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Show SEPTEMBER 28,2006 Page 6 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER DUCK MERCURY ADVISORIES REVISED As Utah's duck hunting season approaches, the Division of Wildlife Resources has some good news for hunters — after sampling more ducks over a larger area along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake, lower levels of mercury were found in northern shovelers and common goldeneyes and consumption advisories for the two ducks have been revised. Health professionals have also added a third duck — cinnamon teal — to the list of ducks that have mercury levels that exceed Environmental Protection Agency screening values. In addition to the three ducks mentioned, seven other duck species were also sampled from October 2005 through mid-February 2006. The mercury levels for all of these species were below EPA screening values, and all of these ducks should be safe to eat. These birds include ducks that are the most popular among Utah's hunters, including mallards, northern pintails and green-winged teal. Results of the sampling can be viewed at www.health.utah.gov/enviroepi Utah's upcoming waterfowl season begins Sept. 30 with a special Y outh Hunt ing Day for hunters 15 years of age and younger. The general waterfowl hunt begins Oct. 7. Consumption advisories: Based on the latest findings, the Utah Department of Health has issued the following consumption advisories; Northern Shoveler and Cinnamon Teal Adults should eat no more than two 8-ounce meals per month, and children, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should eat no more than one 4-ounce meal per month of northern shoveler and cinnamon teal harvested from Great Salt Lake marshes. Common Goldeneye Adults should eat no more than one 8-ounce meal per month, and children, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should not eat common goldeneye harvested from Great Salt Lake marshes. Cinnamon Teal, Goldeneyes and ShoveJers • Utah hunters do not take many cinnamon teal. Cinnamon teal are the first ducks to migrate out of Utah in the fall, and most have left the state my mid-October. Only five percent of the ducks taken by Utah hunters during the past 10 years were cinnamon teal. • Utah hunters do not take many common goldeneyes either. Goldeneyes do not start arriving in Utah until mid-November. Only two percent of the ducks taken by Utah hunters during the past 10 years were goldeneyes. • Utah hunters do take a fair number of northern shovelers. Over the past 10 years, about 10 percent of the ducks taken by Utah hunters were shovelers, but that number has climbed to 26 percent during certain years. Duck sampling will continue this fall The DWR will continue its sampling efforts during this fall's hunting season, collecting birds taken by hunters in marshes along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. Findings from the sampling effort should be available by summer 2007. Mercury work group The Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the Department of Health and the Division of Wildlife Resources, have established a statewide Mercury Work Group to coordinate and collaborate on mercury,studies and investigations that are ongoing in Utah. John Whitehead, the workgroup's chairman, says the cooperation between state and federal agencies on mercury issues has been instrumental in providing Utahns with the most current mercury information possible. The group includes stakeholders from a broad base of state, federal and nonprofit agencies, industry and the public. Information about the work group is available at www.deq.utah.gov/issues/Mercury/work group.htm Information about the waterfowl consumption advisory will also be distributed locally, and will be available at www.health.utah.gov/enviroepi and each of the agencies' Web sites. More information about the health effects of mercury can be found at www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.html General information about mercury in Utah is available at www.deq.utah,gov/issues/MercurvAindex.htm HAPPY 95th Time to start thinking about how to heat your home for the coming Winter! If you are using fuels that are oil or gas based to heat your home this winter, you may want to save by using electricity from Garkane Energy. Our residential rate has not increased since 1992. After 1,000 kwh the price drops to 4.150 per kwh. No Oil or Gas-based heating-fuel can compete with Garkane's Electric Rates If you currently hove an Oil or Fuel based heating source that is too costly to replace, take a look at the new line of heaters Garkane offers from CONVECTA1R, as an alternative heating source For your home. Great for those cool spots in your home, these units mount to a wall and plug into a regular 120 Volt outlet. 240 Volt units also available. Contact Marcus Lewis in the Loa Office for further information. Garkane energy -Quality Service, Local Control800-747-0403 BRYCE CANYON N.P. CELEBRATES NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY BY WAIVING FEES INTO THE PARK Bryce Canyon, UT - Saturday, September 30, 2006, is the thirteenth annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD). NPLD is an annual event that provides opportunities for the public to participate in volunteer projects that accomplish much needed work on public lands. NPLD is organized by the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation supported by nine federal land management agencies, and sponsored by Toyota and other businesses. In recognition of NPLD, entrance fees and commercial tour fees will be waived at Bryce Canyon National Park. Recreation "user fees" such as backcountry permit fees, camping fees, and fees for other activities offered in the parks will not be waived. Free entry passes issued at Bryce Canyon on NPLD to commercial tour operators will be valid only for that individual tour. The Bryce Canyon National Park staff would like to encourage visitors and community members to participate in the Ranger programs offered in the park. The ranger programs scheduled for the day include: 11:30 Geology talk at Sunset Point, 2:00 Geology,talk at Inspiration Point and an Evening Program at the Bryce Canyon Lodge at 8:00 P.M. In addition, the High Plateaus Institute will host an in-depth program about Mule Deerfrom 8:30- 10:30 A.M. at the HPI building in the Sunrise Point Parking lot. This program will cover topics such as life cycle, population influences, : aging, nutrition, and antler growth. The program will be presented by Grant Wil-. son, PhD from Dixie State College. The National Park Service is proud to take part in this coordinated Federal recreation effort and would like to extend a warm welcome to all visitors in recognition of NPLD. For more infor: mation on NPLD, go to http:// www.publiclandsday.org/. •'•'^^The family ofHilma Excell * '>rmtmm would like to invite yomf?^®* &to an open house. | September 30th ^ ^ ^ ? l2:(J0-6:00pm at 215 E. 15(f N. (Please n o gifts) ,..•-.-,.,,-^ |