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Show A in 8A Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday pi mi f r" r11 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 li)!)()s the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) decided to take their Citizen's" wilderness proposal national. Slide shows of Utah's red-roc- k areas were presented SUWA coast-to-coas- t. sought membership from across the nation and feverishly worked to get congressional for their proposal. While SUWA was successful in and gaining they rarely even acknowledged, and certainly didn't value, anything emanating from tin communities of southern Utah, where their proposed wilderness existed. And why should they if their chosen stage is national? County commissioners don't wield power in Congress, and local citizens certainly can't influence the voting behavior of Congressional representative's from New York and .Massachusetts. In the national and even regional arena locals are obviously not valuable' players ejr eoveteel assets. Even the Uovernor of Utah has in this tradition by bijae-kin- 'd the proposal for a San Rafael Swell National Monument in order to make statewide and perhaps national politi-cthe local politi- al points-never-mi- cal fall-ou- t. Nenv the Utah Shared Access Alliis apparently getting ance (USA-ALinto the sacrificial act. In recent years they have fancied themselves something of a organization. However, now USA-Aalso seems willing to chuck 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 themwants local leaders selves, 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 believe that to a great champion-of-lhe-loc- al ll USA-AL- L USA-AL- L 1 extent they have succeeded. Their main strategies have essentially mimicked the efforts of SUWA. For example SUWA puts out regunow so dot's lar updates via USA-ALSUWA has action alerts" to mobilize members and supporters, so now does USA-ALBut theonethingthat USA-ALhas lamented is that they don't have the full array of legal weapons that environmental groups such as SI AYA possess. For example, env ironmental groups are adept at taking full advantage of laws such as the Wilderness Act. the Lndangered Species Act. the Clean Water Act, and the Wild and Scenic L River USA-AL- By Kathleen Clarke. Director of the Bureau of Land Management. Adequate supplies of domestic energy are inextricably linked to our nation's economy and to the quality of life we enjoy as American citizens. 1 his truth was underscored in recent testimony on Capitol Hill by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan tireeiispan. vv ho said esc; lat ing' prices and short supplies are already impacting many industries and the result will be lost jobs and signilicantly higher bills tor consumers. Iriccsol natural gas have increased sharply. In the meantime, the Department ol Lnerg'y reports that last inter's unusually cold weal her caused significantly reduced natural gas inventories. As a result, supplies ol gas in storage are lowt r today th.au during prev ioiisyeal s ortunately. there arc measures the nation call take to address w hat many exports iev as a lunining natural gas crisis Natural gas is lound in abundance here Ul the lilted Slates. Much of it is located beneath public lands that are inaiiagt d by the Department of the Intel mr and agencies such ax the Bureau vv ol Land Management. iederal resources in live key basins the West concluded that an estimated ;,7 percent ol oil and id percent ol gas are available under standard pula lion s. and 1b percent ot oil and 1? percent o gas are totally nnav iilnble. ITie remainingoil and gas are uv a la de it h increasing resiric-tioii- s on development he inventory did not address other potential constraints to development that result troin the permit process and other postlease conditions of approval. These constraints can add considerable time to the development ol natural gas from Mi inventory ol m t vv T federal hind. Alongthe way there are additional roadblocks to development from lengthy and costly lawsuits. Issues of energy development and environmental protection have been among the most contentious public policy issues of modern times, polarized by the mentality that the two are utterly incompatible. More than any thing else, it is this faulty paradigm that explains how a great nation such as ours, possessing abundant resources of natural gas, could be facing a critical natural gas shortage. 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. has now But alas, dreamed up a legal strategy. Here's the nuts and bolts of it. primarily fights to maintain motorized access on public land. Sometimes they win, but more often they don't 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 Muddv Crook and the route to Soger's USA-AL- L Act-an- USA-AL- USA-AL- L L Hole. When the Trav el Plan w as released. USA-ALwas relatively pleased. In fact, for years they had been among the loudest voices oriticizingthe BLM for not having a travel plan. They wanted a plan, and they wanted enfoire-men- t. L They got both when the BLM office Price not only signed off on the now plan but also signed a Memorandum of t 'nderstandingwith Finery County sheriff deputy out that put a in tin1 Swell on a regular basis. didn't appeal the travel plan and appeared satisfied. Obviously appearances can be deceiving. On ,!u no ID. Jbb.'i the Finery County Commission received a let ter from attorney. It threatened a lawsuit against Finery County. Fxxentially the letter took the stance in full-tim- USA-AL- e L 's By HARRIET BISHOP (RS-247- Right-of-Wa- ys o 1 I SA-AL- L mits. efforts to Emery County's long-tim- e work with the BLM and be an active partner in managinglbeSan Rafael are possibly in peril. It appears that USA-AL- L is willing to sacrifice the potential for collaboration and greater local involvement in order to hopefully (a big hope at that ) develop a weapon to fight road closures across Utah and the West Il would be one thing if Emery County knee bleedingon the inside. Had have 1 Then there is