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Show PAGE 18 THE ZEPHYRDECEMBER 89 i a second opinion a look at wilderness from another perspective by Ber Knight Wayne Owens Is one reason that It Is so hard to get people to talk sense about wilderness Issues these days. He recently Introduced legislation that would bypass previous negotiations and studies and would designate 5.1 million acres In He Is sending a clear message to all that they cannot Utah as "wilderness. with that they must lobby for "zero wilderness." environmentalists negotiate The Wilderness Act of 1964 proposed guidelines for choice areas that would be suitable for wilderness designation and set In motion the studies that would h&lp determine which areas should be so designated. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) examined proposed areas and established some as Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) while rejecting some as not fitting the guidelines enacted by Congtypss. Some of the rejected proposals were subsequently reinstated through court actions, despite their failure to meet the guidelines. The BLM In Utah then Issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describing 3.2 million acres of WSAs, suggesting alternative actions, and recommending some 1.9 million acres as Public comments were Invited and will suitable for wilderness designation. In EIS final when It Is published. be considered the presumably A lot of hard compromise went Into the establishment of the wilderness criteria, and a lot of conscientious effort has gone Into the studies and recommendations to date. Very few people are really happy with the result, but that Is the nature of compromise. Owens and others, however, simply don't want to accept the compromise. They want to start a new round of negotiations, starting with the current compromise as a base to find a new "middle ground" more to their liking. He and his staff have even stated that the proposed legislation was made as a bargaining position. Need we wonder why miners, ranchers, and others are saying "no wilderness?" admit privately that Many of these approve of the wilderness program -- In moderationpeoplebut they dare not airthey such views publicly lest they lose their bargaining position. We are, unfortunately, In the midst of the adversarial process where everyone Is expected to take a side and no one can say anything that makes .and concrete structures, and dug mine shafts. Ironically, ardent wilderness advocates deny that these Intrusions by man are actually roads (you see, the area Is supposed to be "roadless to qualify for "wilderness"). But they are there man's machinery has altered the call them "roads", "trails", or "ways" landscape. There can be no question that wilderness was diminishing during the uranium boom. By now, however, the buildings are collapsing, the level roads are growing over, and the hillside roads are seeking their original slope as rocks fall In from above and road edges fall below. As the Influence of mans machines fades away, real sense. We have heard that "wilderness can only diminish In size; there can never be more than we have no." This statement may seem to be a truism, but, when we examine what Is meant by "wilderness In the current controversies, it ain't necessarily so. I propose that, at least In southeastern Utah, "wilderness" Is actually increasing. My premise Is that there are virtually no areas that fit the simple concept of wilderness as land that Is untouched by man; what we are talking about Is land that has been touched little enough or long enough ago that It appears to be virtually unaltered. In the best protected nearby areas, Grand Gulch for example, visitors are delighted to find ruins, artifacts, and rock art left by men. Moreover, one finds that the miners didn't overlook much of the country In their quest for the minerals that were going to make them rich. They bladed roads, drilled holes, erected wood VIDEO REAL ESTATE SERVICE LUDEAN WALKER Arches Realty 690 South Main 259-502- 6 88-02- 7 Duplex 2 BedroomslBath each Separate laundry room - Carport Good eond. Presently rented $67,500.00 MAKE OFFER -8- 9-128 Zone C--3 3 biks. to town, Close to Schools Ig.lot, Well Shade Trees 2 Bedrooms, Fireplaces, Appliances - Owner Financing Trl-ple- x $67,500.00 -8- 9-130 Acre Lot - Highlands Subdivision Conections paid. View of vnts. Nice building site - $16,500.00 -8- 9-124 3 Bedroom Bath & View, Carport, Has half, Portal lots of potential Owner Financing $35,000.00 -8- 9-125 PRICE REDUCED! Nice Refurbished 3 Bedroom - Woodstove, Out of Town Setting, Close to store Window Picture of the La Sal's wowner financing $36,500.00 33 No. Main 259-862- 3 Video by - Coyote Productions Moab, Utah |