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Show 1C3 Cits iilQQil ieaefGr Proposed BLM cutbacks which could economically devastate certain Utah counties coun-ties should not be Implemented Imp-lemented until the affected cattlemen have a chance to challenge federal claims of overgrazing, U.S. Senator Jake Garn said. "It is important that ranchers who have utilized this land for four generations be given the chance to fully air their case before being faced with cutbacks. Most of the Utahns have invested their lives in the lands, and are sensitive to problems relating to grazing capacity." capa-city." Referring to testimony he heard during an August hearing hear-ing in Cedar City on public lands, he pointed out that "The environmental impact statements upon which many of these cutback proposals were based may not be entirely en-tirely valid." Many Utah cattlemen could literally be put out of business busi-ness by the proposals. In Garfield County the cuts ranged from 35 to 75, and there were similar problems in Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver and Rich counties. Many individuals were cut from several thous -and cattle to under 100, and in a moderate cattle operation oper-ation this is economic ruin," he said. Some counties are losing residents and school children chil-dren whose families can no longer make a living on the reduced permits. Garn said testimony indicated indi-cated that the Hot Desert Environmental En-vironmental impact statement state-ment in southern Utah was prepared 1 during drought conditions, and many questions ques-tions surround study proced- ures and methodology. "The hearing record includes in-cludes statements that the Hot Desert and other EE's were prepared by inexperienced inex-perienced officials who we re unfamiliar with the area, and failed to take into account ac-count the unusually dry conditions," con-ditions," Garn said. |