SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - State officials say they have opened discussions with an outdoor-recreation trade group, after the organization threatened to pull its biannual trade shows from Salt Lake City.
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 said it's satisfied the governor will deliver and has 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 group, marking the start of what both sides are calling an open dialogue.
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