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Show 8 - MARCH TIMES - MARCH 1993 — \7 2 77? OO Mar/Apr Sky Show March 1993 14th—Iast Quarter Moon 9: 16 pm MST l7th—Moon passes 2° North of Neptune 12 am. Moon passes 3° North of Uranus 2 am 20th—Moon passes 6° North of Saturn 1 am. Vemal Equinox 7:41 am 21st—Moon passes 4° South of Mer cury 6 am Local BLM Official Strives for Equitable Resource Management Resource Management Plan (RMP) team leader Mike O’Donnell knows rivers and rock. A 16-year veteran of the Bureau of Reclamation, O’Donnell was recruited by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) two years ago as a recreation facility designer. O’Donnell’s personal recreation includes making technical ascents of 23rd—New Moon 12:14 am 24th—Moon passes 4° South of Venus 1 am 30th—First Quarter Moon 9 pm Venus, the bright evening star in the western sky, moves too close to the Sun to be seen by month’s end. This is a great month for viewing Mars. It will be North and South American mountains. O’Donnell characterizes his work as “doing what I can to enhance the management of public lands and offer protection of resources for present and future users.” That creed frames his O’Donnell concedes, but he points out that there is no plan to operate the facility 24 hours a day, thus leaving campers to seek sites unassisted after dark. He proposes that a kiosk at Lion’s Park (at the intersection of US Highway 191 and State Highway 128) would better serve informational needs of campers. O’Donnell said that he believes most local residents are pleased with the riverway developments, although some commercial campground and RV park operators see the projects as unfair competition. Personally, O’Donnell fails to understand the satisfaction campers get by “camping next to a highway that is a transportation and utility corridor.” He does agree, however, that there is high in the sky at dusk, setting after midnight. Look for it in Gemini. current focus in leading the RMP team analyzing management of Colorado Plateau lands, including parts of the Jupiter is at its best for the year this month. By the 30th, it will rise at Sunset and be prominent all night. the Great Red Spot should be visible in small Colorado riverway. O’Donnell. whose and it does include wildlife habitat— reasons to limit access by motor vehicles, thereby protecting some base is the BLM district office in Moab, sees recent “hardening” of threatened and endangered (T&E) plant and animal species. O’Donnell said that resources along the Colorado River the key to good multi-use management telescopes. from Dewey Bridge to Moab as a of public lands is input from the users. “This community is more involved Comet Schaumasse will be visible in binoculars and scopes, traversing Auriga and Lynx this month. April 1993 6th—Moon passes 7° South of Jupiter 4 am l3th—Last Quarter Moon 1:39 pm Jupiter continues as the brightest “star” in the sky this month, remaining visible through most of the night. Look for it in the constellation of Virgo. The Lyrids meteor shower peeks on the 22nd. A new moon will offer dark skies. Mars also continues great viewing in Gemini. —Sam Welch .‘l’. (‘\ positive action. He believes that the installation of ZZ toilets over the last two years in the area best meets the needs of recreational users. O’Donnell said in an interview on significant visual appeal to the area, (with land management) than anywhere I’ve worked, and that’s good.” He added that the public is invited to attend a series of open meetings February 27, “The river corridor is scheduled throughout March in Utah becoming a warehouse for campers. BLM is providing facilities to protect resources.” O’Donnell said that and Colorado. Comments should be development of limited camping areas in the corridor, while causing controversy, promotes good resource management by curbing harmful, dispersed camping. He said that the river corridor is convenient for tourists who arrive in town and find no coordinated interagency effort to assist them in securing proper sites. Opening of the Moab Visitors' Center will be helpful, made in writing regarding BLM’s policies and projects and public concerns about lands with areas of critical environmental concern (ACEC). Individuals may nominate ACECs for further analysis by BLM by providing locations outlined on BLM Land Status Maps. ACECs typically include lands with specific cultural, recreational, wildlife, or public safety features. the RMP team will help individuals format their ACEC nomina- tions and comments in writing at the public meetings. Citizens can be placed on the RMP mailing list for updates by calling the BLM district office at 2596111. This environmental impact assessment for this RMP will take four years to complete. Public input meetings have already been held March 9, East High School, Salt Lake City and March 11, BLM District Office, Moab. More are scheduled: March 15, 7 p.m., Library Pavilion, Monticello; March 17, 7 p.m., BLM District Office, Grand Junction, CO; and March 23, 7 p.m., Days Inn, Price, Utah. —John Flahie |