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Show THE ZEPHYR MARCH 1995 PAGE 16 The Canyon Country WATCHDOG By Scott Groene Utah WilderneM On the Chopping Block Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, with the acquiescence of Utah Senators and Representatives, recently set out a three step process to determine the fate of Utah Wilderness. First, rural county commissioners have until April 1, 1995 to conduct public meetings and then tell the governor how much wilderness they would like in their counties. Second, there will be regional hearings where the rest of Utahns can comment on the rural county commissioners' decisions. Third and bill in the US. finally, the Utah Senators and Representatives will introduce this proposal as a 1995. Congress no later than June 1, The governor's process is designed to produce minimal protection for Utah wilderness while maximizing the amount of land open for development. Rural county commissioners traditionally which areas opposed to wilderness will be given the key decision making authority to choose will or will not be protected. Other Utahns may later be able to make five minute statements at the regional hearings, but the real decisions will already have been made. The first county meeting was held in Garfield County on February 13, and the results were not surprising. The crowd provided no specific reasons for not protecting specific areas, but rather voiced generalized opposition to wilderness. A smaller work group was created which will meet in the town of Escalante to actually decide which portions of the vast red rock wilderness of the Escalante Canyons should go unprotected. Representatives Bill Orton and Jim 1 lanscn, both acknowledged wilderness foes, have agreed to the governor's 3 step process because they understand the result will be minimal wilderness protection. BLM land Representative Orton is already on record that he wants no more than 5 of the in Utah protected as wilderness. Of the remaining almost 95 T of Utah public land Orton would open for development, he would designate some "national Conservation Areas" or NCAs. The title sounds impressive, but in reality NCAs are a politician's trick of empty promises. NCAs have been used in California in the past, and do not protect the land. Similarly, Orton proposes to designate 1.3 million acres of lands within our national Parks as wilderness. This would do little but place a gloss over areas already set aside, and again serves only to blur the extreme nature of Orton's position. Those attending Orton's Moab wilderness hearing a couple of years ago will remember he refused to accept testimony on BLM lands beyond the 3.2 million acres of existing wilderness study areas because he was pressed for time. lis urgency meant he failed to even consider The Utah wilderness debate is far from settled, almost 19 million acres of Utah BLM land. politicians however, regardless of the Governor's three step plan. First, even the may reconsider if Utahns flock in heavy numbers to the upcoming regional meetings to speak out in favor of wilderness. (Orton and Hansen may be surprised by strong showings for wilderness at county meetings in places like Grand County, as well) Second, these federal lands belong to all Americans, and the ultimate decision about wilderness lies with the Congress in Washington D.G If Utahns voice support for wilderness at the regional hearings, representatives from other states will pay attention, no matter what Representatives Orton and Hansen might Plan Out Canyon lands National 4WD Park Management released its final plan for management of the Park's backcountry. Park National Canyonlands the riparian zone of Salt Creek, 4wds will be is Despite information that ORV use damaging allowed to drive up what is the only perennial waterway in the Park other than the Green and Colorado Rivers. There is no consideration of dosing any of the 4Wd drive routes which will remain open to 4wds despite NPS legal mandate to fragment the Maze. Lavender Canyon protect the Park The decision was based on politics rather than science. NPS top brass hope to expand the boundaries of the Park and so were unwilling to upset the Utah congressional delegation with a decision restricting 4WD use. As a result almost all of the approximately 300 miles of 4WD roads in the planning unit will remain open, continuing to create problems with water pollution, ORV trails and management of remote areas. damage to riparian vegetation, the creation of new A federal court challenge is likely. These Are the People Jim Hansen Wants in Charge. The Utah State Sovereign Lands and Forestry division has initiated planning for leasing the minerals under the Green and Colorado Rivers. The State of Utah generally owns the beds of rivers which have been declared navigable. There are exceptions to this rule, for example the Park as the result Canyonlands National Park controls the beds of the Green and Colorado in River from the Colorado of the of a land swap. Utah would lease for development the bed erf ArizonaUtah state line to mile 176 above Lees Feny and from the north border Canyonlands National Park to the ColoradoUtah border. The Green is in trouble from the north border erf CNP to mile 12 above the railroad bridge at Green River, Ut., and from the mouth of Sand Wash up to about Jensen. The office responsible for this potential disaster is: 84180-120Sovereign Lands and Forestry, 3 Triad Center Suite 425, Salt Lake City, Utah Possible future contributor, funny guy and SUWA Issues Coordinator (whatever that means) Ken Rait, receives word by phone that he is about to become the subject of scorn and ridicule in the Zephyr (not including the predictable Rutter Tirade every other month). ss 1 ss say. The Eco-Circ- us Saga race on February 9. BLM will allow 250 racers with 100 support members and an entourage of an estimated 350 to charge 370 miles across southern Utah, including three wilderness study areas. This will be the largest competitive event of its 1 kind ever permitted on the Colorado Tlateau. Promoters of the race, including 1 shoes, the and to to race endurance the use promote products, including hope like. BLM's decision suggests the agency has changed little from the days of old, despite claims otherwise. The process is more open and the environmental assessments are thicker, but in a Utah public land management deja vu the decisions are no better. In this case the BLM allowed itself to be driven by the schedule set by promoters, rather than by the public's interest (political pressure from the Utah congressional delegation also played a role). Although BLM materials clearly warn those applying for public land permits not to take any steps towards promoting events until a permit has been secured, signed up hundreds of racers long before a final EA was released. The BLM crisis seated by the to responded by rushing the process rather than considering an alternative race route that bypassed Wilderness Study Areas. It appears the BLM intends to continue to avoid responsibility for controlling the promotion of recreation. Instead the agency will react by building developed tourist facilities (likely attracting additional use) and posting gadzillions of BLM signs. The race likely will be appealed. The BLM approved the e" e" In Black and White The Utah Farm Bureau has long been on the attack against Utah wilderness and wilJLie. The organization's views were recently clarified in a "policy" book adopting resolutions from the 2S member county bureaus. The FB supports "all current predator control methods and practices, including the use of chemical toxicants (including 10S0)..." as needed "for public health and safety." (Coyotes endangering the lives of us all, as they do) While concerned about fcxleral control on federal lands, the FB also calls for more U5DA funds for more government predator control agents. They also want the government to pay ranchers for forage and water used by wildlife on public and private rangelands. The policy opposes the designation of any additional wilderness or parks in Utah. On social matters, the Farm Bureau demands that recipients of federal scholarships, public school teachers and university teachers swear a loyalty oath and file affidavits avowing nonmembership in organizations which advocate the overthrow of the U5, government. After all, socialism and communism threaten to destroy the American way of life." They would also like to revive government committees on internal security and prohibit the use of mails to distribute communist literature. The Virgin River The Washington County Water Conservancy District continues its effort to convert the Virgin River in southwestern Utah into a plumbing system. Diversions and dams in the watershed have already driven native fish towards extinction. This column will give attention to the River and the threats in the future. The New Congress: Yikes How will the environment fare with the new Congress? Here are League of Conservation Voter environmental ratings for new leadership of the Senate and I louse based on past voting records. A 100S rating reflects full support for legislation which RUBY CAUGHT RUBBER-LES- S? That would be foolish. Wo have a fresh supply MAiRUBKS LOOK FOR US IN THE WESTERN PLAZA, NEXT TO McSTIFFS.259-726- 5 of rubber lizards, frogs, flies and fish.. And they're ready for Spring. 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