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Show ij u .4 467 v L - i - - iri t Salt I:'.:: City Uh. v ' ' I Legal action underway in nuclear controversy petition bearing 1700 signatures of persons supporting the A Bureau of Land Management Environmental Assessment of Department of Energy (DOE) pro- and baseline posed studies in the Paradox Basin was handed Friday afternoon to Kent Briggs, executive assistant to Governor Scott Matheson, and Alvin Rickers, director of the Utah Nuclear Waste Office, on the steps of the state capitol buildThe delivery of the petiing. ar e, tion culminated a caravan that left Moab at 7 a.m. location 240-mil- v,. ; V ifiar: uTW Utah is big country. Early explorers to Canyonlands .National Park must have had this in mind when they named this arch n Paul Bunyanrs Potty." John Noxon photo Southeastern Tlh Sam Juan Record HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH 20 cents Vol. 65 No. 28 August 5 9 1982 Nuclear involvement addressed by commission by Carl Eisemann County commissioners devoted considerable time during their regular meeting Monday to the problem of arousing local businesses and citizens to the importance of active support for the nuclear repository siting exploration phase. They ware concerned that Moab had been able to generate support for a large motorcade to Salt Lake City to voice their to the governor sentiments San Juan County could whereas a few people in the interest only excursion. Commissioner Black indicated that unless local businesses take a leadership role in promoting county development, the county may experience severe financial problems. Black informed the commission that he had met with energy representatives recently to develop a program which would be more responsive to the needs of Utah people. One of his proposals was to seek a way of involving San Juan County directly in the negotiations between the Department of Energy and the Beer ordinance may be misleading by Carl Eisemann San Juan County commission- ers expressed concern at their August 2 meeting that the public is being misled as to the exact nature of a proposed liquor ordinance that will be on the November ballot. Commissioner Ken Bailey initiated the discussion when he stated that a radio station report made it sound as if the ordinance would only ban sales in unincorporated areas to those under 21 years of age. Bailey went on to say that the commission needs to see that the public is informed of the actual content of the ordinance. Commissioners Black and Low noted that the ordinance proposal as stated in what is referred to as the cover ordinance appears quite innocous and seems to indicate that only those underage 21 will be affected. The cover ordinance reads, An ordinance prohibiting selling of beer, the distribution of beer at dances and to intoxicated persons, and the purchase of alcoholic beverages by persons under twenty-on- e years of age within the unicorporated limits of San Juan County, State of Utah and providing penalties for violation thereof. then analyzed the actual ordinance noting those points which they felt were masked by the cover ordinance. Section 2 reads, It shall be unlawful for any person by himThe commissioners self, or his or her employees or agents to sell or to expose or keep for sale directly or indirectly any beer within the unicorporated limits of San Juan County, Utah. There is no ambiguity here. This section says no beer can be sold to anyone, no matter his age, in unicorporated areas of the county. Low noted that Section 3 of the ordinance would prohibit any selling, dispensing, furnishing or Black said, giving away of beer at dances and said under this ordinance, it would be illegal to give an adult friend a beer at a dance held in an unincorporated area. The commission stated that if the people of San Juan County really want this type of restrictive law, they at least should for what they are voting. The commission also said that in all fairness they believe a way needs to be devised to let voters know know what the ordinance proposal really is. governors office on the repository project. If the Department of Energy gives approval, Commissioner Low will attend a con- ference in Reno. Val Dalton appeared before the commissioners to request that the county reroute water in his irrigation ditch near Spring Creek. Dalton said the recent road work in that area had diverted his water right. Commissioner Bailey was authorized to work with Dalton on correcting the problem. Dalton also expressed objections to the commissioners support of the nuclear repository exploration. Black commented that if everyone was concerned only with his own way of life, the county would shortly lose much of its wealth and population and the services these brought to the area. Lynette Adams and Lou Ann Grover of Blanding met with the commissioners to seek support for the Junior Livestock Show which will be held on August 19 in conjunction with the San Juan County Fair. Adams and Grover said there were a lack of buyers and attendance at this worthwhile project last year. According to the women, parents frequently