OCR Text |
Show The Times-lndepende- Thursday, November 18, 1993-A- 3 Board wants to charge big fees for Book Cliffs hunting The Utah State Board of Lands and Forestry voted last Wednesday to ask the Legislature to allow it to charge for hunting on certain state lands. The change would create more rev- school systems. Should the trial plan in the Book Cliffs work, the plan might be extended to other blocks of state lands. enue for stale trust lands, board Currently, Utah law allows hunters, trappers and anglers the d right to access all land. The board considered a proposal to create a state-ru- n private hunting on 95,000 acres of land in Grand and Uintah Countys Book Cliffs area, with the idea of emphasizing ranching and wildlife values similar to other private hunting preserves in the state. Additional revenue would be generated for the school trust fund by selling quality hunting experiences costing hundreds of dollars. Initial charges to hunters would be $800 for a bull elk, $500 for an antlered deer and $250 for black bear or cougar. Board members would also like to charge access fees to hikers, campers or photographers using lands which have, in the past, been open for use by anyone. Members emphasized the policy would apply only to school trust lands where the board is mandated by constitution to maximize revenue with money used to finance Utahs state-owne- (Cont. from Page Christmas tree tags go on sale Monday November 22, 1993 in the Moab area. will Forestry begin selling Christmas tree permits ip the Moab area Monday, November 22, 1993 at a cost of $5 per tree. The Moab Ranger District of the Manti-L- a Sal National Forest will be open for selling tree tags Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 125 West 200 South. Personal use trees available this year are Alpine Fir, Pinyon Pine, and Juniper, which may be cut district 5 wide. Phone for information. The BLM Grand Resource Area will be selling private personal use and commercial Christmas tree tags at the area office located at 885 South Sand Flats Road Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Again this year, the BLM will be selling Christmas tree tags in Green River November 24th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Elementary School. The BLM will sell tags at a cost of $5 per tree with the exception of a reduced rate of $3 per tree for both private and commercial permits for trees cut in the Ray 259-715- ) recommendation on an administrative rule. Just as we have listened to Congress, we will continue to listen to the American people particularly those in the affected Western states. Prior to action by the Senate, we held a scries of unprecedented hear- ings throughout the West. In August, I promised public hearings in each of the 11 major Western grazing states. Now, in addition to am committed to an even that, Mesa and Lisbon Valley areas. County 1 . (Cont. from Page more inclusive process one involvenviing elected officials, ranchers, I ronmentalists and others. begin that process with a trip to Colorado, he said. A-l- ) throw it down a ratholc? Revenues at the hospital began to fall over the summer, when the physician staff was reduced to one doctor, and fewer doctors mean fewer procedures done at the hospital, and less cash coming in while operating expenses remained relatively stable. Actual patient revenues this year arc now expected to fall more than $400,000 below original estimates. Hospital board members said they arc looking at a couple of physicians who may set up practice here by the middle of 1994. The mineral lease money now going to the hospital was expected to go to other special service districts, We remain committed to the principles of range reform; and we retain our focus on the need to restore and protect the great, productive, American range lands. I want to stress our commitment to protecting these lands for many compatible uses, Forest Service, Grand The Resource Area of the BLM, and the Utah Division of State Lands and . . . A-l- two on the La Sal Mountains near Moab and a parcel in Wayne Countys Parker Mountain area. Forest Service, State offering tags for Christmas trees members said. Grazing including he said. Babbitt said that as a Westerner, raised on a cattle ranch surrounded by public lands, I have felt the weight of past generations in making these decisions. I have also felt the weight of future generations. Babbitts western roots, however, werent impressive to many congressional representatives from the West. Public land users have organized a phone campaign calling for his resignation. Senators regularly accuse him of trying to kick ranchers, min- especially the A large portion of the La Sal Mountains, particularly on the eastern flank, arc owned by the Slate of Utah, surrounded by Forest Service and private lands. Board members rejected a proposal by member Robert Nelson to inidatc an exchange with the Bureau of Land Management so the Book Cliffs could be managed as a wildlife area. The rest of the board decided to retain the d lands. Conservationists worry that the move could lead to the