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Show 8A Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday July 22, 2003 Commentary Public Lands Focus Sacrificing Locals on the National Altar By Jeffery Durrant, BYU Professor of Geography When public land special interest groups decide to nationalize their issues, the first sacrifice to be thrown on the altar is usually locals. Before the fight is taken to a larger stage, local opinions may be valued, local solutions are sought, local politics are often considered. But somewhere on the road to larger venues local intricacies, efforts, and concerns are pushed aside or trampled. In Utah the classic example of local sacrifice is the fight over wilderness. In the early 1990s the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) decided to take their Citizens wilderness proposal national. Slide show's of Utahs k areas were presented SUWA sought membership from across the nation and feverishly worked to get congressional for their proposal. While SUWA was successful in increasing membership and gaining numerous they rarely even acknowledged, and certainly didnt value, anything emanating from the communities of southern Utah, where their proposed wilderness existed. And why should they if their chosen stage is national? County commissioners dont wield power in Congress, and local citizens certainly cant influence the voting behavior of Congressional representatives from New York and Massachusetts. In the national and even regional arena locals are obviously not valuable players or coveted assets. Even the Governor of Utah has participated in this tradition by hijacking red-roc- coast-to-coas- t. the proposal for a San Rafael Swell National Monument in order to make statewide and perhaps national politithe local political cal Now the Utah Shared Access Alliis apparently getting ance into the sacrificial act. In recent years they have fancied themselves something of a organization. However, also seems willing to now USA-Achuck locals on the proverbial altar in their pursuit of a narrow goal. But being unwilling, or perhaps more accurately unable, to do the dirty work wants local leaders to fall on their own sword. How are they doing this and why? Well, for several years has made substantial efforts to become a more effective special interest organization, and I believe that to a great extent they have succeeded. Their main strategies have essentially mimicked the efforts of SUWA. For example SUWA puts out regunow so does lar updates via SUWA has action alerts to mobilize members and supporters, so now does But the one thing that has lamented is that they dont have the full array of legal weapons that environmental groups such as SUWA possess. For example, environmental groups are adept at taking full advantage of laws such as the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Wild and Scenic points-never-mi- fall-ou- t. (USA-AL- champion-of-the-loc- al ll thepi-selve- s, USA-AL- L USA-AL- L USA-AL- L. USA-AL- L. USA-AL- L River Act-nUSA-AL- ot really the foundation of L. On the other hand USA-AL- L and use groups other feel they only have the public comment process and perhaps the Federal Lands d even these Policy Management are better utilized by environmental groups. Act-an- But alas, USA-AL- L has now dreamed up a legal strategy. Heres the nuts and bolts of it. primarily fights to maintain motorized access on public land. Sometimes they win, but more often they dont and routes are closed. For example, the recently released Recreational Travel Plan for the San Rafael Swell contained a few wins for the crowd, but it also had a few significant losses such as the closure of Muddy Creek and the route to Segers USA-AL- L Hole. Clarke, Director of the Management. Adequate supplies of domestic ergy are inextricably linked to By Kathleen reau of Land Bu- viowas forced to simply inform their lated Utah law by collaborating (with deputy that only the aspects of the plan the BLM) in the illegal closure of es- that have blessing should 7 tablished routes be enforced. But if Emery County is not designated as open in the compelled to actively tear down the new BLM barricades, then where does it end Travel Plan) and in providing an EmWill they also have to tear down the ery County deputy to help enforce these closures. gate at the end of the Mexican Mountain According to the letter the result of road that has been in place for years? Emery Countys purported illegal ac- Wliat about the road to the lower black tions is, among other things, the im- box and Swaseys leap? How about some of the barricades in the Sids pediment of interstate commerce. The letter concludes by stating that Mountain area? And what about other counties? Will Utah public officials (Emery County and the State of Utah) can choose from it be expedient that Wayne County, the following three options: Grand