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Show 'Mummy B&md Meet S&wkf 7 Srirag Fc?foras Fogefcr A general spirit of cooperation and work toward a mutual goal was evidenced evidenc-ed Monday in a meeting focused on public land use, and specifically the proposed Bureau of Land Management surface mining regulations. The meeting included the unofficial BLM district advisory committee, BLM officials, representatives of the Western Association of Land Users and Mineral Resources Development Council, and concerned citizens. After over two hours of discussion, it appeared that, at the least, the various points of view had gained a better understanding of those with differing positions, and at the most, a consensus was attained on some issues. The committee decided to submit a letter to the public hearing April 5 in Salt Lake City on the proposed surface mining regulation. Substance of this letter will be to recommend that states which currently have in effect regulations regula-tions which meet or exceed standards in the proposed federal regulations be given the responsibility of overseeing surface mining. The committee will also call for earlier public notice and involvement in formation of federal regulations in order to obtain more public input and a truer picture of public sentiment. Unofficial Status The district BLM advisory committee is currently an unofficial body because President Jimmy Carter abolished all such committees not mandated by law in order to study their need and usefulness. BLM District Manager Gene Day said there were formerly some 465 such committees allowed, but not mandated, by statute which expended $17.8 million in 1976. He said President Carter's eventual rechartering of advisory committees will depend on three factors. First, there will (Continued Pg. A8) f 1 Advisory Board Meet . . . ' (Continued From Al) - . have to be a compelling need for the committee. Second, the makeup of the - committee should be truly balanced; and jr'j third, the committee must conduct open . f J" meetings consistent with law and the committee mandate. ) Day said he, personally, feels the : local committee would conform to these criteria. Another qualifying factor might tfo' be a problem, though. This is that ', :t the members of the advisory committee should not do business with the agency w 1 the committee advises. "That's a very I J . difficult task to accomplish in the West," jj, commented Day. Jr'j The district advisory committee is composed of 10 persons representing a J?,; variety of interests. There were 7 of the r 10 members in attendance Monday, with rvf D.L. Taylor, chairman of the unofficial body, conducting the meeting. 1 He explained that the meeting was called to "Examine current problems and see what we can do to improve relations i'' at this point in time between the Bureau , of Land Management and others." 'S James D. Black made a number of ? 1 1 recommendations to the advisory corn ier mittee and the BLM on behalf of the jJ', Western Association of Land Users. He &j said that communication between the Jjft agency and the public is an obvious .; problem, and volunteered the WALU i , j ! help in a number of ways. i .- Expand Board i -1 ;( He asked if it would be possible to I it . change and expand the membership of ' ( the advisory board, including citizen . ratification of membership and the ' j' naming of alternates to members. Gene ' ' : Day replied that, in his opinion, "with the state of current flux regarding the board, any suggestions regarding board size, makeup and even possible staffing would be in order, directed to practically anyone up the line." Black challenged the board to "draft a set of acceptable mining regulations, acceptably worded," to replace the current proposed regulations, noting that "people in Washington, D.C. who drafted these regulations are 'ignorant' of the real situation in the West, not 'stupid.' " Delbert Oliver suggested that the advisory board members become involved involv-ed with any number of interested people working on the various areas of concern. Black commented there is a need for accountability to be written into the Organic Act, and warned against "presumptions "pre-sumptions of land use conflicts that don't exist," as between stockmen and river runners. He advocated writing of regulations which would promote responsibility in lieu of bonding, characterizing the current proposed regulations as punitive as opposed to incentive regulations. A better approach, he suggested, would be the issuance of "a gold star for the side of his pickup and a magical exemption from bonding requirement," for the guy who conducts his mining operation in an exemplary manner. For those who are indeed tearing up the land he suggested that the bonding requirements should be applied, but only when land misuse is shown. Black also suggested that classes sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management on responsible surface management techniques would not only . improve the public image of BLM but also promote the goals of the agency. |