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Show rnnaressmen listen I Public speaks outf concerning wilderness proposes! proponents of a Utah wilderness ' roposal initiated by the Utah Ulative delegation and Utah Gover- Scott Matheson, clearly dominated he first of four statewide public hear-jjs hear-jjs Monday at the Uintah Area Voca-tooal Voca-tooal Center in Ballard. . 4s would be expected, hardliners : iron both sides of the wilderness con troversy voiced their views at the hearing which saw all five of Utah's Congressmen together at the hearing, "for the first time in at least the 16 years I've been in Congress," commented com-mented Senator Jake Garn. Garn, who acted as chairman for the hearing, was joined by Senator Orrin Hatch and Representatives Dan Marriot, James Hansen and Howard Nielson. A con- m ' . . .. - - v : - . ". I " - V; I . . ' p 4 v A 1 f I I '. 1 A ' '' f '; -J ( W ' f J I SENATOR ORRIN HATCH, left, Senator Jake Garn, and j. Representative Howard Neilson listen intently to testimony fL given at the public hearing held to receive public input into the wilderness proposal which was recently worked out bet- flict in Governor Scott Matheson schedule kept him from attending tl hearing. The hearing was to give Utahns chance to voice their opinions on a pr posal which has been drafted to put a end to studies and finally make som decisions regarding wildernes designated land in the state. The pn 's posal designates 612,349 acres of land ie around the state to be wilderness area should this proposal be made into a bill and presented to Congress. a Presently the proposal, according to n Garn, is simply a place to begin e discussion. It is not a bill to be s presented to Congress. The U S. Con-)- gress must make all wilderness ween Utah's Congressional Delegation and Utah governor Scott Matheson. The public hearing was unique in that it was held before any bill had been written. designations. As nothing more than a proposal, the document can be changed significantly significant-ly before it is drafted in the form of a bill. If the majority opinion ruled in the public hearing, there would be few changes in the proposal. The present proposal specifically addresses several points that have been bitterly fought over the past several years. All wilderness designated areas must be made by the Congress of the United States, under authority of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Utah legislative body intends to seek public input, then draft a bill from the proposal and the public input, to end all study and come to some conclusion. Perhaps the major issue being fought is prolonged study over the situation. Under the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE), a study was made by the U.S. Forest Service. When that study did not seem adequate, RARE II was implemented. That study has just been completed, but a RARE III has been proposed for even further study. The congressional proposal would put an end to all study. It would designate specific land for wilderness areas and release all other land for multiple use. Multiple use means the area would be open for a variety of uses, and not specifically confined to recreational activity for backpackers or horse riders. Proponents of wilderness areas are displeased with the proposal releasing all land outside the wilderness designation as multiple use. They argue that the study should be continued, even if a bill is written, since to release all that land would preclude future generations from re-evaluating the situation and come to its own conclusions. Industry, especially mining, oil and timber, have strongly supported hard release language, saying anything less is, in essence, making the area wilderness, without the designation, since during study the land cannot be used for any multiple use purposes. The proposal allows for no buffer zones around wilderness designated areas. It says, "The fact that non-wilderness non-wilderness activities or uses can be seen or heard from areas within the wilderness shall not, of itself, preclude such activities or uses up to the boundary boun-dary of the wilderness area." The bill addresses the fact that the handicapped, elderly and infirm citizens have special needs, and these needs also apply to access to wilderness areas. This proposal states there will be "such new and additional policies, practices and regulations to ensure reasonable access to and within such wilderness areas for such individuals, in-dividuals, including reasonable mechanized access by air and land." Emergency access is also provided for in the proposal. It states nothing shall be construed to prevent the use of motorized vehicle travel by any governing body for the purpose of: 1) Search, rescue and law enforcement, enforce-ment, 2) installation, maintenance, removal and monitoring of seismic, and hydro-climatological equipment, 3) evaluation and elimination of avalanche danger or other natural disaster within or from such wilderness areas, 4) the diagnosis, treatment and