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Show DECEMBER 1996 prave | BEACTIFCL MONUMENT By Kris Edwards The Grand Stair Case — Escalante Monument links together one large eco-region from Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef ur newest national monument accomplishes something, which in this era of shrinking wilderness, disappearing wildlife habitat, and vanishing species, is indeed monumental. By protecting 1.7 million acres of public lands stretching across the Grand Staircase t » the Kaiparowits Plateau and into the canyons of the Escalante River, President Clinton has created a vast expanse of public land reaching from Bryce Canyon National Park across southern Utah to Capitol Reef National Park. This will prevent i fragmentation of these public lands into barren islands, bereft of native fauna and flora, while preserving intact relict vegetation that has existed in the area since the Pleistocene. Clinton’s proclamation, made in a televised announcement from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, has not been without the political hubbub that has always characterized the public land use decisions in our state. An enraged Utah Republican Congressional delegation dubbed the monument designation as last-minute election year politicking. Representative Bill Orton, Utah’s only- Democratic congressional representative, in whose district the monument is located, denounced the President's move as, “inappropriate and premature,” Cir- Photo by Fred Hayes Grosvernor Arch cumventing the existing, ongoing public process. “Shame on him,” said Orton. The rest of our delegation joined in the diatribe. Senator Orrin Hatch had a proclamation of his own: “This The Bros. are coming! The Bros. are coming" Park City 1890 Bonanza Drive (801) 645-8489 ©1996 Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. PAGE 8 is the mother of all land grabs.” Senator Bob Bennett, added: “An outrageous, arrogant approach to public policy.” But Representative Jim Hansen left Continued on page 9 |