By Elizabeth Troutman |

The House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing on March 7 for a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Eli Crane that would transfer federal land currently under the purview of the U.S. Forest Service to Navajo and Apache Counties. 

The Pinedale and Alpine communities have struggled to find cemetery space for deceased loved ones for more than a decade, according to Crane’s news release. 

“These communities of Pinedale have long and rich pioneer histories, and the residents are proud of that heritage. This bill will allow families to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that their family member loved so much,” Crane said. “This piece of legislation is one of the first bills I introduced in Congress and is a testament to the strength of the Latter-Day Saints Community in Northern Arizona.”

The legislation would expand the land adjacent to Alpine Community Center to prevent the need for deceased members of the community to be buried in a distant cemetery.

“The community of Pinedale has a long and rich pioneer history and the residents are proud of that heritage,” said Daryl Seymore, Navajo County Board of Supervisors, District I. “Pinedale is a community where generations of families live, grow, and raise their families. This bill will allow families to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that their family member loved so much.”

Seymour thanked Crane and his staff for their work on this bill and support of the Pinedale community. 

Nelson Davis, Apache County Supervisor for District III, and vice-chairman of the Board of Apache County, said he has seen the “very real needs” of the communities firsthand. 

“Recently, the effort put forth by you and your staff in securing the conveyance of USFS land immediately adjacent to the Alpine Community Cemetery is representative of meeting that ‘very real need,’” Davis said in a letter to Crane. 

Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.