end up buying their childrens stock, which is discouraging to the children. They went on to say that the programs, under the auspices of the FFA and 4-- H, requires a child to devote long hours to care of stock, record keeping and showmanship. They said the experience contributes greatly to the development of responsibility. The commission expressed public support for the program and suggested that the women meet with Bob Thompson, county extension agent. In other action, the commission approved a request by Phillip Palmer, Blanding city engineer, (Please turn to Page 10) 75-c- The motorcade, spearheaded by a Moab group calling themselves CFNDS (Citizens for Utah Nu- clear Depository Study) drew sup- port from San Juan County where petitions were circulated. Additional support came from sev- eral San Juan residents, including Commissioner Calvin County Black and Monticello Mayor Keith Redd, who joined the petitioners in Salt. Lake. Petitioners expressed disappointment in the failure of the governor to meet with them but have indicated that this grass roots movement by citizens of Grand and San Juan counties is gaining momentum. Johnston of Moab, a Dwight leader in the movement, stated Wednesday that there is . . .no doubt our effect is being felt in We have received Washington. Matheson held in Reno, Nevada, We feel that is a Wednesday. significant development, Johnston said. CFNDS representatives trav- eled to Salt Lake City today (Thursday) where they have retained a Salt Lake legal firm recommended to them by the Mountain States Legal Foundation to file a brief protesting an appeal filed by environmental groups to the Board of Lands Appeals. The protest filed by the environmentalists requests that the proposed BLM letter authorto conduct DOE the izing exploratory activities at Gibson Dome not be approved. Looking to the future, CFNDS is making legal preparation to file a friend of the court appeal in anticipation of an appeal by to federal environmentalists courts. CFNDS and county officials in both San Juan and Grand counties are urging citizens to write to the governor in support of continuing exploratory location and baseline studies at Gibson Dome. Neither have gone on record in final support of a nuclear repository being located in the state of Utah. Their stance is that all scientific testing and data should be completed before the debating begins. Supporters of continued testing as specified in the BLM environmental assessment are in direct several phone calls from persons stating they are glad the silent majority has spoken. Johnston said he and other CFNDS supporters have conducted numerous telephone interviews on request from Utah newspapers and radio stations. He and Morris Rambo, a CFNDS leader and organizer, were interviewed in Moab Wednesday by a representative of the Washington Post, who is in the area preparing a story on the nuclear repository controversy. Johnston said that through efforts of San Juan Commissioner with Governor opposition Matheson who is urging an Environmental Impact Study before any more exploratory work is done at Gibson Dome. Companies in oil and mining related industries are dismayed by an order from the governor Calvin Black, Grand County Commissioner Ray Tippets and a direct request made at the time the petition was presented in Salt Lake on Friday, San Juan Commissioner Bob Low was in attendance at a negotiation meeting DOE of the and Governor Dome instructing all state agencies to refuse any permits to DOE for work at Gibson Dome. They feel there could be a spin-o- ff effect which will affect all mining and oil activites in Utah. Only last week, Big A Drilling of Farmington, New Mexico, using a permit issued two years ago, was denied entry into the Gibson area. There is sentiment in both counties that there is irony in the fact that while the governor laments that the DOE ignores the needs and welfare of the state of Utah, he ignores the needs and welfare of southeastern Utah. Business council meets Tuesday and The San Juan Business Coun- cil will meet on Tuesday, August 17 in the Commissioners Room of the San Juan County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Council members and interested persons are urged to attend. The Council is currently working on papers to be presented at the State Business Forum in Salt Lake City in September. The Business Council is with representatives from Blanding, Monticello and other county communities to exworking plore the possibilities of promoting San Juan County as a retirement area. R was noted there are many positive aspects, such as available housing, climate facilities. High prices may be a negative aspect. The Council plans to work with local businesses to determine if more competitive prices can be reached and to see what needs and problems businesses have in this area. The Council announced last week a willingness to work with community groups with worthwhile business-orient- ed projects or with expereither financially tise. Chambers of Commerce and city committees geared to development may seek assistance from the Council if they desire, it was noted. |