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Show IA Wwlntafay, August a 2006 .Vernal Express, p&tmdOup Region BLM names new Utah state director Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Kathleen Clarke today named Selma Sierra, a New Mexico native with a long history of dealing with Western land issues, to head the BLM Utah State Office. "Selma brings over 25 years of experience dealing with western issues to our management manage-ment team. She was born a westerner, educated a westerner, west-erner, was a key staff member for a western governor and has been directly involved in BLM issues for many years," said BLM Director Kathleen Clarke. Sierra, who is expected to report to the new position in November, will oversee the agency's Utah land management manage-ment operations on 22.9 million surface acres, an additional 12.3 million acres of subsurface subsur-face mineral estate and 2.3 million mil-lion acres of tribal lands where BLM has trust responsibilities. She will have about 827 employees employ-ees operating out of 12 offices in the state with an annual budget of about $57 million. "Selma brings to our leadership lead-ership table the demonstrated skill to both manage complex issues and at the same time, bring people together. While she has had a key role in BLM policy implementation, she has also been a force in identifying impacts of those actions and directing steps to reach out to (ISSN 0892-1091) Published every Wednesday for $26 per year in the shopping area and $38 per year out out of the shopping area within the state and $42 per year out of state within the USA by the Vernal Express Publishing Company, 54 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah 84078. Periodical postage paid at Vernal, Utah, 84078 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to VERNAL EXPRESS, P.O Box 1000, Vernal, Utah 84078. Steven R. Wallis Editor and Publisher Jen Petty Writer Elizabeth Goode Writer Sarah Forsgren Writer Gabrielle Jones Legals, Obit, Classifieds Patty John Proofreader Zack Dearing AdsLayout Christopher T. Wallis AdsLayout Jacque Hobbs Advertising Eric Petty Advertising Harriet Harding Circulation & Billing Phone: 435-789-3511 FAX: 435-789-8690 Website: www.vernal.com email: editorvernal.com DEADLINES News Friday 5 p.m. Display Advertising Friday 5 p.m. Classified Advertising Friday 12 Noon Public Notices Friday 12 Noon With a flick power to guide his business 33 those affected to achieve whatever what-ever levels of consensus are possible," Clarke said. Sierra will replace Henri Bisson, who has been acting Utah State Director in recent months, after former Utah State Director Sally Wisely became BLM Colorado State Director position. Bisson will be returning return-ing to his position of BLM Alaska State Director. As BLM Chief of Staff since 2005, Sierra was directly involved in formulating policies poli-cies related to the multiple use mission of the BLM including all significant land use planning plan-ning decisions; the Sage Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy; the Healthy Forest Initiative; the new BLM Recreation Strategy, implementation of the Energy Policy Act, and formulation for-mulation and implementation of BLM's annual budget of over $1.5 billion. Sierra has worked at either the Interior Department or the BLM for eight and one half years. Prior to being named BLM Chief of Staff, Sierra served as BLM's Assistant Director for Communications. She also served in the Interior Department as a Special Assistant for External Affairs and later as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources Management, both for Interior Secretary Manual Lujan. Prior of a switch, Cory Williams will have the w ; jjf M Jdf '.'v. -- S' i ' ' """ Till ' fcSf' -y to that, Sierra served on the staff of the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Governor of New Mexico. She also served as the Deputy press secretary for the House Ways and Means Committee and from 1995 to 2001, she served as press secretary to New Mexico Congressman Joe Skeen, who was Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior. She was then appointed Assistant Director at the U.S. Department of Commerce until 2003. Sierra, a native of La Union, N.M., attended New Mexico State University, graduating in 1979 with degrees in journalism and government. Some of the most important public land resources being managed by BLM in Utah include: energy, recreation, wilderness, wildlife habitat, and river resources. Some of the key areas of focus for the agency in Utah include Energy Policy Act implementation (about $178.9 million in royalties royal-ties were collected last year), land use planning efforts (six land use planning efforts are underway), RS-2477, grazing permit renewals and recreation management. Oil shale project The BLM believes there would be no significant environmental envi-ronmental impacts from