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Show Emery County '"I"' N.W. Volume 86 ' No 47 BLM WILDERNESS PROPOSAL National park concept fizzles out at hearing cannot replace the coal industry By LARRY W. DAVIS editor Pi and power generation as during a public Dale last Castle in hearing week. The knockout punch at the Nov. 13 gathering came from a majority of over 250 citizens attending the hearing who made their feelings about the countys desert area clear: Ieave things as they are. Organized by the Emery County Economic Development Council, the hearing was held in order to receive public input on economic mainstays in Emery County. Offering some background on the BLM wilderness process. 1976 Rowley said that the Act Management Federal Und as well as previous legislation dating back to 1964 charged the BLM with identifying lands within its system which might qualify as wilderness. Given 15 years to complete its BLM study, Mr. Rowley said the carried out the process in three stages. First was the inventory stage which resulted in the designation of Wilderness Study Areas. This was completed in proposals for the county. Not only was wilderness discussed, but alternatives to wilderness The second stage, which the BLM is currently conducting and nearing conclusion, involves the preparation of En- A national park proposal for Emery Countys San Rafael Swell was dealt what may be the final blow the Bureau Managements Land wilderness of were considered, including pursuing designation of a national park for much of the area being studied as potential wilderness sites. Under the direction of council chairman Wes Curtis, the hearing included introductory remarks from Sam Rowley, San Rafael Area manager for the BLM; Robert Dailey, an employee of the Utah Bureau of Air adQuality; Scott Truman, of the Emery ministrator County Economic Development Council; and Sam Klemm, administrative assistant to Rep. Howard Nielson. Curtis, who said that neither the council nor the county commission positions have taken on local wilderness proposals and the various alternatives, called the countys desert and mountain areas untapped resources as far as attracting tourists is concerned. However, he said that tourism 1980. vironmental Impact Statements on each of these study areas. Rowley said the statements should be completed by February 1986. Following release of the environment reports, the public will be given an opportunity to offer input. This, Rowley said, will be the last chance the public has to give input finalizes the before the BLM wilderness proposals and passes the matter to the secretary of the Department of the Interior. Rowley emphasized the fact that only Congress can designate wilderness areas, but he said that the final package inpresented to Congress will clude BLM recommendations and alternatives. Because wilderness areas and national parks carry strict air quality standards which affect areas outside their boundaries, Mr. Dailey of the Utah Bureau of Air Quality addressed several uUH 11 fit HNt ab I I . M f concerns, lie said that Emery class County is currently under II air quality restrictions and that these standards could go up to a class I designation with the inclusion of a park andor wilderness. Class I is the most restrictive standard as far as allowing pollutants in the air. of the Dailey said that each ! U'NlA It A 'UN or if at jTiI doom cm three classifications of air quality allows for a certain increment of air pollution. Once that increment is met, it cannot be exceeded, which, he said, J t would inhibit industrial growth in some areas. Currently, the at only class I areas in Utah are national five parks. the Recently added wilderness areas in Utah National Forests carry class II designations. Referring to integral vistas, view areas from within a park to areas outside a park, Dailey said that because of the present stance on the issue by the Department of Interior, this does not appear to be an issue. However, he said the state is A j& st dJjL SI kaipabowit. iitM be initiating a plan which will 31. finalized by Dec. The concept of integral vistas when applied to designated CEDAR MESA areas surrounding national prevent the parks couldof some industry development should the industrys pollutants be visible within the park setting. in giving Mr. Truman, background on why the concept of a national park in Emery said County became an issue, when the Economic Development Council began to study ways of improving the economy of Emery County, it realized the potential of tourism. At the same time, the wilderness proposals of the BLM surfaced and the council began to look at alternatives to wilderness. . . pointed to the national park as one of the alternatives, but added that a state park, county park, national recreation area, and Truman national monument are other options. Mr. Klemm, attending the of Rep. on behalf meeting Nielson, read a statement from the congressman which clearly indicated that he has not formed an opinion regarding a national I will park status for the Swell. the until not form an opinion county commission and county residents in general have determined their position on the matter, he wrote. Nielson further noted that should the desert area being studied tor wilderness not become a park, it is likely that it will fall into wilderness The attributes classification. of the San Rafael Swell are such that great pressure for can be wilderness designation anticipated, he said. Also, Rep. Neilson said that a park designation on the Swell could carry a class II air quality designation, but he added that such a standard could be upgraded to class I by the state or Congress. He added that Congress could also mandate the designation of integral vistas in the future which could