OCR Text |
Show THE ZEPHYR PAGE 5 JULY 89 F to happen. It's up to the company to put a plan before the NRC, and If It's a satisfactory plan, It win be approved. If the NRC sees the need to remove the pond, they will demand that of Atlas. It's going to be a lot more move to It that expensive pile than to cover on site. So. which are they going , to try and propose? I dont think Its up to us to say, you must move IL . Its up to the government In a way, the NRC to make the decision that It can be satisfactorily covered for a thousand years. Zephyr: The county government can express an opinion. Merv: Oh yes. The people have a lot of say In everything. Dave: I beBeve when they get around to cleaning It up, ItD mean some pretty good revenue. As for as Jobs and wages go. Quite frankly, I dont know what the role of the county should be In pursuing the cleanup. Feme: In some ways, we should see that Its speeded up. It seems to me that Its been status quo for so many years, how long does it take to make a proposal? Maybe all of it will blow away If they wait long enough. Dave: It was only last year that it was decided it woulid not be reopened. And now, the wheels of government are stow. Feme: Im not talking about the government Im talking about Atlas making a proposal to clean It up. And then Itll take the government a long time, so nothing will be done out there for years. I think maybe the county can give them a little prod. Merv: Im not too sure Pm hearing right what Feme Is saying, but what , Im hearing Is, we could ted Atlas to speed up. The plan has been submitted to the NRC many years ago. The NRC has come back to Atlas and said, there are Resubmit something covering that aspects of the plan we dont like. And this Is whats going on. Its backwards and particular aspect forwards. Governor has come out against wilderness. So the man will certainly have his biases, theres no doubt about that But our Job Is to show what the economic effects will be If the wilderness areas are created. My Job Isnt to support wilderness. Weve taken a stand In opposition to h. Therell be plenty of people supporting wilderness. So biased? Yes. Arent we all? Zeohvr: But It Is government funds that are being used. Dave: Sure. Its taxpayers that came In and asked that It be used for IL Its the taxpayers that we are protecting. By fighting wilderness we are fighting for the taxpayers, because Its the exploitation of minerals In this county that pays for schools and so on. So are vou saving the Western Association of land Users Zephyr: represents a consensus In Grand Countv? Dave: Nobody represents a consensus In Grand County. Nobody ever has. Merv: I think Dave has summed It up correctly. I am concerned too, but this allocation of X number of acres Is premature until you can really prove that that acreage does not have any mineral on It that would be vitaL Feme: Im agreeing on this. I'm against this large amount of wilderness proposed by Owens, and also I think Nielson's Is too much. Im not against wilderness. I think there are certain places it should be. But we dont reaBze any monies from wilderness. I think a lot of people dont understand what wilderness really Is. I Bke the outdoors and things but I cant walk a hundred miles to see something, or backpack. Pm not capable of that And I think Its a mistake to take these big blocks of land and say, well take this, and this. I dont beBeve In that When I campaigned, I said I believed In multiple use and wilderness. I hate land abuse. I can see what overgrazing did years ago. I love the land and Im an envIronmentaBst In that way. But I dont think wilderness Is the answer. Zephyr: What progress has the Blue Ribbon Committee made In deaBng with tourism Impacts? Can anything be accomplished before Fall. In terms of Improving facilities? Feme: Id Bke to see something happen before the 4th of July and thats getting close. Dave: Lets give the committee a chance. They really haven't been In existence long enough to accompBsh much. But I guess I should be frank, as usual, and say Im not encouraged. I have a hard time . we might be able to do something. We are trying. But I sometimes worry about the ability of big committees to do something. I still think maybe we need to come back to the Commission and have the three of us make some hard fast decisions. Weve got a negative Impact to deal with. Were here to deal with a problem, and Its going to be tough to solve. And Its going to take time, but we don't have time. But the Committee is seriously concerned, and Its new ground to come Into. It's frustrating when you see a problem, and you Just can't go out and take care of tt. Is that a politically smart statement to make? Feme: Its a good Job. You talked a long time and you didn't say too much. Dave: Im getting good at this. Merv: . Nothing gets done without communication and thats why the committee was formed; communication between those people that should be In a position to do something. If you don't take advantage of those people and that communication - to get an answer, you're losing an opportunity. . While the Countv Attorney Is on sick leave, will the Deputy Zephyr: County Attorney be able to handle the case load and other responsibilities . Feme: has sent It back, Its still with Atlas. This is the thing. They go back arid forth so long. Merv: Id Bke to quote a parallel case with Rio Algom. We submitted a plan to NRC about 2 or 3 years before I retired. The NRC has not yet given us I think Atlas But is in the same position. approval to start reclaiming. Is in NRC are some of terms there the slopes