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Show PAGE 26 THE ZEPHYRJANFEB 90 (ISFS and the Logging Industry watchdog Book Cliffs Road Update La The Grand County Special Service Roads District continues to push forward with plans to construct a multi-milli- on dollar road between Cisco and Vernal, Utah. The Book Cliffs Road carries a price tag that may ultimately exceed $45,000,000. One question that many have asked Is simply, what Is the major purpose of the highway? It has been touted by many as a new major northsouth link connecting recreation areas In Northern Utah and Wyoming with the Canyonlands of Southern Utah. It has also been candidly admitted by members of the Road Board that the road will Improve and enhance energy development In the Book Cliffs area. But what Is the primary motivation behind the Board's enthusiasm for this project? Recently Grand and Uintah Counties filed an "Application For Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands with the Bureau of Land Management The project description filed by the Road Board states: ay "This application encompasses all publicly owned required to accommodate an Improved all weather highway serving the energy fields and travelers between Cisco and Ouray, Utah. Its primary purpose Is to provide Improved access Into the tar sand, oil shale, natural gas and oil deposits located on public lands In that area. The new road would shorten the route from Ouray to Cisco by approximately 37 miles. Is this a significant savings of time (considering the cost) In stimulating tourist traffic? According to the application, that Is not really a concern of the Board. In part, the applicatloh says: "Several existing roads connect Ouray and Cisco; namely, US 191 over Indian Canyon north of Price and Colorado State Road 64 over Douglass Pass. Neither of these routes provides access to the energy fields: hence, neither satisfies the primary need of the proJecL Further consideration of these roads Is meaningless. right-of-w- , Apparently, the redundancy of roads connecting Vernal and Southern Utah and the relatively small savings In time that the new road would provide are IrrelevanL In fact, this road would not be of primary Importance to Its proponents, If It were not for the benefits It will provide the energy Industry. The question arises, should public funds be used to subsidize oil and gas exploration companies In the Book Cliffs? Historically, energy companies have built their own Infrastructures. A recent example locally, Is the Gold Basin Road In La Sal National Forest It was constructed by Exxon at their expense to gain access to an exploratory well site. Can Grand County afford to subsidize the energy Industry when It has so many other pressing needs, or can the Road Board provide solid Information that this Investment will generate revenues for the county that exceed the cost? i V;J Does the Federal government subsidize the timber Industry? Each year billions of board feet of lumber are cut In America's National Forests. In Fiscal Year 1988, 1.5 million board feet of sawtlmber for wood products and 3.7 million board feet of Sal National Forest, according to an annual fuelwood were "harvested In Mantl-USFS report called the Timber Sale Program Information Reporting System. The document provides three major reports which cover different aspects of timber sale program Information. The Forest Service describes those aspects In this way: : :! "The Statement of Revenues and Expenses displays actual revenues allocated In Fiscal Year (FY) 1988. This compared to the expensed costs report depicts the financial record of timber management Producing timber Is a long term commitment of land and resources and a variety of activities occur each year on stands at various ages In their restoration. For this reason, many of our costs are pooled and then redistributed back to any given year based on the amounts of Umber harvested. This practice of polling and allocating costs meets accepted accounting procedures. . "The Employment, Income and Program Development Report shows the value of the timber program to the local economy In terms of employment opportunities created and Income produced. This report also provides Information on the actual timber program accomplishments for the fiscal yar- "The Economic Report provides a look at the future benefits and costs associated with the current year's harvest This table provides Information on how the timber program affects other resource values as well as the value of future timber management of harvested areas. -- The Statement of Revenues and Expenses for Mantl-- La Sal National Forest Indicates a staggering loss when revenues generated by timber sales are compared to expenses. In Fiscal Year 1988 total revenues from timber sales and associated charges totaled $8842. Expenses Incurred by the USFS related to timber amounted to $425,867, a net loss of $337,425. The Employment, Income and Program Development Report Indicates that 13 Jobs were created In this area through, the logging Industry, generating a total Income to nearby communities of $187,785. The Economic Report for 1988 and the figures that are provided In this category are subjective and difficult to understand. Even Forest Service personnel1 are not sure how these numbers were calculated. In any case, the positive or negative effect of timber sales on a variety of categories Is given a numerical value. They are printed here: j CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE Protestor Valley Ranch P.O.Boa60 Moab.(JuhMU2 80129S7790 COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU THE CANYONS EDGE Grand Jet. Feb. 15 Keystone, Co Feb. 16 Colorado Springs Feb. 21 Boulder Mar. 6 Golden Mar. 7 Montrose Mar. 22 and more... 94 West 1st North Moab, Utah 84532 (1 block west of Main Street) Happy New Year And Peace in 1990 From The Staff At Ri t 3r 4 4i t |