dramatically affect industrial development in areas that it covers. Neilson further added that legislating a park package in (Continued on Page 4 ) National forest sets management plans ByLARRYW. DAVIS Progress editor Management Richard Huntington LaRee Dye Dana Gray Area scout leaders honored ELIZABETH HANSON By Staff writer never forget the great scoutmaster who taught us how Ill anpledge will continue Each withdrawn. unless nually Century Member receives an $100 attractive clock and com- coaching, each boy in her parol has earned at least 90 percent of the merit badges required for Eagle Scout. She has received the Scouters Key and On My memorative coin. Each year is earned until six Honor Award. at Camp another coin to cook porcupine Danna Jo Gray, five years in Merrill are grooved about the clock Maple Dell, enthused of a as serves symbol which scouting and mother of four, is in the the Gappmayer, council vice interest vested 215 Emery District Roundtable addressing president, of the boys about commissioner, Cub leader and development scouters and partners gathered us. Pow Wow chairman of Pack 904, for the annual Fellowship n HunHuntington Third Ward. Her As President Kendall Dinner Thursday at the include Scouters Key, awards . What commented, tington Stake Center and SEcond Miler. Honor ofOn My would it cost if we didnt have After installing district a tireless, exremains Danna ficers, he bade everyone arise, scouting?" tremely talented and effective made the Scout sign and of merit awards coveted Cubber. The pledged support to the BSA, went to LaRee Dye of Castle Sustaining the Richard Huntington has a including in Dale, Danna Jo Gray of HunMembership Enrollment now record of seven years as tington and Richard Huntington coordinator, and as swing. under of Orangeville. President Ira scouting that said committee chairman of Troop Gappmayer Hatch did the honors. the electronic transfer plan, and Pack 904, Orangeville. A A scouter for nine years and we may sign a bank card perSecond Miler, On My Honor and to mother of seven, LaRee is he is the father of SME mitting the bank computerfew director, as Blazer Scout leader a serving deduct automatically advancement chairman of five. dollars from each paycheck and and All the merit winners are still be Troop 306, Castle Dale First give to the district, yet to her (Continued on rage 8B) due Mor-tense- ounted a Century Member. The Ward. Largely of the Manti-LaS- al National Forest was addressed by the Emery County Chamber of Commerce in its monthly meeting last week, Nov. 13, in Castle Dale. Guest at the meeting was John Niebergall, ranger of the l, Ferron District of the Forest who said that Service officials are currently in the process of creating a management plan for the forest. Niebergall said that public input during the processing stage of development of the management plan has indicated that most people in the area feel management, in most cases, should continue in the future as it is presently being handled. With the public input in mind, Niebergall said that development of the plan includes continuation of most policy Manti-LaSa- exalthough there are some coal that He said ceptions. leasing on Forest Service lands locally will include more acres than the previous plan which was finalized in 1979. He said that plans for the 400,000 acres of coal land on the Ferron District call for increased although the development development is to be spread out over several years. Our obthe coal jective is to spread development out over a period of time, he said. The management plan also calls for a change in the treatment of aspen groves. Niebergall said that aspen trees are a valuable resource on the forest because grazing vegetation grows well under aspen. However, he said that confiers have been invading 50 aspen groves and that over a of acres year period, 50,000 aspen have been lost. As a means of enhancing the growth of aspen, Niebergall said the new plan calls for a program of harvesting trees to allow for aspen growth. The harvesting will include cutting of both aspen and conifers although the of ranger said a plan not has eliminating the trees been finalized. In all, 800 to 1,000 acres will be affected in the program, he said. Another area emphasized in the plan is the designation and management of natural resouce Niebergall said that areas in the forest are these which have remained pretty much in a natural state, unharmed by grazing, recreation, or commercial development. He said that the district currently has two such areas, one on the Sanpete side of the mountains and the other on the east side at Nelson Mountain near Ferron. areas. The utility been also establishes corridors which have plan designated for passageways for pipelines and powerlines. The corridors traverse the district from east to west. Speaking about the visual quality objectives of the plan, Niebergall said that because of other objectives in the plan, such as the utility corridors and development of coal deposits, this area has received less of a We priority. However, he said, we what to maintain do want have. Niebergall said that the plan of the designates various areas a specific as receiving district emphasis. For example, he said emphasis at Trail Mountain is on wildlife at Joes Valley it is on recreation while other areas on grazing, have emphasis and forage production. timber, Other things can He added, take place in these areas as long as they dont compete with the priorities. In response to a question about grazing, Niebergall said that the Forest Service intends to continue to graze the forest to Livestock is a its capacity. valuable resource and we need to keep it, he said. However, he could not say what the future holds as far as grazing fees are concerned. |