control of noxious weeds, disease, insect infestation or fire within the wilderness area. Mineral resources exploration will continue under the proposal. Such activity ac-tivity shall be carried out in a manner compatable with the preservation of the wilderness environment. Mineral leasing will continue under the proposal, pro-posal, "under the United States laws pertaining to mineral leasing of the recovery and removal of oil, gas, or other mineral deposits located therein can be accomplished without disturbing disturb-ing the surface of said wilderness area." Grazing will continue to be permit- ted in wilderness areas under this proposal. pro-posal. Grazing levels are never to exceed ex-ceed historical levels. Nothing shall limit historical motorized access, road Continued on page 4 - -J 0, ... -1 p - - --.... .-. !' '. .. . -J i .... - - ".r. - "-- r "' A "' . . -:.) .V-j.'V i, -!.'. ,-;.-:--'-'..' - -i. ' -. J - wf i3 ,v-'.- ?"4 '.r ONLY FINISHING touches remain to be done on the Uintah County Nursing Center as the county contracts for the management of the facility. Wilderness hearing features all five Utah Congressmen... f Continued from page 1 maintenance, or the use of motorized equipment for the purpose of activities necessary for proper grazing and range management. This includes, but is not limited to, movement of livestock, hauling water, development of water resources, feeding of livestock, improving im-proving of the range, maintenance of aesthetically appropriate fences, placement of salt, and the establishment establish-ment and movement of base camps. Under the proposal, proper consideration con-sideration will be given to historical grazing rights in such wilderness areas. No species of wildlife that is not historically indigenous to the area shall be introduced. All Utah water laws must be obeyed. Holders of water rights shall continue to have and be able to exercise all water rights as they now exist. No law shall limit motorized access necessary for the preservation, control, development develop-ment and maintenance of whatever water facilities may now exist or may hereafter be necessary or desirable for the prevention of mudslides and flooding in order to protect and fully utilize the watershed and water resources, in, around, and from the wilderness area. About 80 to 100 people, representing all points of view were in attendance at the public hearing. The only thing everyone seemed to agree on is the value such a public hearing has. This is really an unprecedented move on the part of the Utah legislative delegation delega-tion to hold public hearings prior to writing the bill. Nearly everyone who addressed the delegation thanked them for their consideration while there is time to really take into consideration con-sideration public opinion. Most people showed favor for the proposal, although many people registered disagreement on certain points. Alan White, Duchesne County Farm Bureau, said his group endorses the proposal, although he felt regulations regula-tions continue to discourage grazing of stock. He said there should be further action to bring management in line with intent of the bill. He pledged his support to fight for passage of the proposal. Melvin Dalton, of the TY Cattle Company, in San Juan County, said, "I'm going to say right out what I think about putting more land in single use I don't like it." Dalton said only 8 percent of the entire San Juan County Coun-ty is privately owned land, the rest is non-taxable land. Dalton concluded, "If we can't have private land, multiple multi-ple use land is the next best thing." Robert Pruitt III, with the Utah Mining Min-ing Association, said his organization does not support the proposal. Although the proposal makes provisions provi-sions for mining, that just isn't enough. He said government studies have never found any sizeable mineral deposits, and those surveys are inadequate. inade-quate. He said there should be language to allow exploration in a consistent con-sistent way with wilderness areas. The "no surface impact" language is just too strong. Pruitt did say he supports the hard release language of the proposal, pro-posal, and the elimination of buffer zones. He also supports air quality I i i - y i - i j W. E. SWEENEY presents the view of the timber industry at the wilderness hearing Monday. class I as specified by the proposal and reasonable access to handicapped people peo-ple and grazing rights. Laray Sadlier, Daggett County Commissioner, Com-missioner, said this proposal is embracing em-bracing a belief we have long felt possible, that multiple use can be achieved and still have wilderness areas. Sadlier said there should be a provision to harvest mountain pine beetle infested trees. Alton Moon and Jim Reidhead, Duchesne County Commissioners, both showed favor for the proposal. Moon said the proposal has addressed address-ed problems we have been concerned with. He said the responsible actions show the Congressmen understand the area's economic situation. He said the one