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Show i t i f s 1 f THE NATIONAL Cfy isn't , i i ;.j hard-nose-d about new ordinance Salt Lake is Leery of Airport Reform Bill Deregulation Could Botch Planning, Financing, Expansion .5 . J i? i J A V Developers impacted by the recently passed Salt Lake City foothill ordinance seem to be finding compassionate ears in the city commission. Enacted last week, the ordinance restricts development of subdivisions above level in the the 5200-focity's foothills, and requires stringent soil and water impact studies before building just below that level. Subdivisions planned for areas above the 5200-folevel are severely restricted, because the new ordinance allows only one dwelling per 16 acres. The city planning department estimates about 180 acres of private property are affected by this new zone. One developer, Bernard Brockbank, is particularly impacted by the new ordinance. Owning between 40 and 80 acres behind the his company Capitol, planned to build 50 - 60 houses in an area which, under the present ordinance, would withstand only four dwellings. According to a company spokesman, commissioners "seem to be willing to work something out." The company has owned the property for 20 years, the spokesman said, and in the past has conducted stringent tests be- (See CITY, page 3b) ot ? r r j , ii t i ' ot Sectional! by Jo Schneider unexpected airline requesting space and service at our airport and how can ive hedge against an airline pulling out when we have planned services with their landing fee income in mind?" Salt Lake International is the only major airport in the country in the midst of expansion. Gaines and Wilson both fear that underwriters' attitudes may be less than enthusiastic and consequently hike the price of bonds. Glen Greener, city commissioner of (See OFFICIALS LEERY, page 5b) Enterprise Staff Writer "Responsive reform intended to foster a more competitive marketplace" is the stand Salt Lake officials are taking towards the bill. U.S. Senate bill 689, an airport regulatory reform bill, would allow the nations airlines wide latitude in setting fares and in starting and discontinuing routes. It would ease mergers and the birth of new airlines. Intent of the bill, according to its sponsors, is to foster competition, lower fares, increase load factors and improve airline Kennedy-Canno- n earnings. It appears the aviation industry is in accord that reform or deregulation is necessary, but how much and how it should be executed are not as easily apparent. A congressional hearing attended by airport operators, airlines, unions and consumer groups was held last week to aid in that decision. And effect of airline reform on Salt Lake has local officials concerned. "Planning and financing are my biggest concerns," explained Paul Gaines, director of the Salt Lake International Airport. "Ancillary services are based on traffic patterns and if airlines have freedom to enter and exit the market at will, it complicates the planning and financing process. Mayor Ted Wilson said he could agree the bill in theory, but had trouble putting it to practice. "There are too many uncertainties as it stands. What will happen to feeder lines to Vernal and Cedar City that are perhaps unprofitable routes? What techniques can be used to plan for an Wednesday, March 30, 1977 OSHA Undeterred The January decision by Third District Court Judge Bryant H. Croft declaring the Utah Occupational and Health Safety Act (OSHA) unconstitutional has not affected the law's enforcement. Croft ruled the act violated constitutional rights, namely due process of law. According to a spokesperson for OSHA, inspections of businesses are proceeding normally. OSHA inspectors perform approximately 50 inspections per month. Of the 150 conducted to date, four companies have refused admittance to OSHA inspectors. The inspectors obtained.,. court orders to gain entry, the spokesperson said. "Once they knew we 'were serious and OSHA was not out of business, three of the four companies voluntarily permitted us to inspect the premises." No citations or fines were levied against any of the companies. In 1976, four companies refused inspection. In comparison, four firms in the first three months of 1977 have refused admittance to OSHA inspectors. . h w-it- Mineral Receipts Cant Ease the Load Utah's revenue from public lands has increased impressively in recent years and is expected to grow still more rapidly in the future, but it would be unrealistic to expect this source of income to ease the tax burden significantly, according to the Utah Foundation. Land Utah's Fund, based on land granted to the states schools and institutions, has virtually tripled since 1960, and the state's share of revenue from mineral development on Federal lands in Utah has grown from an average of less than $50,000 a year to nearly $6 million in fiscal 1976, the Foundation noted in a research report released this week. Federal payments to the state have increased to 50 of the from 37-1- 2 total received from mineral development, under a law enacted by Congress late in 1976. This, and pending developments in minerals of the Great Salt Lake, oil shale deposits in eastern Utah, and the state's huge coal reserves, indicate that future growth will be more rapid than that of the past. "It appears certain that very large sums will come to Utah from these sources, but it would be unrealistic to expect these receipts to replace any significant part of the state's tax structure," the Foundation noted. Talk of "billions of dollars worth of minerals" in the Great Salt Lake, billions of barrels of potential oil in the shale and tar sand deposits, and immense coal reserves tends to make many citizens about the prospects of future state revenue. Even though huge sums may be realized, such factors as inflation and continued growth must be taken into account in appraising the future. In 1910, the Utah State Office of Education reported total expenditures for operation of the public schools of about $2.3 million. If it had been known at that time that the revenue to the Uniform School Funds from state lands would be $6.2 million over-optimist- ic in fiscal 1976, it w'ould have been assumed that no other support for the schools would be needed, and that the school program could be enriched enormously. Under 1976 conditions, however, the $6.2 million from public land represented less than of the $420.5 million total expenditure for public education in Utah. 12 Utah was granted four sections of each township (36 square miles) within the state for the support of public schools, plus other grants of land to other state institutions when the state came into the Union in 1896. Originally land "mineral in character" could not pass to the state, but under the Dawson Act of the 1950's the state has been able to select land "mineral in character" in lieu of land "mineral in incharacter" originally cluded in designated school sections, but which could not be transferred to the state. Lands that had been sold before statehood or that have been included in Federal withdrawals are subject to such "in lieu" selections. In addition, the state receives a percentage share of revenues from mineral development on Federal land within the state's borders. Oil and gas development in recent years has greatly increased the return from public lands, whether state or federally owned. There is pending a lawsuit concerning Utahs selection of "in lieu" lands in the oil shale land of the Uintah Basin, which have not been awarded to the state. Bonus payments of more than $70 million have already been made by lessors for a part of those lands, and the money is being held in escrow - and accumulating interest - until the lawsuit between the State of Utah and the Bureau of Land Management is decided. Utah will receive all of this money if it wins the suit, but will receive its share under the Federal Mineral Leasing Act even if the court decision goes against the state. If you dropped the first section, youve missed half the paper! (Notice our new foripat.) |