It is Utah land that should have been turned over shortly after statehood and the enabling act. As was the case with all states to the east of CO, but in the west the retention of land meant that those states were treated differently than those previously granted statehood. In reality the Federal government will still own the land. This is why it won’t be sold because 95 percent of the sale proceeds must be turned over to Uncle. Thus the land will be managed in the best interest of the state, and NOT sold.
Such as permitting logging, grazing, mining, gas drilling and economic development?
All of that helps Utah without requiring the land to actually change hands.