I understand the concept. Reasonable access should never be denied. I don't know the area so I should probably STFU at this point.
San Rafael Swell is full of uranium mines and mining roads from the WW II and cold war eras. Some of the mines are still hot.
It is quite dry with some small streams and seasonal ( often dry ) stream beds.
The Sierra Club and friends have been closing down this and other areas. Much of the BLM has been taken over by the greenies and there have been legal fights for a long time. Most of the various counties have county roads that they want to keep open.
Some of the counties are over 90 percent public lands, so to go from small town to town...one has to cross " government " lands.
Recreation has traditionally been hunting, fishing, jeeping, camping, biking, and hiking. Thus the local sheriffs try to keep the rural areas open and the greenies inside the BLM try to keep them closed.
The 529 rule has been very important in keeping the public lands somewhat open.
The area is south of I-70 near Moab, Green River, and further west in Utah.