thing which concerns him is the Uintah Basin has more land in the proposed pro-posed wilderness than any other area. Reidhead commended the Utah legislative delegation for the time, thought and effort that has gone into this proposal. He said stronger language would push people out of the area to find suitable employment elsewhere. Under this proposal, he said perhaps some of the children now growing up here will be able to stay. Neal Domgaard, chairman of the Uintah County Commission, applauded applaud-ed the proposal for the access language for handicapped people. He said the one weakness of the proposal is enforcing of wilderness areas. He used an example of one primitive road, which the Forest Service wished wish-ed to close. They brought a bulldozer to the area, dug holes in the road, and ripped up the road. Domgaard said this was far more damage than people peo-ple using the area could have possibly done. The damage done by the Forest Service has left scars that will be around for many, many years. Brent Griggs, of the Slick Rock Outdoor Out-door Society from Price, strongly objected ob-jected to the proposal. He said he was distressed at how the proposal come into being. He said he doubted the RARE II study, just completed, was even taken into consideration. He said there is now 720,000 acres of land in the high Uinta Mountains where there is no sign of man, and yet only 415,000 acres are being proposed for wilderness designation. Griggs said these primitive type areas are very important to his group and many other people. Once they are damaged, they can never be brought back to its natural condition. Wilderness provides the best protection to any area. Griggs also objected to the hard release language of the proposal. He said this language takes away the option op-tion of changing the area down the road. This option should remain open for future generations. Ralph Sharpies, with the Council on Aging, and representing the senior citizens of Duchesne County, said there are many people in his position. They enjoy the outdoors, but cannot walk, or even ride horses into the area. The area should not be limited to the hearty. Randy Hartman, president of the Duchesne Cattleman's Association, said his organization is basically in agreement with the proposal. He said the proposal should spell out how regulation will be done and how the regulations can be controlled. He said motorized vehicles are necessary, and emphasized grazing should not be further fur-ther reduced. He said the Forest Service Ser-vice and cattlemen have worked years to come to the present arrangements, and those considerations should not be overlooked. Hartman said his organization supports the proposal as it now stands. Rick Warnick, from San Juan County, Coun-ty, objected to the proposal. He said too much emphasis has been placed on roads and access. He said the original Forest Service proposal is best, and made by the best people to understand wilderness. Warnick said buffer zones are necessary on the smaller wilderness areas. He also said the hard release language is a liability. He spoke specifically about Dark Canyon in San Juan County, and said the proposal pro-posal should be rewritten to give Dark Canyon and other areas the protection they deserve. Harold Black, San Juan County Commissioner, said one-fourth of San Juan County is already set aside for single use. He said that is enough, no more should be considered. Black said that multiple use areas through good management, will still be there for future generations to enjoy. All areas do not need to be designated wilderness in order to be preserved and to be used. Black said resources are not being produced by companies for their selfish uses. They are being produced because people need them. United States farmers are feeding the world, but if we didn't have the energy, farmers could not be producing any more than they were 100 years ago. Black said energy development is necesary to the continuance of the lifestyle we now have. Les Bennett, president of the Utah Rehabilitation Services applauded the language of the proposal regarding handicapped people. Bennett has worked with handicapped people for years, and said many of them could not enjoy the wilderness area if they were forced to walk into it. Scott Bigler said the Utah Congressional Congres-sional Delegation has stumbled over the entire idea of wilderness. He said other western states have millions of acres of land in wilderness, and this has not stifled progress, such as mining min-ing and grazing. He said the amount of wilderness area proposed for in the high Uintas is not acceptable, nor is the hard release language. He also said if continued study is not allowed, then land in question should be involved. involv-ed. Bigler said with this proposal the whole opportunity for wilderness designation has been lost. Terry Martin, Utah representative for the National Parks and Recreation Association, said her organization is disappointed that many lands were not included. They are