County, San Juan County, Kane One, tell the BLM that the closures County, Garfield County, and others also are illegal, instruct law enforcement go out and tear down any blockades officials to refrain from enforcing the that have not been formally vacated by closures, and then the county must re- the county and state? move the signs and barricades that Well, this is obviously the hope of motorized travel. the cost to Emery prohibit Two, Emery County and the State of and other counties. may slay Utah must formally vacate their a bunch of local efforts and emerging claims to the routes through a public relationships, but to them it appears w'orth the price in order to pursue a process. Three, continue with the status-qu- o grander scheme. and face litigation.While I must give is The problem is that letfor into the the points wrong creativity, backing Emery County ter begs numerous questions and corner. Its farcical to imagine Emery forces one to ponder the implieations-her- e County ripping out barricades. If push are a few thoughts that space per- comes to legal shove it is more likely mits. that the county will feel it has no choice e to to formally vacate the routes. but efforts Emery Countys w'ork with the BLM and be an active This would essentially end the partner in managing the San Rafael are countys ongoing efforts to gain control over these routes. And I really possibly in peril. It appears that is willing to sacrifice the potendoes not wrant imagine that tial for collaboration and greater lo- any county to do this. This aspect of the cal involvement in order to hopefully letter is obviously a bluff. And its per(a big hope at that) develop a weapon haps not wise to bluff with those who to fight road closures across Utah and are w ell aware that you are more than the West willing to toss them up on the sacrifiIt would be one thing if Emery County cial altar. USA-AL- (RS-247- Right-of-Wa- USA-AL- L A-A- full-tim- USA-AL- L USA-AL- L USA-AL- L long-tim- USA-AL- L USA-AL- L Harriets World By HARRIET BISHOP Then there is the time, on my way to work, I stepped down the stairs of my front door, got to the bottom stair and broke my right ankle. It snapped like a twig. heard it. As I fell I hit my left knee on the pavement and dislocated it. knee bleeding on the inside. Had 1 have known that I think I would have gone in an ambulance. When I heard that word ambulance I was absolutely sure that I was getting in someones car and going to the clinic. I argued that the last thing I needed was an ambulance screaming down the street, stopping with lights flashing, and giving all the neighbors something to talk about for the next few days. I won. 1 cant tell you how I got to that car. I dont remember much. The next thing 1 do remember is pulling up to the emergency side of the clinic, At that time it was the old clinic and the emergency door was on the east side. Remember? The nurse comes to the door, unlocks it and walks away. Leaving Judy and 1 to fend for ourselves. Judy is appalled by the action and goes inside to hunt up a w'heel chair and some help. She comes back with' a nurse in tow and a wheel chair and she shoves it up to the car and the nurse says,Oh, I didnt know you were that hurt. I thought Judy was gonna hit her. The next little while is etc. and spent with Doctor and etc. and that is when I find out that my left knee cap is dislocated and a whole bunch of ligaments torn in it. Judy disappears and the next time I see her, I am laving on a table with a brace on my left leg from my hip to my ankle and a brand new' cast on my right ankle. My head is hanging over the end of the table and the blood is rushing to it. Im all alone and have been for some time. I a in feeling pretty vulnerable and 1 say to her, Veil, here is another fine mess Ive gotten myself into. I start to laugh. It was better than crying. I couldnt get off the table by myself. My friend is absolutely livid with rage as she sees the condition I w'as left in and she goes to hunt up a pillow to put under my head. I dont know what I would have done without her that day. They must have been short handed that day at the clinic. Now I arrived at the clinic under my own power so it stands to reason I have to get home under my own power. Well, that was a joke. Question: How does a person with a brace on her left leg from Two years ago, President Bush presented a new National Energy Policy our to meet the nations energy needs. That nations economy and to the quality of policy offers a balanced approach that addresses both the demand side of the life we enjoy as American citizens. This truth was underscored in recent equation, by promoting conservation, I landed testimony on Capitol Hill by Federal and the supply side, by encouraging sitting Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, development of our domestic energy upright in a pile of who said