hi' time, on my way to work, stopped down the stairs of my front door, got to the bottom stair and broke my right ankle. It snapped like a t Two years ago, President Bush prea new National Fnergy Policy to meet the nations energy needs. That policy offers a balanced approach that addresses both the demand side o the sented equation, by promoting conservation, and the supply side, y encouraging development of our domestic energy resources, T he President challenged the nation to move beyond the confrontational, thinking that has dominated public dialogue in the past "We must work to build a new harmony between our energy needs and our env ironmental concerns," lie said Too often. Americniisureaxked to take sides between energy production and env ironmental protection ... as il the people ho produce America's energy do nut care about the planet their children w ill inherit. The truth is energy production and env ironmental protection are not eompelingpriorities. They are dual aspects of a single purpose, to live well and ixely upon the Fartlt." Some elements of the National Policy require legislation and these are current ly being considered by Congress. Others can be accomplished through administrative actions it hin regulatory agencies to eliminate unnecessary red tape and improve efficiency. The Bureau ol Laud Management has initiated a series ol measures to improve its management of energy resources and activities, includinglhe processingofapplications for permits I tw ig. I hoard it. As vv vv Fn-erg- y vv iron-ment- values. Incremental progress is beingmade on many fronts. But securing America's energy future will require more than incremental, piecemeal progress. It ill require, as the President said, a new harmony between our energy needs and our environmental concerns. The recent testimony of Federal Reserve Chairman (Jreenspan on the loomingnatural gas shortage -- and its implications for our economy and our quality of life - should add a new sense of urgency to this challenge. His insight should also prompt us to take a fresh look at how we might improve access to the significant energy resources found on the public lands and provide for responsible development of these resources, development that can be in harmony with our vv fell hit my left knee I upright in a pile of snow. Stunned. a minute waitingfor son loo io to see me as they drove by street. Or perhaps my down the neighbors would see me comingout of theirhoiiseandgoingtowork. sat there Ireezingand realized had loget up and get inside bolore pain and shock sat in. Not hingw as happen ing so knew! was on my own. don't know how but struggled up hose steep stairs and walked across my living room to my wall plioneand called my friend for help. I I I Somehow managed to minimize what was happcninglo me and my Iriend did was an emergency. She said shewmiid hoover in a little while. hungup that receiver and the pain hit me like someone smacking me across the head vv it a two by lour. started to cry. sat down in a chair, rested my ankle oil another chair and called another friend who said she would be right over. This friend ask me il had any ice lacks. When told her no. shovelled into the phonons she hung up.''! ut a liag'of peas on it. FTI be right there." Now am really in trouble because am try ing to figure out why my friend wants me to put peas on my broken ankle. am absolutely sure that she doesn't have all her oars in thevvatervv hen she arrives and reaches in my Ircezerand pulls out a frozen bagof soinethingand slaps it on my ankle. Now understand. My first not get it that I someones car and goargued that the last thing needed was an ambulance screaming dow n the street, stopping with lights flashing, and giving all the neighbors something to talk about for the next lew day s. won. can't tell you how got to that car. don't remember much. The next thing do remember is pulling up to the emergency side of the clinic. At that time it was theold clinic and the emergency door was on the east was getting in I and dislocated it. landed sitting sat there for known that think would have gone in an ambulance. When hoard that word "ambulance" was absolutely sure that I ing to the clinic. on the pavement ero-su- to drill, without compromising env that Emery County officials had violated Utah law by collaborating (with the BLM) in the illegal closure of es7 tablished routes not designated as open in the Travel Plan) and in providing an Emery County deputy to help enforce these closures. According to the letter the result of Emery County's purported illegal actions is. among other things, the impediment of interstate commerce." The letter concludes by stating that Utah public officials (Emery County and the State of Utah) can choose from the follovvingthree options: One, tell the BLM that the closures are illegal, instruct law enforcement officials to refrain from enforcing the closures, and then the county must remove the signs and barricades that prohibit motorized travel. Two, Finery County and the Slate of Utah must formally "vacate" their claims to the routes through a public process. Three, continue with the status-quand face litigation.While must give points for creativity, the letter begs numerous questions and forces one to ponder the implications-her- e are a few thoughts that space per- was forced to simply inform their deputy that only the aspects of the plan that have blessing' should be enforced. But if Emery County is compelled to actively tear down the new BLM barricades, then where does it end Will they also have to tear down the gate at the end of the Mexican Mountain road that has been in place for years? What about the road to the lower black box and Swasey's leap? How about some of the barricades in the Sid's Mountain area? And what about other counties? Will it be expedient that Wayne County, Brand County, San Juan County, Kane County; ( iarfield County, and others also go out and tear down any blockades that have not been formally vacated by the county and state? Well, this is obviously the hope of the cost to