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Show Public land reassessed The Utah Bureau of Land Management, Manage-ment, as directed by the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) has reassessed 19 land units as to their wilderness characteristics. The BLM has recognized over 500,000 acres of land that should be considered for wilderness designation that were not on the BLM's original list. The reassessment came about as a result of an administrative appeal to the IBLA by the Utah Wilderness Association (UWA) and 13 other organizations. The appeal named 825,000 acres which these groups wished wish-ed to have reevaluated. UWA spokesman Gary Macfarlane commented, "We are pleased the BLM recognized over 500,000 acres should become wilderness study areas. We feel the agency realized their previous error in excluding these magnificent areas from further wilderness consideration." con-sideration." However, the UWA is not entirely happy with the conclusion. There are still over 250,000 acres the UWA strongly believes should be on that list. Macfarlane noted, "Parts of the Kaiparowits were excluded without adequate explanation. The important im-portant bison habitat around Mr. Pen-nell Pen-nell in the Henry Mountains was also recommended to be dropped from further fur-ther study." The BLM encourages people to submit sub-mit information on the intensive inventory inven-tory units or portions as to the presence or absence of wilderness characteristics. The total findings of the BLM are: Newfoundland Mts., drop from further fur-ther study; Dugway Mts., drop from further study; Horse Spring Canyon, drop from further study; Carcass Canyon, Ca-nyon, drop from further study; Mud Spring Canyon, drop from further study; Death Ridge, identify 62,870 acres as WSA; Burning Hills, identify 61,550 acres as WSA; Central Wah Wah, drop from further study; The Cockscomb, identify 10, 080 acres as WSA. This is a new unit, originally considered part of UT-040-247 (Paria-Hackberry); (Paria-Hackberry); Wahweap, identify 134,400 acres as WSA; Mt. EllenBlue Hills, drop from further study; Fiddler Butte, add approximately 33,000 acres to existing WSA; Mt. Pennell, drop from further study; Desolation Canyon, Ca-nyon, add 41,600 acres to existing WSA and create a new WSA of 7,500 acres, UT-060-068C Jack Canyon; Floy Canyon, Ca-nyon, identify 75,220 acres as WSA; Flume Canyon, add 3,250 acres to existing ex-isting WSA; Coal Canyon, add 17,615 acres to existing WSA; Mancos Mesa, identify 51,440 acres as WSA; Winter Ridge, identify 40,049 acres as WSA. Copies of each inventory unity reassessment may be obtained from any BLM District Office in Utah or at the State Office (Public Room). The Vernal office is located at 170 South 500 East. Public input will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on September 2, 1983. Information Infor-mation should be sent to: State Director, Direc-tor, BLM Utah State Office, University Universi-ty Club Building, 136 East South Temple, Tem-ple, Sale Lake City, Utah 84111. |