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Utah Environmental Congress records, 1982-2009

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Utah Environmental Congress
Title
Utah Environmental Congress records
Dates
1982-2009 (inclusive)
Quantity
27 linear feet, (27 bankers boxes)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 578
Summary
This collection contains project reports, records, news articles, correspondence, maps, and materials of the Utah Environmental Congress (also referred to as Utah Wilderness Congress), primarily during the years 1999-2009. Many files also have accompanying CDs.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections and Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on access, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Utah Environmental Congress (UEC) was founded in 1998 to protect and restore Utah's national forests, and existed for nearly 15 years before merging with the national organization WildEarth Guardians. The organization became known for its persistent advocacy to protect Utah's forests and advocate for wildlands, which it considered "islands of refuge in Utah's desert country". Its campaigns targeted threats such as logging of native forests, new road construction, mining and oil drilling on public lands, and excessive grazing on national forests

The UEC was particularly recognized for its Forest Monitoring Program, through which it reviewed and challenged U.S. Forest Service projects across Utah. It achieved victories through legal appeals and litigation.

Key accomplishments:

Prevented SUFCO mine expansion (2012): The UEC filed an appeal that blocked a proposed expansion of Utah's largest coal mine. This kept millions of tons of coal from being extracted from the Fishlake and Manti-La Sal National Forests.

Established legal precedents: Through lawsuits and administrative appeals, the UEC secured important legal wins that prevented potentially damaging Forest Service projects.

Initiated wolf restoration campaign: The organization campaigned for the reintroduction of an ecologically significant wolf population in Utah, where the species had been eliminated by the 1930s.

In November 2013, the UEC merged with WildEarth Guardians, a larger national conservation group. This allowed UEC's staff and programs to continue their work with the added resources of the larger organization.

Source: Wild Earth Guardians Press Release November 18, 2013

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Content Description

This collection contains project reports, records, correspondence, maps and other assorted materials, created either by UEC or sent to UEC by other supporting organizations. Most are centered on pressing for specific areas to be designated and protected as wilderness.

Files are in colored folders that correspond to individual national forest areas. Ashley NF = orange or burgundy Dixie NF = blue Fishlake NF = green Manti La Sal = yellow Uinta NF = purple Wasatch-Cache = red

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Utah Environmental Congress records must be obtained from the Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Section Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Utah Environmental Congress records USU_COLL MSS 578. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 578, USUSCA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically, then by National Forest area.

Acquisition Information

These materials were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 2016 by Kevin Mueller, who was president of UEC.

Related Materials

James V. Hansen Congressional papers, COLL MSS 351 (Series VI, Box 42 Folder 25)

Utah Environmental Congress photograph collection, P0646

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Finding aid created by Emma Wilson, Heather Housley, and Clint Pumphrey
2025

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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