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Show (Djc (Etntes-rfn- Nephi, Utah s Page 12 Rule change to federal regulations will streamline BLM wildfire management decisions damage due to wildfire that has occurred. The types of decisions these provisions would apply to include: The Bureau of Land Management may now imple- ment wildfire management decisions on rangelands and forest lands with a minimum of delay, thanks to changes in federal regulations governing hearings and appeals. The final changes-werpublished e June 5 Federal Regis7, ter, and are effective-Julin-th- e y -- 2003. improve regulatory-processe- s to ensure more timely decisions, greater efficiency, and better results in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires by restoring forest and range-lan- fuel reduction or fuel treatment, such as pre- d health. The rule also amends the regulations of the Office of Hearings and Appeals on procedures for appealing to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. These amendments will support the Healthy Forests Initiative by: scribed bums and mechanical, biological and chemical thinning; and projects to stabilize and rehabilitate lands affected by wildfire. These changes are a step forward in the implementation of the Healthy Forests Initiative announced by When natural resources, homes or other property are at risk from wildland fire, the BLM needs to quickly take steps to minimize the damage or prevent subsequent harm President Bush August from post-fireffects, such as 22, 2002. That Initiative erosion. This final rule allows responded to the- ongoing the BLM to make these wildthreat of catastrophic wildfire management decisions fires posed by unnaturally effective immediately when dense and unhealthy forests the BLM determines that: and rangelands. A component there is substantial risk of the Initiative directs Agri, of wildfire due to drought, fuculture Secretary Ann els buildup, or other reasons; Interior Secretary Gale explaining and codifying who has a right to appeal a decision relating to the use: of public lands. That person would be someone who: is directly affected by the decision, or has participated in the agency action leading to the decision; and has a legally cognizable interest that has suffered or is substantially likely to suffer adverse effects from the decision. 1) e - Vene-man- or Norton, and Council on public lands are at immediate risk of erosion or other vironmental Quality Chairman James Connaughton to En- expediting review of 2) Drought, reservoirs, and recreation Utah State Bark Boating Area Managers encourage boaters to BOAT SAFE, BOAT NOW on Utahs lakes and reservoirs, and enjoy summer boating while water levels are adequate. Utah State Parks saw a decline in visitation last year, particularly at state parks with lakes and reservoirs. Despite open boat ramps and adequate water levels during most of last season, boaters, anxious about drought concerns, stayed away. Boaters should take advantage of good conditions and water levels now. State water managers Boaters are reminded and strongly encouraged to wear personal floatation devices (PFDs). National statistics indicate that over 400 people who drowned in boating accidents last year would have survived if they w'ore a PFD. A boating accident can happen at any time you are oh the water. New inflatable are doing an Excellent job educating Utahns about the drought and conservation needs, which we fully support, said State Boating Coordinator Ted Woolley. of However, we believe drought concerns are keeping boaters away unnecessarily. Twenty-onstate park boat launch ramps were open through Labor Day last year, reported Wool-ley- . Boaters should check with us throughout the season for current boat launch e conditions, which we plan to update weekly. lifejackets are available that are less bulky and more comfortable than traditional l Call 623-560- filed, and 3) simplifying proof of service of documents by requiring only a certification at the end of the document that service has been made along with a statement of the, date and manner of service. The OHA changes are intended to streamline internal procedures to reduce burdens on parties to appeals. Fishing Utah State Parks is not just about boating. The agency operates parks and museums statewide hosting a wide variety of art exhibits, hands-ocraft seminars, golf, guided hikes, historic and events for the entire family throughout the year. Utah State Parks and Recreation is the state recreation authority, administering and enforcing the state boat: vehicle ing and programs, operating three golf courses, and managing 41 state parks and museums statewide. For more information on launch conditions on major boating waters, please call (801) or go to www.stateparks.utah.gov. 538-722- 0 8 On the web at utestamoederodeo.com Ute Stampede Tickets PO Box 404 Nephi, Utah 84648 For Ticket Information iftSEp Day set for June 28th The Kids All American Fishing Day will be held on Saturday, June 28, at Bur-rasto- n Ponds. Activities will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 12 p.m. The event is open to children under the age of 13 (over the age of 13 must have a current fishing license). Activities will include a Fishing Class, taught by Division of Wildlife Resources, Casting Contest, and prizes. The event is sponsored by the Nephi Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and WalMart. Fees top agenda at Utah State Parks Board meeting Possible reductions senior benefits through the Special Fun Tag program and fee changes for the 2004 2005 year top the agenda for the Board of Utah State Parks and Recreation.Board members meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18 at the Department of Natural Resources at 1594 West North Temple in Salt Lake City. Public comment is welcome and encouraged on all proposed changes.The Special Fun Tag program currently provides seniors with free day-us- e 96 access to most state parks. Board members will consider reducing, but not eliminating, those benefits. Changes to the 20042005 fee The Times-New- s schedule, which includes day-usboat slip, and camping fees, will also be considered. South Main, Nephi Let us help you make your wedding easy and save you money in the process. We can help you to send out your announcements in an easy and inexpensive manner. In a fraction of the time that it will take you to hand address your invitations, you can make your selections from our list. The cost is only 25 for each one you select from our list and only 31f for invitations that you hand address. We mail anywhere in the United States. Come in today and find out how you can take the hard work out of your wedding and save money at the same time. up-to-da- te garbage cans and plastic food storage containers