U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz flirted with the idea of selling off 3,3 million acres of public lands in 10 Western states, including Colorado. The Republican from Utah introduced the Disposal of Federal Lands Act last week.

Chaffetz backed off the deal this week, however.

“I am withdrawing HR 621,” Chaffetz posted  on social  media late Wednesday. “I’m a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands.”

Colorado has 94,000 acres’ worth of skin in the game.

“The properties are spread across 29 counties, with the greatest concentrations in Rio Blanco, with about 13,000 acres, and in Grand County, with 12,000 acres,” the website Denverite reported. “Some BLM land is leased out to timber and energy companies, but it’s also generally open for public use.”

The  Wilderness Society released a statement Thursday morning about Chaffetz’s withdrawal.

“Rep. Chaffetz did the right thing by withdrawing his bill,” said Brad Brooks, the society’s deputy regional director. “H.R. 621 would have allowed the sell off of 3.3 million acres of national public land in 10 western states.  Citizens throughout the U.S. who treasure public lands expressed outrage about the bill.

“However, Rep. Chaffetz has also made it clear that he aims to dismantle Teddy Roosevelt’s legacy elsewhere, by attacking national monuments and the Antiquities Act and promoting other measures designed to starve national federal lands of law enforcement resources needed to prevent vandalism and protect wildlife. This is one victory in a broader war against public lands at large, and we plan to hold Rep. Chaffetz and the rest of Congress accountable every time they fail to protect the places that celebrate our outdoor and cultural heritage.”

Now, before we too cranked up on the partisan assault charges, the land was identified as unneeded by the Clinton administration in 1997 for a failed plan to pay for rehabilitating the Everglades.

Most people on the left – and most Mountain-West voters, according to Colorado College poll this week – think public lands are priceless, Chaffetz bill says they’re worth fair market value.

State Sen. Kerry Donovan, a Democrat and fierce public lands defender, immediately warned about the rule change and land sell-off that could follow.

“Public lands are critical to Colorado’s economy, create jobs, and are integral to our Colorado way of life,” she said. “Actions speak louder than words, and this move signals a genuine threat to our public lands staying public, and pushes against the very foundation of democracy that these lands belong to all of us. I will not stand for this, and will continue to fight alongside my colleagues to keep our lands public and protected for future generations.”

The bill’s first stop would have been before the House Natural Resources Committee, which has 18 Democrats and 25 Republicans, including Colorado Reps. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs and Scott Tipton of Cortez.

The other affected states are Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Oregon,