also disappointed in the hard release language and with the possibility of oil, gas and mine leases being issued. Ms. Martin said this proposal has subverted the purpose pur-pose of the proposal. She asked to whose interest is the proposal? She suggested it is not a question between energy and wilderness, because there has been both already. Ms. Martin also objected to the handicapped han-dicapped access. She said Mt. Everest is beyond her, and she likes it that way, making the analogy that perhaps the handicapped should like that there are things beyond their capabilities. Craig Hadden, who has been a Forest Service wilderness management manage-ment official for several years, said the problem has not been lack of wilderness area, but overdevelopment to lower areas. He said he would hate to explain to his son in a few years that he sold out for a few extra bucks. Hadden Had-den said as a Forest Service employee he has encountered people ranging from two weeks old to 94 years old, "If you want in there bad enough, you can , . ..... i . v.. ' Xl I; y V . ' . ' N ' ' life SENATOR JAKE GARN listens as Duchesne County She-Clair She-Clair Poulson makes his point after the wilderness put. hearing. get in there." W.E. Sweeney, president of Great Lakes Timber Company said, representing the timber industry, there are three ways to manage the area, through multiple use management, manage-ment, or the bugs, or fire will manage it for you. Sweeney said the timber industry in-dustry can live with the present proposal, pro-posal, but if the timber industry is to continue, we must know where we are going. Alarik Myrin, Utah State Representative Represen-tative from the Uintah Basin, told the Utah delegation that they have heard from a representation of the feeling of 90 percent of the people in this area. He said this decision is going to affect the people of the Uintah Basin more than any decision for a long, long time. He asked the Congressional Delegation Delega-tion to consider the people here, who would be affected, and not a few-minority few-minority people who are being funded by organizations outside Utah. There is a law which allows the Utah Congressmen Con-gressmen to veto legislation that would be disasterous for the state. Myrin asked the Congressmen to be aware of that law, and use that veto power if they need to. Keith Goodsby, from Moab, said his family was run out of the business by Canyonlands and Arches. He wishes to see no more people lose their ranches to single, special interest groups. He said the last is not as fragile as environmentalists en-vironmentalists make it out to be. When uranium was discovered in southeast Utah, roads were made everywhere. Today those roads are nearly gone, and all signs will be erased eras-ed soon. He said it is time this country coun-try got out of the stranglehold it has been in by the environmentalists. Fred Jones, a rancher in Duchesne County, said he is a horseman and a senior citizen. He asked why Utah should be singled out as the oniy state without wilderness lands? He said roads are not compatible with wilderness. He said this is really not even a wilderness bill, it is an attempt to make Utah the only state without a wilderness bill. "It is a masterpiece of wilderness destruction," Jcs "The best thing that could k-C this bill is to tear it up and title ti-tle concluded. Ada Maughn Phillips said. don't abuse it." David Medlin, director of l';. University in the Uintah Bask-, questioned the motives of per.v, propose wilderness areas. them the most selfish peop! world. He said wilderness aresi not be kept simply for fe . vironmental spartans of tofe. Senator Garn emphasized-posal emphasized-posal is not a bill, and public -v greatly affect the elements into the final bill. He said it i; actional ac-tional issue, with a great dLfes;-opinion. dLfes;-opinion. Garn told those prse the hearing the Congressman' their best to make a bill ms:;;;-table ms:;;;-table to all involved. Written public comment cepted until July 22. Since only Congress can deri wilderness area, and since ibi: a bill but only a proposal, it f some time before a biJl is preset-Congress, preset-Congress, and even longer x'.;.-.i is passed. Prior to that timet: posal may go through manyfe After the wilderness bill is L I drafted, more public heanr.g; ' held to gain further public irp.: to being placed before Congrs ! The legislative process is i-compromise. i-compromise. It is doubtful the i: will be the same as the propsi:-being propsi:-being discussed. Whatever fe-outcome, fe-outcome, everyone will not bt'X' There is bound to be more acrs : volved and stronger language industry in-dustry wishes, and less Us : weaker language than enw:--: talists wish. But. as Senator Gr.i--at the Salt Lake City public fc:--there is no law passed by Cones: the past 200 years which can'! overturned today. All this tha t the process is bound to be & for a long time, and when the is over, the lobbying will befi-: then when the lobbying is over :-: perhaps even the lawsuits :! |