of the pond. If having problems they use those slope ratios advocated, the Potash Road and US 191 would be covered. It would be nice to have all that material removed, and restored to the way It was before, but can we demand that expense of Atlas? Is it right? Zephyr: I would think health and environmental concerns would be first If It starts leaching into the river In danoerous levels In a hundred years. Its not much of a legacy for us to leave posterity. Merv: Fine. I dont believe the NRC will allow that pile to remain If its going to do what you say. They are foirly competent We suspect the government In many cases, but Ive had so many dealings with NRC, Ive found them to be pretty fair and strict when they have to be. I dont think theres any doubt that Its leaching Into the river right now, and has been. But the dilution factor Is so great, that If you go downstream, you Just cant detect It Zephyr: A citizen contacted me recently, who had observed another truck He also said that when the full of asbestos being unloaded at the dump. equipment operator ran over the bags, a tot of the bags ruptured. Is this, a new contract or are we finishing off the old one? Merv: The test load Jhat came In was still part of the old contract- They must be about finished now. And on the bags, I would say youre not all together right there. Zephyr: What do vou mean? Someone called me up and told me that theyd observed that happening Merv: What Im saying Is, the reason you put them In bags Is for safe handling of It, not In terms of what Its going to be Bke one year or two years down the road, when It Is covered. It doesnt matter If It ruptures after If s covered, but If It Zephyr: ruptures while youre running over It with a bulldozer It can scatter the asbestos. Merv: I thought you meant that the bags must be Intact under ground. Zephyr: Merv. this question Is a question for vou that should rile vou up. You ran as a Democrat and were perceived to be something of an environBut since vour election, youve supported malor protects mentalist. promoted bv Republicans such as the Book Cliffs road, a protect that has Youve also supported continued dumping of concerned many Democrats. some have asbestos and expressed opposition to wilderness designation. Do vou believe vou represent the point of view and philosophy of the Democratic But If NRC . , . Party In Grand County? Merv: Id almost Bke to say no comment, Jim, but I wont I ran as a Democrat I was supported by Democrats. I was probably supported by as many Republicans as Democrats. Otherwise, I would have never been elected. My Job here Is not to be a Democrat, Daves Job Is not to be a Republican. We are here to govern. We are here to do the best we can for the county, not necessarily quick fixes for what Is best for today. I do not see it being a political thing. I have to make decisions, which have to be compromises between one or the other. Im sure all of us have had people approach us and say, look here this Is right, and others say, no, this is right You cannot satisfy both parties, When I campaigned I spoke to radical but I will say this right now. Democrats, or radical environmentalists, I did speak to the more radical people and said, took here, I do not wish to support a radical left wing or radical right wing. I want to try and get a middle course and bring the extreme people together to a rational middle course. That is my aim. Dave: Let me comment on that I agree with Merv to a certain point. There Is always party politics, that Is the way It always is. When I ran, I ran with the Republican Party, and that party had a platform of certain things they beBeve In. They expect me to espouse those philosophies, which I do. There also comes a time, when we as public officials are privy to facts and Information that the general public and party officials dont understand. At those times we have to do what we know is best We have to trust our we are a representative form of government But theres elected officials party politics as welL If the Republicans come to me and say, we dont Bke this stand, unless I have the facts to go against It, Id fall right in line, because I am a Republican. Western Association ottand Zephyr: at the last Commission meeting, the Users reauPtH si. 500.00 from the Countv be given to the Utah .Association determine the economic benefits. . of Counties to hire a consultant who would a person who is recommended Can lot liabilities of wilderness designation. ' bv the Western Association of Land Users be Impartial? Dave: Let me clarify that, a Bttle. They encouraged the County to get But the The cost would be up to $1,500.00. Involved In that study. The stand. that made Association of Counties Is against Wilderness; they've himself, or win the commission need to hire an assistant? Dave: If we need to hire someone, we have that option and weve made arrangements In case that load becomes too greaL But so far, Bill Schultz Is doing a great Job. It's a good thing we have him. Merv: Yes, It's most fortunate we have him. Elaine has made arrangements with another county attorney to help out If needed. If a case comes up that Is beyond Bills capability, we have that option. DON & KAY SWASEY Scrimshaw Engraving Jewelry Turquoise Dinosaur Bone Souvenirs Jewelry Repairs 57 North Main Moab, Utah 84532 . Let us be your silversmith Custom Orders Welcome 01-259-5- 360 old Spanish trail camera dennis sweeney 29 e. center 259-500- 9 s - for those special birthdays s new featuring: mona lisa clint eastwood george and barbara bush slide-card- the queen of england wor amused , , |