escalating prices and short resources. snow. Stunned, I The President challenged the nation supplies are already impacting many sat there for a industries and the result will be lost to move beyond the confrontational, minute waiting for thinking that has dominated jobs and significantly higher bills for zero-susomeone to see me consumers. public dialogue in the past. as they drove by We must w'ork to build a new harPrices of natural gas have increased down the street. mony between our energy needs and sharply. In the meantime, the DepartOr perhaps my ment of Energy reports that last our environmental concerns, he said. neighbors would see me coming out of Too often, Americans are asked to take their house and winters unusually cold weather caused goingto work. I sat there sides between energy production and significantly reduced natural gas infreezing and realized I had to get up and ventories. As a result, supplies of gas environmental protection ... as if the get inside before pain and shock sat in. in storage are lower today than during people who produce Americas energy Nothing was happening so I knew I was do not care about the planet their chilprevious years. on my own. I dont know how but I there are measures the dren will inherit. The truth is energy struggled up those steep stairs and Fortunately, nation can take to address what many production and environmental protec- walked across my living room to my experts view' as a looming natural gas tion are not competing priorities. They w'all phone and called my friend for help. are dual aspects of a single purpose, to Somehow I crisis. managed to minimize wrhat live well and wisely upon the Earth. Natural gas is found in abundance was happening to me and my friend did Some elements of the National Enhere in the United States. Much of it is not get it that it was an emergency. She located beneath public lands that are ergy Policy require legislation and said she would be over in a little w'hile. these are currently being considered I managed by the Department of the Inhung up that receiver and the pain hit terior and agencies such as the Bureau by Congress. Others can be accom- me like someone smacking me across of Land Management. plished through administrative actions the head with a two by four. I started to An inventory of federal resources in within regulatory agencies to eliminate cry. I sat down in a chair, rested my ankle five key basins in the West concluded unnecessary red tape and improve efon another chair and called another that an estimated 57 percent of oil and ficiency. The Bureau of Land Managefriend who said she would be right over. 63 percent of gas are available under ment has initiated a series of measures This friend ask me if I had any ice packs! standard stipulations, and 15 percent to improve its management of energy W'hen I told her no, she into the yelled of oil and 12 percent of gas are totally resources and activities, including the phone as she hungup, "Put a bag of peas unavailable. The remaining oil and gas processing of applications for permits on it. Iil be right there. Now 1 am reto drill, without compromising environare available with increasing restricin ally trouble because I am trying to tions on development. The inventory mental values. figure out why my friend wants me to Incremental progress is being made did not address other potential conput peas on my broken ankle. I am abstraints to development that result on many fronts. But securing solutely sure that she doesnt have all from the permit process and other postAmericas energy future will require her oars in the water when she arrives lease conditions of approval. These more than incremental, piecemeal and reaches in my freezer and pulls out constraints can add considerable time progress. It will require, as the Presia frozen bag of something and slaps it dent said, a new harmony between our on to the development of natural gas from my ankle. Now I understand. My first federal land. energy needs and our environmental friend saunters in and realizes in horAlong the wray there are additional concerns. ror her mistake. Now I have two people The recent testimony of Federal Reroadblocks to development from standing over me wanting to call an serve Chairman Greenspan on the ambulance. lengthy and costly lawsuits. I keep rubbing my left knee Issues of energy development and looming natural gas shortage - and its and saying that it burns. Little did I environmental protection have been implications for our economy and our know that that burning feeling was my among the most contentious public quality of life - should add a new sense of urgency to this challenge. policy issues of modern times, polarSummer-Keepin- g His insight should also prompt us to ized by the mentality that the two are The carefree days of summer, with take a fresh look at how we might imKeep a constant