are not bear proof. Never intentionally feed bears by leaving food out for Were noticing black bear problems earlier than Bears have an incredible sense of smell, so make sure you cook away from your normal this year, said Craig McLaughlin, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.Weve already had several instances of black bears raiding summer homes and campgrounds in central Utah and killing sheep on rangelands. Bear problems have also been Utah. Five years of drought has reduced the vegetation, insect populations and berries that black bears eat in the summer, he said, so theres a good chance more bears will be attracted to campgrounds in search of food, and thats not good. Because black bears are wild animals, McLaughlin says theyre typically afraid of people.That changes as soon as they begin to associate people with a place to get food, he said.They start losing their fear of people and can become aggressive and dangerous. McLaughlin says food is what attracts bears to people and that by following a few simple rules, people can virtually eliminate problems with bears. He encourages people to do the following: Keep your campsite clean. Dont leave garbage, food scraps and fat food Dont leave out. Instead, store food and coolers in the trunk of your car, in your camping trailer, in a bear proof container or suspended at least 12 feet higb between two trees, so bears cant reach them. Plastic Applications to hunt sandhill cranes in three northern Utah counties and Uintah County this fall will be available by July 1. Hunters who applied for a sandhill crane permit during any of the past four years should receive an application in the mail by July i. Beginning July 1, applications also will be available from hunting and fishing license agents statewide, the Division of Wildlife Resources Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov) and DWR offices and hunter education centers. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on July 14 to be entered in the draw for permits. Hunters who have a major credit card are encouraged to apply for a permit at the DWRs Internet Web site. Hunters who dont have a major credit card must mail their application in. It will take a few days for their application to arrive in the mail and theyre encouraged to mail it as far in advance of the July 14 deadline as possible, said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. To assure its received on time, those who wait until a few days before the deadline to send their application in should consider using an overnight mailing service, Tutorow said. Draw results will be posted by Aug. 6. Hunts will be held in Uintah County, Cache County, Rich County and the eastern portion of Ilox Elder County. A total of 39 permits will be available for the Cache 12 for Rich eastern Box Elder County and 18 for Uintah County. The hunts in Cache. Rih and eastern Box Elder counties will run Sept. hunt in Uintah County will 5. run Sept. Sandhill Crane Season 5 4 them. tent or sleeping area.Also, dont sleep in the clothe-s you cooked in or wore while cleaning fish. Leave those clothes, along with utensils, rags and anything else used in food preparation, cooking, eating and clean up, at the cooking area or sealed inside a vehicle. McLaughlin says when these rules arent followed, there arent many alterna- tives left. The first thing well do with a bear thats just gotten into trouble is haze it with rubber bullets or hounds or capture it in hopes that the experience will scare it enough that it wont want to visit the campground again, he said. This only works with bears that are brand new to the campground, however. Bears that have already associated the campground with food will come back as soon as we move them. McLaughlin says bears have an incredible homing ability and can find their way back to an area thats as far as 100 miles away. Its difficult for our regional wildlife managers to find remote sites to move problem bears to.As a result, often all weve done is shift the problem to a new area of the state, he said.The bear is used to looking to campgrounds for food, and it will roam and find a campground in the new area. Its very simple to avoid putting a bear in a situation where it has to be killed to protect public safety and we hope people will follow our advice this summer, he said. People who have questions can call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWRs Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-470- Sandhill crane applications available by July 1 27-Or- t. i drip- pings in your fire pit, or scattered around your campsite.Instead, place them in an air tight container and take them borne with you. Keep the cooking grills and utensils in your camping area clean. County, 21 for th Main, Xephi, Utah 623-052- Utah wildlife officials are urging people to keep a clean campsite and to not intentionally feed black bears in the states backcountry this summer. County hunt, heJimes-New- s Call todav Drought conditions niay lead to increased bear problems reported in northern, northeastern and southeastern models. n ampede tain, Utah- July 10. 11,12 BLM wildfire management decisions by requiring the Interior Board of Land Appeals to render a final decision within 60 days after all pleadings have been filed and 180 days after the appeal was Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Forecast Those who draw a permit can expect a good hunt, said Tom Aldrich, waterfowl coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. The success rate among those who draw a permit, and go afield to hunt sandhill cranes, is about 60 percent, Aldrich said. He said the key to a successful sandhill crane hunt is advanced scouting. If you can spend a day watching sandhill cranes in the mornings and evenings, when they fly between their roosting and feeding areas, and can then acquire permission from a in a landowner to set-ufield where theyre feeding, youll usually be successful, p Aldrich said. Hunters may also find birds as they fly between roosting and feeding areas. Hunting success is pretty r consistent from and is not really effected by weather or other factors, success pass-shootin- g year-to-yea- Aldrich said. Aldrich reminds hunt- ers that some areas in Box Elder and Cache counties are closed to sandhill crane hunting.In Box Elder County, the western half of the county is closed, as are the Harold Crane, Public Shooting Grounds and Salt Creek waterfowl management areas, and the Bear River Migrator) Bird Refuge. In Cache County, an 11 1 1 mile area in and around Mendon is closed. Those with questions may call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services ofmile by fice at the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWRs Salt Lake Citv office at (K)l) 538-470- Subscribe Today |