Show Hearing Airs Issues inFlaming in inFlaming Flaming Gorge Future The US U.S. Forest Service presented its opposition to proposed private development develop ment plans within Flaming Gorge National Nation Nation- al Recreation Area at a US U.S. Senate Sen ate subcommittee hearing in Manila Friday Fri day THE ISSUE of the orderly development development develop develop- ment of the private lands within FlamIng Flaming Flaming Flam Flam- ing Gorge Area was debated for over four hours while Senators Alan Bible Dible D Nev chairman of the Senate subcommittee on parks and recreation presidIng presiding ing at the hearing Frank E E. E Moss Utah D-Utah and Cliford P P. P Hansen Hanson R R Wyo listened to testimonies of private Individuals individuals indi Indi- and governmental agencies Presenting the US U.S. Forest Services Service's partnership land use lIse plan testimony was Regional Forester Vern Hamre of the Intermountain Region Heglon He lie emphasized emphasized sized the need for the enforcement of zoning and building codes in order to adequately protect the recreation values and environment of this area of natural significance located in eastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming MR HAMRE said that the challenge the Forest Service faces today is how to plan for and meet the rapidly increasing increasing increasing ing use of the area in conformity with the basic purpose of the act establishing establish ing the Flaming Gorge NHA In recognizing that public funds and private capital can combine to provide for public accommodations Mr Hamre stated that the Forest Service recognizes the role of concessionaires to construct and operate marinas motels restaurants restaurants restaurants rants and possibly even some camp camp- grounds However he explained that some proposed use and chang chang- changes es are diametrically opposed to the management management man man- objectives ONE OF these plans has been proposed proposed pro pro- posed by the Flaming Gorge Pines vale vate development for the Sweet Ranch area properties in Daggett County Hamre stated Hamre explained that private and state land in Flaming Gorge comprised only six percent of the area The entire capacity ca ca- capacity of the existing public facilities facilities' on acres in the which will accommodate ac accommodate people at one time would be equalled on the area of land laid about COO acres in size r representing presenting the proposed private land Jand developments IN THE absence of sound land use planning zoning and building codes on private and state lands the Forest Service Service Ser Ser- vice intends to use available means to ensure that these lands are not incompatibly incompatibly developed or explained Forester Hamre The means available Include purchase of scenic scenie easements direct purchase of the lands or land exchanges MARK B B. B EGGERTSON Salt Lake City land developer who owns Swett Ranch proposed development area located in Greendale and Flaming Pines area test testified he had been willing to sell his entire Interest to the Forest Service for the figure offered by a third party But after an independent appraisal al the Forest Service was only willing willingto to pay for what Eggertson claims to be a investment The private te development plans call cali for fora a recreational complex including condominium condominium con con- apartments units housing from 2400 to people a golf course and a l lodge dge A STATEMENT prepared by Govenor Calvin L L. L Rampton was read by Lee Jorgensen Utah Travel Council director which stated The public interest is promoted when great science areas are serviced by facilities facilities facilities fac fac- that make them av available and accessible to the public as a whole for tor its enjoyment and not just to t the h e occasional hardy THE MANILA Town Council sent a written statement Opposing the taking of private properly property by the h Forest Service Ronald E E. E McMillan Mcl Travel Utah said the organization supply supports the much needed Eggertsen Eggertson development and urged agencies involved to to insure its success success Allan president Daggett County Lions Club said the land has great poten on for the county and warned that if the federal government tak takes lakes s possession the result could be brown fields instead of green which he said had occurred in the federally owned owned own own- ed Browns Brown's Park Parc near Flaming Gorge orge Please dont don't add the scant private holdings in Daggett County asked G G. G Haldane Bradshaw manager Bridger Valley Ele Electric to the vast land holdings holdings hold hold- ings of the federal government Howard B. B Woody spoke against a growing bureaucracy He said citizens have a piddling 12 12 per percent ent of the coun county y to to form a tax base and the Forest Service covets it DAGGETT COUNTY NTY Com Commission m i s s Ion Chairman Albert Neff said condemnation would be a st staggering blow t to the county economy Adrian Reynolds publisher of the Green River Star said the move would be another step another step in th the direction of govern government government ment by the bur bureaus bureau's a of the the bureaus and for the bureaus Senator Bible expressed concern over oyer inadequate Daggett County zoning ordinances ordin ordin- ordinances ances n es e's that would not b be beable able to I Handle a the large larg development Daggett County officials told the senat senators senators sen sen- at rs' rs tl that at a a master masier plan is is' isnow now being C Continued u d on on p page ge 6 Flaming Gorge Continued from page 1 prepared but will not be ready for two years AT A RICHFIELD meeting Monday Ronald E E. E again told the Richfield Rotary Hotary Club Too much of our state is already federally owned leaving limited opportunities for developers elopers Utah's parks and recreation areas will willbe willbe willbe be of no economic benefit to the state without facilities services and entertainment entertain ment for tourists said the plan for the private development at Flaming Gorge has the backing of all Travel Utah organizations He Ho said the opposition from the Forest Service to complete the plan is not an isolated example but one occurring occur ring frequently among federal agencies in Utah ALSO AT A meeting at Resort near near the Dugout Ranch west west of Monticello Friday the Sierra Club came out against the State Highway Departments Departments Departments Department's Depart ments ment's stand for a road in this area The Sierra Club representatives explained explain explain- ed they want to allow no development not even a new jeep road into or through the Escalante Canyon area SENATOR BIBLE will take the information information mation at the Manila hearing as yell welt as additional information from concerned concern ed individuals and organizations and then meet with the whole subcommittee October Octobers Octobers' 25 S. S The subcommittee will then make a recommendation to Congress and the Forest orest Service for use iq in making the final decision on the he proposed condemnation condemnation nation of controlled use of the private lands land Flaming Gorge Recreation Area Mr Eggertson plans to fight his bis case caseIn caseIn casein in court il U ne necessary essary to protect his Is proposed pro polie posed development plans and investments invest ments |