eventual development of a large tract of roadless land in the Book Cliffs for oil, gas, minerals, timber or summer homes, state-owne- Phone 259-819- 3 for information. The office of the Utah Division of State Lands and Forestry located at 89 East Center Street will sell Christmas tree tags for $5 per tree for individual use. Tree tags may be obtained during regular office hours between 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 for p.m. to 5 p.m. Phone 259-631- 6 information. All Christmas trees cut from state and federal lands must have a tag securely fastened around the main stem of the tree prior to removal from the cutting area. HOLIDAY BLUES The hustle and bustle of the holi- days can be stressful. Crowds and noise can cause even the most spirited holiday cheer crumble. But a quick trip rot he solitude and still- ness of a Division of Wildlife Resources waterfowl or wildlife management area a pair of binoculars or camera is a sure cure for the holiday blues. Watching wildlife along the eastern shore of the Great Salt Lake is especially rewarding in November and December. The first bald eagles arrive from the north in solution that will maximize benefits to the trust while still maintaining the wilderness integrity of the land, he said. which could ruin its wildlife value. And Jim Peacock, executive director of the Utah Petroleum Assn., urged the board not to create a dcfacto wilderness area out of the land it owns in the Book Cliffs and to keep its options open to developing oil and gas. This issue has all the makings of being confrontational and controversial, said outgoing Division of Wildlife Resources director Tim Provan, whose agency has clashed with the Division of State Lands in the past over wildlife use of trust lands. Dont split the needs of two agencies. We have a desire to find a Scott Hirschi, director of the Division of State Lands, said changing the law would not be a major shutting down or fencing off of trust lands, but would give his agency a chance to negotiate with the wildlife agency and other rccrcaUon users. The change in law, the board maintained, would allow the board to achieve its goal to keep the Book Cliffs in a relatively wild state while being allowed to generate money for the school trust. MOAB CITY WATER DEPARTMENT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT The Moab City WAter Department will be doing routine maintenance on fire hydrants beginning November 18, 1993, through the remainder of the month. Due to this maintenance, there may be some discoloration and sand in your water. The water is still useable and drinkable. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, and thank you for your cooperation during this time. If you have any questions regarding your water, please call the Moab City Shop at 259-748- 5. Sale on 4x4 Ranger 4x4 Close-Ou- t Waste Solid Management District, which is taking over operation of the local landfill. Cityfrom Page ers and timber interests off public lands. Bruce Babbitt is becoming a hiss and a byword in the West, said (Cont. A-l- ) council members to participate in future discussions with the board, the county council, and state officials on ways to help ensure the future of the hospital. Barksdale said a meeting Utah Republican Rep. James Hansen in an interview this week. But Babbitt is optimistic about the end result. Were quite confident that were going to get a process un-- i derway that will get a result that will be reasonable, he said. Were getting together groups of ranchers and local environmentalists to see if we can find common grounds, he said. will take place after soon Thanksgiving. And the council heard public comment on a zone change request from Wanda and Art Sccrcst. The Sccrcsts hope to build an RV park and campground on their land along 4th East near Mill Creek. Plans call for building 17 RV sites and an area for open tent camping. The council heard speakers in favor and against the proposal, and will probably vote on the question at And Babbitt claims widespread If you look at polling data, the overwhelming majority of Westerners support grazing reform. About 90 of the editorials in the Western press arc favorable to our position. Most Westerners, along with the National Taxpayers Union, support. their meeting scheduled for December 7. The council will also accept written comments on the request until that meeting. think the public ought to get fair return for its resources, the secretary continued. Color Keyed Mirrors, Color Keyed Rear Bumper, Slide Rear Window, 4.0 V6 Engine, Transmission, Owl All Terrain Tires, Limited Slip Rear Axle, Air Conditioning, Speed Control, Tilt Steering Wheel, a Super Engine Cooling, Premium Sound Electronic AMFM Cassette with Clock, Super Engine Cooling, 6040 Cloth Bench Seat TWO TO CHOOSE FROM! Stock 293267 or 293269 $18,872 Factory Retail $251 Special Added Discount Certified Ford Discount $1,900 eft? !M SEE US FOR A COMPLETE LINE OF BUSINESS FORMS AND RELATED PRODUCTS. G E Rill El E The Times-lndepende- e U RYiSAlIES nt Your Home Town Dealer!! 259-752- 5 I ER 35 E. Center - Moab t K |