with various applications and land use activities.
R850-5 - Payments, Royalties, Audits, and Reinstatements: Covers the financial aspects of land use, including how payments are made, royalty calculations, audit requirements, and procedures for reinstating agreements.
R850-6 - Government Records Access and Management: Rules for public access to SITLA's records in accordance with the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).
R850-8 - Adjudicative Proceedings: Establishes the formal and informal procedures for resolving disputes and conducting hearings related to SITLA's decisions (e.g., lease disputes, enforcement actions).
R850-11 - Procurement: Regulations for how SITLA procures goods and services.
R850-12 - Prohibited and Restricted Uses of Trust Lands: Defines activities that are not allowed or are restricted on trust lands, such as unauthorized camping, dumping, or target shooting (further specified in R850-160).
R850-13 - Confidential Treatment of Proprietary Information: Rules for handling sensitive business or proprietary information submitted to SITLA.
Specific Resource and Land Management Rules (Examples):
Beyond the general administration, a large portion of R850 is dedicated to specific types of land use and resource development:
R850-21 - Oil, Gas and Hydrocarbon Resources: Detailed regulations for leasing, exploration, drilling, production, and reclamation of oil, gas, and hydrocarbon resources on trust lands. This includes requirements for plans of operation, cultural/biological surveys, and mitigation of impacts.
R850-22 - Tar Sands: Specific rules for the development of tar sands resources.
R850-23 - Sand, Gravel and Cinders: Regulations for permitting the extraction of these common materials.
R850-24 - Mineral Resources (General): General provisions for hardrock minerals, building stone, and coal.
R850-25 - Hardrock and Material Resources: Specific rules for hardrock mineral and material development.
R850-26 - Coal Resources: Detailed regulations for coal mining operations.
R850-30 - Geothermal Resource Leases: Rules for geothermal energy development.
R850-40 - Special Use Leases: Covers a wide variety of non-extractive uses, such as communication sites, landfills, and recreational facilities.
R850-45 - Rights-of-Way: Rules for granting easements and rights-of-way across trust lands for roads, pipelines, power lines, etc.
R850-50 - Commercial/Recreational Leases: Regulations for commercial and recreational activities on trust lands.
R850-60 - Cultural Resources: Rules for the protection and management of archaeological and historical sites on trust lands.
R850-61 - Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation: Adherence to federal and state laws regarding Native American remains and cultural items.
R850-70 - Sales of Forest Products From Trust Lands Administration Lands: Regulations for timber and other forest product sales.
R850-75 - Sale of Plants and Wildland Seed: Rules for commercial harvesting of plant materials.
R850-80 - Sale of Trust Lands: Procedures for the outright sale of trust lands.
R850-90 - Land Exchange: Regulations for exchanging trust lands with other entities (e.g., federal government, private landowners) to consolidate holdings or improve revenue potential.
R850-100 - Trust Land Management Planning: Guidelines for SITLA's land use planning processes.
R850-110 - Motor Vehicle Travel Designations: Rules for designating authorized routes for motor vehicle travel on trust lands to minimize environmental impact and manage access.
R850-140 - Development Property: Rules specific to the development of trust lands for real estate, commercial, or residential purposes.
R850-150 - Rare Plant Species: Regulations for the protection of rare, threatened, or endangered plant species on trust lands.
R850-160 - Withdrawal of Trust Lands from Public Target Shooting: Specific rules related to restrictions on target shooting for safety or resource protection.
Relationship with Other Entities:
SITLA works in conjunction with the School and Institutional Trust Fund Board of Trustees (governed by Utah Administrative Code R849), which oversees the investment of the revenues generated by SITLA's land management activities. The revenues from SITLA's operations are deposited into permanent trust funds, and the earnings from these investments are then distributed to the beneficiaries, primarily Utah's public schools, through programs like the School LAND Trust Program.
Where to Find the Full Text:
The most current and complete text of Title R850 of the Utah Administrative Code can be found on:
Utah Legislature's Administrative Code Website: This is the primary official source for Utah's administrative rules. You can navigate directly to Title R85
School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) Website: SITLA's official website (https://trustlands.utah.gov/) provides direct access to their "Acts, Laws, Codes, and Rules" section, which includes a downloadable agency rulebook and a link to the official Administrative Rules website.
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