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Show Wednesday, May 28, 2003 Vernal Express All announces to improve policies discuss joint issues oil and gas permit application process BLM Cityi-count-y Teachers from Daggett, Uintah and Duchesne County learning PAWS concepts so they can easily deliver a conservation education message in their classroom. Teacher PAWS taking registrations Need some affordable USU teaching credits? Are you a youth leader looking for fresh activities that work? Are you a teacher ideas new on how to preswanting ent water and agriculture concepts to your classroom? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Teacher PAWS just might be the class for of providing teachers and youth leaders with fun, educational activities that meet the state core curriculum. PAWS stands for Plants, Animals, Water, and Soil and is a hands-o- n conservation education. Teacher PAWS is sponsored by the Soil Conservation Districts and coordinated Dinosaurland by RC&D. Registration forms may be obtained at you. This summer Teacher PAWS will be held June July 1 and July 29. Emphasis will be placed on Ag in the Classroom and water lessons with Project WET. Teacher PAWS is in its sixth year 17-1- 9, http:www.users.ubtanet.comdino saurlandrcd using internet explorer. For more information, contact Sue ext 102. Wight at Wallet returned to owner Tuesday morning John Kay of Vernal found his wallet inside the screen door of his home. He lost it the Friday before and had spent a good part of the weekend looking for it. "1 had my driver's license, pilot's license, $225 and six credit cards-ithe wallet," Kay said. "To have it returned is a big relief to me," he said. was still inside the Everything wallet including the cash. "Something like this increases my faith in the goodness of humanity," Kay said. "You have no idea how n much this means to me and I appre- ciate whoever returned the wallet." Ballard studies road problems court; this was changed in favor of installation of the rest of the play- -' ground components. The city would like to have the playground completed by the end of July at the lat- The Ballard City Council held a .brief discussion on what should be !done to fix the Lucky Peak Subdivision road and drainage problems during its May 20 meet- ty Security Administration, overseer of local security. More highly sensitive equipment will soon be installed that will detect the newest genre of explosives of a biological nature. Local officials in the program were praised for their efficien- As part of its implementation of President Bush's National Energy Policy and to enhance U.S. energy security, the Bureau of Land Management today announced fundamental new management strategies aimed at improving the Agency's processing of applications for permits to drill oil and gas. The new approaches advance the resident's of goal strengthening America's energy security while giving the BLM, oil and gas producers, and all Americans more effective environmental analyses and less bureaucratic application processing. "These innovative strategies will update the permit application process while ensuring protection of cultural and other resources on the public lands," said BLM Director Kathleen Clarke. "Overall, the new policies will help implement the National Energy Policy. These important steps move us toward a much improved method of working with our energy partners across the country and ensure a reliable supply of affordable energy for America's families and businesses." The policies announced today enhance the BLMs efficiency in processing oil and gas Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs) by: Providing for the simultaneous processing and completing of environmental analyses on multiple permit applications with similar characteristics. Implementing a Geographic Area Planning Development approach for an oil and gas field or limited area within a field, designed to meet the BLMs environmental goals while addressing the operator's business needs. -- Developing Standard Operating Practice Agreements to identify the drilling and surface practices operators will use for an entire oil and gas field or geologic formation. The application of these best environmental practices will improve protection of the environment, reduce paperwork, and eliminate redundan cy. Airport Manager Tom Wardcll reported that in the near future public officials would be able to identify their preferences in the next step of final approval of local air service. The joint session closed with discussions of funding Recreation District purchase of the property by the skate park. occupied Commissioner Abegglen felt that he could not support county participation in the purchase as previously proposed, citing an existing budget which the District should use to cover such expenses. City council members felt that it would be difficult to withdraw from city commitments announced in a public meeting, and that it would hold true to the original arrangements. The Commission will present it's feelings to the Recreation district when they next meet together. Foster Grandparents receive recognition The Uintah Basin Association of Governments Foster Grandparent Program held its annual recognition on May 16 at the Vernal Golden Age Center. The Foster Grandparents are having a strong and positive impact on the communities of the area. The program has been running for over three years and in the year 2002 alone the grandparents served more than 900 children. This included children in the ute Tribe Con Head Star, Amore, and Union High Connections School Special Education classes as vygll fjpveral schools , in . the ty - Uintah School District. Of those students served, more than 56 percent showed significant improvement in their academic skills and 78 showed significant percent improvement in their behavior. The grandparents provided over 47,000 hours of service to children in the community and have brought over $ 2 ,000 into the economy of the Tri county area. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the actual value of these services is more than $634,000 with a savings of $756,234 to the program that have been provided by the services of these volunteers. ... , 1 1 , cy in project analyses. Allowing, as an alternative to "linear" approach, a traditional the "block" survey of cultural resources to cover larger areas, resulting in a more thorough survey of cultural resources and greater flexibility in planning. -- Promoting clear and consistent use of Conditions of Approval for permit applications. Revising the Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 1, the established procedures for completing Federal APDs. Initiating a working group to revise and update a brochure formally known as "Oil and Gas Surface Operating Standards for Oil and Gas Development." The purpose is to help the industry better understand the BLMs surface operating standards. The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land - 261 million surface than any other Federal acres agency. Most of this public land is located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1.9 billion and a workforce of some 10,000 fulltime, permanent employees, also administers 7(H) million acres of mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources t)Rr1Ublic lands. sub-surfa- M I 3c est. ing. It also Reports were given concerning the Fire Service Task Force, and progress on the next phase of the Ballard Business Park and Serenity Recreation Park. discussed the 1500 E. Highway 40 intersection problem. Discussion was also centered on a proposed Eagle project. The original project was to build a volleyball r The Vernal City Council and Uintah County Comission met jointly May 23 to discuss topics of mutual interest. Victim Advocates Lana Bonnet and Elisa Wilkins told the group that the program is spending $24,000 of city funds to run a counHalf of the ty wide program. clients the program are from unincorporated areas of the county. Commissioners agreed to return to the commission and discuss the funding problems. Toni Fenn of Health reported on state attention that Vernal has achieved with it's involvement with the Gold Medal Mile program. The Gold Medal School Initiative encourages schools to establish policy and environmental supports that give students and staff more opportunities for physical activity and nutritious food choices. For Vernal's success Fenn presented a state sponsored metal plack local achievements recognizing which she requested be placed permanently in the Legacy Walking Park. Both city and county pledged a letter of support for the program. Vernal airport security and it's relationship to the larger national security concerns was presented by representatives of Transportation DR. BRENT GOODSELL, D.O. DERMATOLOGIST Appointments Available in Vernal June 5 & 6, 2003 V Call Toll-Fre- e 1- 877 - 528 - SKIN V 5. We heard you call Go West. . . and we listened! !! II it 'i hi I .4 T" ? yly K3.C3 ARB1 10 I SEARS CAS) 10 AFTER SEARS CARD SAVINGS & Was 459.99, now 399.99 nwi ft. Kanmora 25.4-c-u. refrigerator 53582. Reg. 1149.99, sale 1034.99 IB lpftaMWl642tB. m SfelHbnOMMki thg.2asjs.Mfe anas, OMB Md S2l3 116.S3 443X3 Kanmotstapsr Capacity washer 23812. MAIL-I- N if sb find G34.&3 SAVINGS IWM-tfetl- m $50 REBATE Skrfng 186.00 AFTER n 10 SEARS AFTER SEARS CARD SAVINGS Ktmnori oioctric 195313. Craftsman 151 --pc. mechanic's tool set 1549.99, 499.99 33151. 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