w'atch over infants utterly incompatible. More than anything else, it is this prove access to the significant energy school breaks, sunny skies, swimming and children who are swimming. A faulty paradigm that explains how a resources found on the public lands pools and vacations, should still be a time child can drown in minutes even in to remember safety for the entire family. shallow w'ater. and provide for responsible developgreat nation such as ours, possessing Here are tips from the American No child is drown proof, and the of ment these resources, development abundant resources of natural gas, Heart Association that can use in all can with be our that could be facing a critical natural gas you ability to swim doesnt prevent drownharmony summer. from preventing They range ing. A drowning child often sinks quishortage. drowning and treating emergencies to etly without screaming for help or modern alternatives to your thrashing in the water. Letters to the editor should focus on public issues Vacation Safety grandmothers remedies. rather than private personalities or entities. All Water Safety Be able to give your location, espesubmissions must be verified prior to publication. Be prepared to perform CPR. Drowncially if youre in an unfamiliar place. Your cell phone may not direct you to The Emery County Progress reserves the right to edit letters ing is a leading cause of death in inthe closest fants, children and adolescents. not only to satisfy space constraints. dispatch center, so be en- er USA-AL- L When the Travel Plan was released, US w'as relatively pleased. In for fact, years they had been among the loudest voices criticizing the BLM for not having a travel plan. They wanted a plan, and they wanted enforcement. They got both w'hen the BLM office in Price not only signed off on the new plan but also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Emery County sheriff deputy out that put a e in the Swell on a regular basis. didnt appeal the travel plan and appeared satisfied. Obviously appearances can be deceiving. On June 10, 2003 the Emery County Commission received a letter from s attorney. It threatened a lawsuit against Emery County. Essentially the letter took the stance USA-ALL- Greenspans Forecast Should Prompt a New Look at Energy and the Public Lands that Emery County officials had 1 m Enjoy the her hip to her ankle, unable to bend that left leg, a cast on her right ankle and foot, using a pair of crutches, get into a two door car? Answer: Verrry care fully! After tiying several different approaches I end up laying on my back in the front seat with my left leg with the brace on it on the floor and my right ankle with the cast on it, danglingout the open window What a sight to behold. All I had to do was tie a red flag on it. W'e arrive at my house and then really begins. Starting with getting out of that car. You talk about laugh. Never having ever used crutches before, I had no idea how to use them. By the time I get to my front steps I am absolutely exhausted. I couldnt have walked up those steps if my life had depended upon it. I ended up sitting on the steps and lifting my body up those stairs one step at a time. Dragging my painful legs in front of me. By the time I got to the top of the porch, I could not pull my self over the threshold and into my house. Over to my house comes my neighbor, Gail, who has been watching the fiasco unfold in front of her eyes. Between her and Judy, we get me over the threshold , into my living room, only for me to discover that now I am on the floor and I have to get up some, how or other. Either that or spend the, next eight weeks on the floor. Exhausted and ready to give up, my well meaning neighbor says to me,Oh you poor thing-- That did it. When heard those words, a switch turned on in my head. No one was going to feel sorry for me. I grit my teeth and turned over and pulled myself to my feet and into a chair. I didnt even have time to think( about it. From then on I had no placer to go but up. With the tender loving care of my twelve year old son and: good, good friends and neighbors. I will always be grateful to that neighbor who felt sorry for me that day and voiced her opinion and to my friend Judy who helped me through a most; difficult time in life. She w'as able to; keep me laughing. Well, thats my world. Until next time remember? Laughter is the best medicine. the-fu- ! 1 Safety in Mind -1 prepared to give your location to the dispatcher. Treat a minor burn by rinsing the area with cool water for 0 minutes. Then cover with clean gauze. If the burn is severe, call and remove clothor if not stuck to the its ing jewelry 15-3- -1 skin. Apply direct pressure to a cut to stop bleeding. Use a clean bandage or cloth. If blood soaks through the first ban- dage, add another, Dont remove the could tear off original bandage-yo- u clots that stop bleeding. i |