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Show mW'"p prfprwyirpj -- ryrp pry yu l,,ii,',''T,i"TlT ypupryTf Page A5- - 'Slljc tEtmcs-3lniepettie- staff writer The battle over Elgin on the eastern boarder of Grand County has been given new life. A bill passed Feb. 18 by the Utah LegHB 226 islature will make it easier for the citizens of Elgin to secede from Grand County and annex into Emery County. The bill corrects a flaw in a 1996 bill that was ruled unconstitutional by the Utah Supreme Court. The laws intent is to allow a city that straddles the border between two counties to move the line one way or the other so that the entire city lies within the same county. The 1996 version limited itself to cities divided by a county line originally defined by a river or body of water. As there was only one such city in the state Green River the court said it was unconstitutional. A single line was struck from the bill, and two years later, it was approved by unanimous votes in both chambers. With the revision, the bill no longer applies only to Green River and could also apply to Draper. Hence, it stands a better chance of holding up in court. But Green River is what the bill is really all about. A city divided Most residents in Green River live in Emery County on the west bank of the river, but busimuch of the nesses lie in Grand County, in the area that used to go by the name Elgin. Many residents in Green River believe Grand County ignores the towns needs and have sought the right to hold an elec page-and-a-ha- lf tion to vote on moving the county line, making Elgin part of Emery County. Previously, Elgin could not vote on the matter by themselves; any vote on seceding a part of Grand County had to involve a vote of the entire county electorate. Now, if HB 226 becomes law, and is not challenged and struck down by the courts, Elgin will have the right to place the issue on the ballot through a petition drive. They could then vote on the issue without the rest of Grand County participating. Emery County, however, would have to vote in favor of the annexation for it to take effect. Rep, Brad Johnson of Sevier County, representing District 70 cov- ering Emery, Sevier and Sanpete counties, was sponsor of the bill. If these people really want to annex into Emery County, and the people of Emery County want them to annex, then this law says they can do that, he explained in an interview with The . Tmes-Independe- Tax dollars at stake Grand County has consistently opposed the idea of losing Elgin to Emery County. With all the tax revenues at stake, its not hard to see why. In the last year for which figures were readily available, Elgin accounted for $117,450, or about 16 percent, of transient room tax funds collected in Grand County. And that is only a portion of the tax base at stake: sales tax and property tax would also be lost. Or gained, if you happen to live in Emery County. Taking care of Elgin But Grand County represen Hello Spring! We're open again with . . . Southwest Furniture . . rrrTTT L Jewelry Rugs Pottery Kachinas . IflM Baskets Sculpture Sand Paintings Utahs Largest Finest Selection 8h First South & Main - Moab UT - 1 435-259-- 8 In an effort to update mining regulations Cook: USFS moratorium is a waste With the release of the U.S. Forest Services recent in moratorium on roadless areas, Utah Congressman Merrill Cook sent a letter to Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck complaining that the new rules dont go far enough, and still waste taxpayer money. The temporary suspension rule includes only roadless areas that have been inventoried in previous forest plans. According to local Forest Service managers, much of the La Sal mountains would not be affected, though they have no current plans for road building or proposals from outside interests. Cooks letter to Dombeck said, While the interim road policy is a step in the right direction, it falls far short in addressing the issue of taxpayer dollars being used for environmentally destructive road building and timber sales. In Utah, the Interim Rule will not stop tax dollars being used for below- - cost logging of Utahs roadless areas by corporate-ownemills. It went on to say that, All roadless inareas should be protected ventoried and uninventoried. Cook also complained that, rural Utah loggers should receive the contracts and the logging should be done in a sustainable manner. In a news release accompanied by a copy of the letter, Cook said, We need a policy that protects forests, jobs and the envith g out-of-stat- e, d Thrift Store under New Ownership MEMORY LANE As of March st, the Moab Christian Center will no longer operate the Thrift Store. The new owners, Terry & Jean Caine, would like to thank and recognize the great service that Moab Christian Center has given to the community through the thrift store. 1 assure the community that they are still accepting donations during business hours, and appreciate the support of Grand County residents. Terry & Jean would like to They have also stated that the only changes ito be made are the new name of Memory Lane Thrift Shoppe, and new hours of Monday through Saturday, 1 0 a.m. to 5 also state they will still continue to help charitable organizations as well as the needs of the community. p.m.