two experimental oil shale projects in northwestern Colorado that could lead to the commercial mining of oil from rocks. The released environmental assessments this week of projects proj-ects by Shell Frontier Oil and Gas Inc. and Chevron USA in Rio Blanco County. The assessments, assess-ments, open to public comment until Sept. 18, said a potential drop in groundwater levels on the test sites proposed by Shell could adversely affect four endangered Colorado River fish. The BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would consult on reducing the effects on the fish: the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub and razorback sucker. "We want to make sure the public is part of the environmental environ-mental review process for these oil shale proposals," said Kent Walter, field manager in the BLM office in Meeker. The BLM concluded earlier Japanese beetle discovery prompts The Utah Division of Plant Industry is announcing the immediate activation of a Japanese Beetle (JB) eradication eradica-tion program following the discovery of the insect in a small area in Orem, Utah. Japanese Beetles are harmless and focus on the future. Headed in the right direction. As Rocky Mountain Power, we'll be standing behind our Customer Service Guarantees. We'll intensify our efforts and sharpen our focus on keeping costs low to help improve your bottom line as we lay the groundwork for a bright future. Visit us online at rockymtnpower.net for information on programs and services to keep your business running smooth. UTAH POWER IS NOW ROCKY MOUNTAIN NjPOWER A DIVISION OF MOFICORP I Treasure The Utah Film Commission has confirmed that Walt Disney Pictures in conjunction with Jerry Bruckheimer Films were indeed in Utah recently to shoot scenes for the upcoming third installment of Pirates of the Caribbean. While Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, is still in theaters and has been a phenomenal box office success suc-cess in the United States and overseas since its release on July 7, Pirates 3 is already in production and is expected to be released sometime early next summer. In the third movie, Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate navi-gate treachery and betrayal, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle. The set was located at the Bonneville Salt Flats for three days in early August. This film marks the fourth project proj-ect Bruckheimer has filmed in Utah including Con Air, Amazing Race 8, and the opening open-ing sequence of National Treasure. Utah has enjoyed a long relationship with the Walt Disney Company, which is responsible for shooting several sev-eral films in the state, including includ-ing High School Musical, Read It and Weep, and Life is Ruff. Governor Huntsman and the Utah Film Commission met to not have significant impact this month that an experimental experimen-tal project by EGL Resources Inc. about 20 miles west of Rio Blanco would have no appreciable appre-ciable environmental impact. The three companies and Oil Shale Exploration Co., which has proposed a project near Vernal, Utah, are in the running run-ning for permits on federal land to operate experimental oil shale projects. Approval of the test projects will put the companies com-panies in line for leasing larger federal tracts for commercial operations starting as early as mid-2007. Oil shale reserves in Colorado, Utah and southwest Wyoming are believed to contain con-tain a 100-year domestic supply sup-ply of oil, although it's locked in layers of hard rock and the technology for economically recovering it is still evolving. Steve Smith, assistant regional director for The Wilderness Society, said he believes the experimental programs will be worthwhile because they'll show whether the technology is workable and what the impacts to humans, but are destructive to lawns, fruit trees, plants and various agricultural crops. "This is a very small infestation," infes-tation," said Plant Industry Director, Clair Allen. "We are asking the public to be aware of this invasive pest and volun found at Salt Flats with executive producer, Eric McLeod, the unit production manager, Douglas Merrifield, and Brigham Taylor, senior vice president of production for the Buena Vista Motion Picture Group - a division of the Walt Disney Company. "This is a project that we have been working work-ing on for about two years. We are very excited that it finally came together and that we were able to creatively convey the Salt Flats to the director," said Aaron Syrett, director of the Utah Film Commission. "Our office worked in conjunction conjunc-tion with our partners at the Bureau of Land Management who helped out a great deal to make this project happen." Governor Huntsman and Syrett also met with the film's director Gore Verbinski, producer pro-ducer Jerry Bruckheimer, and lead actor Johnny Depp. "The production asked us to keep this