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Show wells and construct over 400 miles of roads. Since the stay was FOREST SERVICE RANGER BLADES ORV TRAIL: Bypassing all environmental statutes granted, RDG submitted a new proposal, reducing the amount of wells to 423 over the and regulations, including public comment and environmental analysis, the Teasdale District Ranger for the Dixie National Forest used a small bulldozer, or trail cat, to blade 1,000 gas production same 80,000 acres of critical mule deer and elk habitat that overlaps the Lower Bitter Creek unit of the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal, with some wells intruding the White River BLM inventory wilderness unit. The company's decision to adjust the number of proposed wells was based mainly on the fact that the topography in much of the originally proposed well locations was too steep or otk not stain suitable lly feasible) for development, Shla) f \Or or that the wells were proposed within flood plains. At over 400 wells, the 1% threshold level of allowable impacts to deer winter range would still be exceeded, and wilderness areas would be destroyed. It's like the difference between being shot 423 times as opposed to 970 times . . .either way you're dead. Let the BLM know that: (1) too much of the Bookcliffs already has been sacrificed to oil and gas development; (2) all remaining crucial habitat lands and roadless areas must be protected from encroaching wells, roads, and other development; (3) no wells should be approved in the Lower Bitter Creek or White River units in order to protect the outstanding visual, primitive recreational, and other wilderness resources; (4) although the “no action,” no drilling alternative should be selected, the BLM must consider an alternative that limits development to areas outside of the Lower Bitter Creek, White River, and other roadless areas, and below the 1% threshold within the crucial winter range. Send your scoping comments before November 22 (late comments will still be considered) to: Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078, more than three miles of single-track foot trail turning it into an ORV trail on Boulder Mountain. Besides being located in an area that the Dixie Forest Plan directs to be managed as a wildlife management area (generally recognized as inconsistent with motorized travel), the trail was blazed through an inventoried roadless area and crossed several streams in the process. No explanation was given by the district ranger for this “grooming” except to say that local ORV riders wanted to ride on the trail. To her credit, new Dixie National Forest Supervisor Mary Wagner, responding to complaints from SUWA, directed the Ranger to rehabilitate the trail to its former condition. This work is still in progress--we've argued that a few boulders scattered along the trail is not sufficient future “trail designations involvement rehabilitation. In addition, at the direction of Dixie Supervisor Wagner, all maintenance” that involves the use of a trail cat, and all changes in the of trails or areas (ie. from non-motorized to motorized) will require public and environmental review. Other Utah forests would do well to follow the Dixie's example and commitment to proper process for future trail projects. Oooo ATTN: Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project. Fax (435)781-4410. HONEST OZZIE' ORV GROUP SHOWS ITS TRUE COLORS: Following a recent BLM panel discussion on ORVs, Kim Orndorff, a member of an ORV advocacy group, wrote: “I ride earth mangling tires over lush and delicate riparian areas every chance I get and twice on a in .. We won the respect of many BLM people throughout the state." BLM MAY WEAKEN PROTECTION FOR PROPOSED WILDERNESS: BLM has begun plans (essentially behind closed doors) to substantially change its management guide for Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs). This management guide, with the catchy acronym of “IMP” (Interim Management Policy for WSAs), is the document that BLM field offices consult and follow for on-the-ground decisions that affect WSAs. Thanks Moab... The proposed changes would significantly change the direction of wildlife management on WSAs. The guidance contained in the current IMP clearly favors native plants and wildlife and naturally functioning ecosystems, and strongly discourages human interventions in WSA ecosystems. Conversely, the proposed changes to the IMP omit most references to native species, paving the way for the introduction and production of non-native plant and animal species. In addition, the proposed changes would allow the construction of artificial developments (i.e. water developments or "guzzlers") to wie the resulting unnaturally large population numbers of these non-native animal s To keep things in perspective, BLM manages 265 million acres oflends _ which only 26 million acres are managed as WSAs. tog MACKE STIFLES SARCASTIC URGE... REEKS WITH SINCERITY. weiie‘of There are clearly ample BLM lands outside of WSAs on which ecosystems can be manipulated in order to produce the greatest number of plants and wildlife, native or non-native. We've requested that BLM drop it's plan to weaken the IMP. On behalf of Sarah and myself we'd like to thank all of you for your kindness and support. And maybe we'll be seeing you next Spring. VANDALS BULLDOZE SPRING CREEK CANYON WSA: In the latest incident of lawlessness and destruction of public lands, vandals at the controls of a bulldozer illegally gouged a road through the Spring Creek Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA) south of Cedar City. Even though the WSA is posted as “closed to motorized vehicles” (which, to most folks, would include a D-9) more than one mile of road was cut into the WSA, pulling up trees, shrubs and other vegetation, and damming up the creek along the way. The Spring Creek Canyon WSA had been the scene of increased illegal ORV activity over the past several months, and BLM had been stepping up enforcement measures in the area. The bulldozing rampage was clearly meant to be a statement against wilderness. The act was also blatant and malicious destruction of federal property and habitat of endangered species, punishable by federal laws. BLM has posted a $5000 reward SUWA has added another $1000 for information leading to the arrest of the yahoo. and INTERESTING FACTS: If presidential candidate John McCain loosened his tie enough to swallow, he'd drink Salt Lake Roasting Coffee. I choke myself to show meng OS 320 E. ON [rary 400 CALL TOLL FREE 800. 7 48.4887 S. That almost killed me. |