-The- ronment. President Clintons policy does not do this. It protects while ensuring better protection of the public lands, the Bureau of Land Management last week published a proposed rule that would revise the agencys 3809 surface mining regulations. In drafting this proposed rule, the BLM has engaged in an extraordinary outreach effort to solicit the views of all interested parties, said BLM Acting Director Tom Fry. We will continue to seek maximum public input as we work on drafting a final rule. After the BLM publishes a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed rule later this month, the agency will hold a series of public hearings throughout the West to gather comments. The proposed rule and the draft EIS are available at the BLMs website www.blm.gov. Its a tightening up and a clarification of the mining regulations, said BLM geologist Sal Venticinque, who works out of the Moab office. Its intended to be part of the government-wid- e effort to convert regulations to plain English wherever pos- tering a mining regulatory For your insurance needs Being in good hands is the only place to be: Insurance Company, Northbrook, Illinou. Aflaute Insurance Company and Allstate Subject to local availability and qualification. Other terms, conditions and exclusions may apply 1996 OOR COPY 1 , , , provide an opportunity for public comment on these financial guarantee amounts; clarify certain issues that have arisen since 1981, including whether a parent company of an operator can be liable for an operation (the answer being yes, in some circumstances); requiring mining operations to meet certain minimum levels of output regarding all aspects of the operation. pro- establish a plan for terminating inactive notice- - and operations; plan-lev- plan-lev- el reclamation; el require all notice- - and operations to pro- vide a financial guarantee that covers the estimated cost Meeting will brief public on revised Comb Wash EA On March 4, the Monticello Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management will hold a meeting to brief the public on the revised Comb Wash Environmental Assessment. This EA was issued in December, 1997 for a comment comments More 600 Since were than that received. time, BLM period. has consulted with a number of interest groups and asked the Utah Resource Advisory Council to review the EA. The BLM has revised the original proposed action, developed a new alternative, and attempted to clarify a number of points in the EA. This revised EA will be issued on March 4 with a new Finding of No Significant Impact. The briefing will be held at the San Juan County Council Chambers, 117 S. Main Street, Monticello, Utah at 6:30 p.m. Public comments will not be taken at the meeting, but written comments may be turned in afterwards. 60-da- y sible. The proposed revisions Get $10 Savings! would also incorporate changes to BLM policy that have been developed since the last time the BLM issued mining regulations, back in 1980. Aspects of the proposed rule would: Just published in and shopping convenience when you buy our new Spring & Summer Catalog for Only $5. Stop by your nearest JC Penney today! Or call and ask for to order your copy today1 Order our book through our secure web site www jepenney com Certificates Available - Payments accepted on JCPenney accounts Gift Federal Register : NRC requests comments on draft JCPenney MERCHANT CATALOG JCPenney Catalog Sales 131 E. 100 S., Moab, UT 84532 reclamation plan The U. S. Nuclear Regula- -f- tory Commission is soliciting comments on a Draft Standard Review Plan regarding the Atlas tailings site, according to a notice in the Federal Register. I jfhe fujltitle of the review is!' u Draft; Standard Review Plan for Review of a Reclamation Plan for Mill Tailings Sites Under Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act. Interested parties are invited to comment on the review plan, including areas on radon attenuation and long-terstability of site, Products! -New Eupanded inventory! Antique, Authentic Maps of Utah, over 100 years old! Street and Road Maps four sizes of Globes m the reclamation 259-559- 9 soil Foreign Travel Maps Beautiful National Geographic Wall Maps Book Inventory Expanded T.l. Maps, etc. 29 Center cleanup, and groundwater restoration reviews. A final review plan will be prepared after the NRC staff has evaluated public comments received on the draft review plan. Written comments must be received prior to May 4, 1999. For further information contact Banad Jagannath at E. Moab 435-259-55- UT 84532 mapsmoab.net 29 www.moab.nettimaps big government. Bum is focus of meeting A slide show and public information meeting will be held Friday, Feb. 26, on a planned controlled bum on the west side of the La Sal Mountains. The program will be held at the Moab District Office of the U. S. Forest Service, 2280 Southwest Re- The THETIMES-INDEPENDEN- T) PROVIDES COMMERCIAL PRINTING FULL-SERVI- CE r Times-Independe- nt town t Take out an ad with us and have 435-259-59- O , classified ads are the cheapest in 800-859-36- Life of gram; The vegetation treatment project proposes to introduce fire on approximately 4,000 acres of lands on the Moab side of the La Sal Mountains, probably in late summer or early fall of this year. John R. Fogg Central Utah Insurance 170 E. 100 S., Moab, UT 84532 y- -f g expand the number of situations where a plan of operations is required for a mine; allow the BLM to defer to a state government in adminis- source Boulevard between 11 a.m. and noon. The public is invited. Yom house. Y)ur car. Youi business. Y)u. y1 BLM updating mining regulations tatives like to emphasize the fact that theyve spent lots of money about $2 on roads in that area million in the last four years, according to Dave Warner of the Grand County Road Department. And Grand County Travel Council representatives point out that Green River motels benefit from the agencys promotions. That would stop if Elgin seceded. I dont think theyve come out on the short end of the stick up till now. Weve taken care of them up there, said Grand County Council Member Harvey Merrell. Theres going to be big problems if they secede. All the records and legal documents will have to be transferred. Its going to be pretty expensive. Emery County will have to pay the expenses, though well probably have to pay the costs for the election. road-buildin- f t,,,Vti Thursday, February 25, 1999 nt Utah Legislature passes bill that may help Elgin secede from Grand County by Franklin Seal ,rtr1n,rflrT,'rr)''1,,,l your message delivered to more than 8,000 readers. 20 Words for $2 Call 435-259-75- or stop by our offices 35 E. Center - Moab FROM START TO FINISH, WE CAN HANDLE YOUR PROJECT. CALL 259-75FOR FREE QUOTES, OR STOP BY 35 E. CENTER. PONT PAYTHE MIDDLE MAN? 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