project secret until they left," said Syrett acknowledging the confidentiality of the project. proj-ect. "I imagine it would have caused a great deal of difficulty for the production if everyone knew that Johnny Depp was in Utah filming Pirates and the ensuing crowds that would have flocked to the set. It would have caused a huge distraction and an interruption in the filming film-ing process. Time is money in might be. He said, though, that the BLM's conclusion that a project will have no significant impact "always makes me nervous." ner-vous." Smith noted the potential effects on the endangered fish. The experimental projects are proposed on 160-acre parcels. par-cels. Shell wants to conduct research and development on three parcels southeast of Rangely. Some area residents and government leaders are urging urg-ing the federal government to proceed carefully on oil shale. Western Colorado's economy was sent reeling for years after falling oil prices led Exxon to shut down its $5 billion Colony oil-shale project and lay off 2,200 workers. But oil prices of $70-plus a barrel have government and industry leaders looking for ways to tap the deposits. Shell has been experimenting with a process to bake shale oil right from the ground rather than bringing rock to the surface to cook in a furnace. tarily help with the control and eradication," he added. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food inspectors inspec-tors have collected more than 400 beetles in several traps located in a two square mile area in Orem. The area of con- the motion picture business." Formed in 1974, the Utah Film Commission is part of the Governor's Office of Economic Development and is a member mem-ber of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). The mission of the Utah Film Commission is to create high-paying quality jobs within the motion picture industry, market the entire state as a location for film and commercial commer-cial production, and to promote the use of Utah support services servic-es and professionals. The film commission is client-driven, servicing both in state and out-of-state as well as international production companies. For more information visit film. utah.gov or email Aaron Syrett asyrettutah.gov Mule association partners with Forest Service in cleanup The Rocky Mountain Mule Association (RMMA) returned this year to assist the Ashley National Forest with removal of trash and the remains of an aircraft in the High Uinta Wilderness. The project will take place in Squaw Basin and upper Rock Creek on the RooseveltDuchesne Ranger District. Volunteers from the RMMA started August 17, 2006 to begin work on the wilderness cleanup project. "We deeply value the volunteer volun-teer service donated by groups like the Rocky Mountain Mule Association," says Acting District Ranger Mike Elson. "Their members are demonstrating demon-strating with their time and efforts their commitment to maintaining or improving conditions con-ditions on the lands they care so much about. Their stewardship ethic is commendable, and we wouldn't be able to do a lot of this work without their help." Annually, over the last few years, two to three tons of trash has been removed from the High Uintas Wilderness. Fines can be up to $5,000 for leaving any items or trash in the wilderness. Visitors are asked to please be courteous and carry everything out that they brought in. If you would like more information, please contact the Duchesne Ranger District at 435-738-2482. quarantine cern is located within the following fol-lowing boundaries: 800 North Street on the north, 1-15 on the west, 400 South on the south, and State Street on the east. The presence of JB means a threat to lawns, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and home gardens. Adult beetles feed on the foliage foli-age of the plants and many species spe-cies of fruit trees. Adults leave behind skeletonized leaves and large, irregular holes in leaves. The grubs develop in the soil, feeding on the roots of various plants and grasses and often destroying turf in lawns, parks, golf courses, and pastures. Homeowners in the area are encouraged to protect their lawns and gardens by applying an approved insecticide. For information on how to treat for the presence of Japanese Beetle, and a list of products and cautions, cau-tions, visit Japanese Beetle at: www.ag.utah.gov. Users are advised to read and follow label directions exactly. Questions regarding identifying suspect beetles can be directed to the State Entomologist at: 538-7123. or 538-7184. The presence of JB in Utah may result in an agricultural quarantine placed on Utah nursery products exported to other states. The quarantine will require agricultural producers pro-ducers to treat their products prior to shipping. Some states may refuse to accept certain agricultural products. The quarantine should not affect Utah fruit exports. |