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Show PAGE 22 THE ZEPHYR DECEMBER 1990 from the western association of land users The Book Cliffs Planning Unit everyone wants a piece of the pie by Jane S. Jones Because of a crisis at home (a broken sewer), Lance Christie didn't have time to submit a column this month. Hopefully, Mr. Christie will be back next month. case you didn't know, the Book Cliffs Planning Unit Is a block of land In northern Grand County and part of Uintah County. It contains some large blocks of state land and a lot of scattered state sections surrounded by BLM administered federal lands. Right now, most of the state land Is open to hunting and other types of recreational If use, you keep to the designated roads. And also, most of It Is open to mineral leasing. Theres one block of the state land known as the Roadless Area, which the State Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) got withdrawn back In 1975, to establish a trophy hunting area. As for the future of this whole part of the world, theres a lot of Interest In the proposed National Conservation Area, the brainchild of the BLM (Vernal District) and the DWR, working In cooperation with the Nature Conservancy (you may have guessed It Is an environmental organization). And then theres the wilderness lands as proposed by Rep. In Fine, let private areas be so leased or purchased and set aside. Such restricted areas, to Increase the "quality of the hunt, do have their place. But not on land thats supposed to be open to the public. And that Is what state law says about state land: If s all supposed to be open to the public for hunting, trapping and fishing, and that means no user fees either. Another thing about roadless hunting areas: commercial guides and outfitters make a fair amount of money off them. But they somehow never get even a hint of a label. Instead, theyre perceived as the "good guys, those who care about money-orientthe land. I guess they try not to take the money, but, shucks, those hunters are going to spend It somewhere, arent they? In the next breath this land user takes, the miners who make some money off the land nowadays, who disturb the soli and run the wildlife off a few miles Instead of shooting them well, Its obvious theyre raping the land and they dont care about the environment ed Wayne Owens In a bill before the House of Representatives In Washington (presented last year, but not yet passed). I am a bit weary from studying the situation. It seems hopeless that the lands can war bo truly shared. Because If both sides assume that their concerns are more Important than the other side's cunma. no compromise will ever be satisfactory to both. And, by the way, I think I can see tne peiapov hnth sides pretty well. The environmental advocate says, "Yes, I care about economics and raw materials, out i v. about the environment more. After all, if the world dies, well all go with It, so first things first Besides, you guys have had It your way for all these years, and look at the toxic waste messes and the land youve screwed up. "Some experts say we may be losing up to 10,000 species of animals world-wievery year. Youve obviously been going by the wrong set of rules and things Just cant continue to be done business as usual. Its time to give the land and the animals top de priority. And the commodity advocate says, "Not care about the environment? Of course, do. Id be stupid If I didnt We all have to take care of this place since theres no where else to go. But nobody's proved to me that changes In the environment brought on by commodity development like different kinds of erosion, shifting of wildlife, and yes, even well, how do we know It spells some kind of disaster to the earth? species extinction And In the mean time, there are 250 million warm bodies In America, and theyre all clamoring for shelter, clothing, Jobs and consumer goods. The West Is where a lot of the necessary raw materials are concentrated, so this Is where we have to go to work. ROADLESS AREA I have a hard time with trophy hunting areas. Not that some people dont like I them. I guess hunters who just live for a rugged hunt and the kill of a deer I It area. Is love Because this can "real men" probably really roadless, suspect only pack In there and bag their game, after hefty fees to their friendly guide and outfitter. So, Its not my cup of tea. I hunt to get meat I eat everything I kill and I dont like big-rack- to kill ed for sport zeke and maralee fronds Four Corners Design (across from the post office) Put your trust in Number One: IN SPITE OF A GROUCHY SANTA WE HAVE BARGAINS GALORE Christmas designs on sweats & Ts Hanes sweatshirts for the whole family s sweats, shirts, dresses Tie-dye- CONT ACT :SUZAN MARTIN 259-502- 1 259-791- 4 Equal Homing Opportunity EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED or oldest irt shop in moab estb. 1980 |