Emery and other count it's. may slay a bunch of local efforts and emerging relationships, but to them it appears worth the price in order to pursue a grander scheme. is The problem is that into the rong backing Emery County corner. It's farcical to imagine ripping out barricades. If push comes to legal shove it is more likely that the county will feel it has no choice but to formally vacate the routes. This would essentially end the county's ongoing efforts to gain control over these routes. And really does not want imagine that any county to do this. This aspect of the letter is obviously a bluff. And it's perhaps not wise to bluff with those who are well aware that you are more than willing to toss them up on the sacrificial altar. USA-AL- USA-AL- er L USA-AL- L USA-AL- L vv Emery-Count- I USA-AL- L Harriets World Letters to the editor should focus on public issues rather than private personalities or entities. All submissions must be verified prior to publication. The Emery County Progress reserves the right to edit letters not only to satisfy space constraints, i really the foundation of ot On the other hand USA-ALl.- Greenspans Forecast Should Prompt a New Look at Energy and the Public Lands Aet-n- L. il I I friend saunters in and realizes in horror her mistake. Now have two people standing over mo wanting to call an ambulance. keep rubbingmy lelt knee and saying that it burns. Little did know that that burning feeling was my 1 I I silk1. Remember? The nurse comes to the door, unlocks and walks away. Leaving Judy and to lend forourselves. Judy is appalled by lie act ion and goes inside to hunt up a vv heel chair and si mie help. She comes back with a nurse in tow and a wheel chair and she shoves it up to the ear and the nurse says. "Oh. didn't know you were that hurt." thought Judy was gonna hit her. The next little while is etc. and spent with Doctor and etc. and that is vv hen find out that my left knee cap is dislocated and a whole I I of ligaments lorn in it. Judy disappears and the next time see her, am lay ing on a table with a brace on my left leg from my hip to my ankle and a brand new east on my right ankle. My bead is hangingover theend of the table and the blood is rushingto it. Fin all alone and have been for some time. I am feeling pretty v ulnerable and say to her,"vvell. here is another fine mess I've gotten myself into." start to laugh. It was better than cry ing. couldn't get 1 1 I off he table by myself. My friend is absolutely livid vv it li rage as she set's the condition was lelt in and she goes to I hunt up a pillowlo put under my head. don't know what would have done without her that day. They must have been short handed that day at the clinic. Now arrived at the clinic under my own lower so it stands to reason have to get home under my own lower. Well, that was a joke. Question: low does a pers m wit h a bract' on her left leg from I 1 1 1 Enjoy the Summer-Keepin- g The carefree days of summer, with school breaks, sunny skies, swimming pools and vacations, sh mid still lie a time to remember safety for the entire family. Here are tips from the American Heart Association that you can use all summer. They range from preventing drowning and treating emergencies to modern alternatives to your grandmother's remedies. Water Safety Be prepared to perform CPR. Drowning is a leading cause of death in infants, children and adolescents. I open window. What a sight to behold. All I had to downs tie a red flagon it. We arrive at my house and then the fun really begins. Slartingwith getting out of that car. You talk about laugh. Never having ever used crutches before. had no idea how to use them. By the time I get to my front steps am I I il bunch her hip to her tinkle, nimble to bend that left leg, a cast on her right ankle and fool, using a pair of crutches, get into a two door car? nsvver: Yerrry care fully! After trying several different approaches end up layingon 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 onit.danglingout the absolutely exhausted. couldn't have walked up those steps if my life had depended upon it. ended up sitting on the steps and lifting my body up those stairs om'step at a time. Dragging my painful legs in front of me. By tin1 time got to the top of the porch. could not pull my self over the threshold and into my house. Iver to my house comes my neighbor. Hail, who has been watching the fiasco unfold in front of her eyes. Between her and Judy, we get me ov er tin' threshold into my living room, only for me to discover that now am on the floor and 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 meaningneighbor says to me."()h vou 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. grit my teeth and turned over and Hilled myself to my feet and into a chair. didn't even have lime to think about it. From then on had no place to go but up. With the tender loving care of my twelve year old son and I I I ( . 1 I 1 I good, good friends and neighbors. 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 was able to keep me laughing. Well, that's my world. Until next time remember: I "Laughter is the best medicine." Safety in Mind Keep a constant watch over infants and children who are swimming'. A child can drown in minutes even in shallow water. No child is drown proof. and the ability to swim doesn't prevent drowning. A drowning child often sinks quietly without screaming for help or thrashing in the water. Vacation Safety Be able to give your location, especially if you're in an unfamiliar place. Your cell phone may not direct you to the closest dispatch center, so be -1 prepared to give your location to the dispatcher. Treat a minor burn by rinsing the area with cool water for l.VBt) minutes. Then cover with clean gauze. If the burn is severe, call and remove clothor if not stuck to the it's ing jewelry -1 skin. Apply direct pressure to a cut to stop bleeding. Use a clean bandage or cloth. blood soaks through the first bandage, add another, Don't remove the could tear off original bandage-yoclots that stop bleeding. If u |