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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune UTAH Sunday March 31, 1996 A6 Wilds Bill: Battle’s Over, But Not the War @ Continued from A-1 politics into the fray To highlight Republican oppo sition to minimum-wageincreases this election year, Kennedy added unprecedentedaccessinto wilder- a minimum-wageprovision to the omnibus package ness and management issues. What the 5 milion-acre figure That all of a suddensolidified indicatesis that Secretary Babbitt it into a partisan fight where there shouldn't havebeen a parti san fight,” Hansensaid. “I say mentalists who were worried. The omnibus packaging was a shrewd moveby the Republicans — surrounding wilderness with the pet well done. They beat us on a parliamentary move projects of senators on bothsides Bennett said to break the deadlock, he and Hatch needed all 53 Republicans and seven Demo crats. Thenight before, they were ofthe aisle. within three votes of cloture It madethe wilderness act as vetoproof as possible without a rite and broke the holds Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., had slapped on scores of bill: Environmental groups led by the Southern Utah Wilderness Al liance (SUWA), the Utah Wilderness Coalition and the Sierra Club before had succeeded in ca al issue through activist training, phoneand letter campaigns and visits to newspaper editorial boards across the country. Upon learning of the omnibus move, they cranked into overdrive The stage was set Mondayas Bradley launcheda filibuster and Republicans countered with a cloture’ petition requiring a vote on whether to end debate within 48 hours. As the tempo picked up, chargesof dirty tricks and distortions dispersed in the heated air. Hansen and others criticized the environmental groups for running newspaper ads that showedbuildings and power lines within parcels that must be “untrammeled by man”; they accused the environmental groupsof hiring supporters and paid “clappers”; and blasted Bradley for butting in. The environmental groups in turn painted Hansen as the dark prince of development and ac- cused GOPSens. Orrin Hatch and Bennett of obfuscating the truth in a cloud of misinformation SUWA Director Mike Matzsaid one of Hatch's tactics was to remind senators that as Judiciary Committee chairman, he controls judicial appointments. Bennett contended environmentalists were threatening senators with election-year retaliation. The turning point came Tues- day when Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., brought presidential Then, when it became clear that we didn’t have those last two votes, a lot of folks said, ‘Since it’s not going to win, anyway, instead derness,” he said Friday, andonly Babbitt's recommendation, noth ing from President Clinton about tion than the delegation hasintroduced. If the delegation could re- Hinchey, D-N.Y with the bill, then the 5 million acres isn't going to bi ine in the sand over whichthebill will fall The question now: Will the bill fall? Th swer: not likely SUWA's Matz said the delega- andhis colleagues. We're disappointed something wasn't decided solve the other serious problems tion must cometothe realization that Utahns want morewilderness protected than they areoffering. ‘They seem to not wantto believe that.” Not oncesince January 1995 when the current campaign began, have the delegation’s four Republicans proposed working with conservation groups, added Lawson LeGate of the Sierra Club. Maybe nowthey've got reli- gion, Maybenowthey'll take wilderness supporters here in Utah andacross thecountryseriously An outspoken environmental- “As The Salt Lake Tribune wilderness in Utah is far preferable to the delegation’s proposal For the time being, Hansen may becontent with the status quo. “The easiest path is just to wait Dole becomes president and the GOP makes gains in the House environmentalists aboutthe statement, however, was Gore's re. mark that Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt believes at least 5 more smooth sailing for the bill next year. put forth an acreagefigure. Hansen quickly wrote a letter to Babbitt, asking how the number hadbeen arrived at, whether it was backed bystudies or was simply a “conclusion of a political appointee.” Spokesmen for Babbitt at Inte- rior were unsure. Thevice presi- beenfor years. where we do not have major controversy. As it stands, however, the WSAs are managed as de facto wilderness to ensure wilderness qualities are not impaired in a waythat would preclude future congressional designation. That status prohibits vehicles in WSAs, including snowmobiles and mountain bikes. While pre-existing mining claims are allowed, access restrictions have helped limit the number of times those rights have been pursued. Cattle grazing, hunting and camping are permitted, provided visitors enter on foot or pack animal. LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION SERVICES Design Installation Sprinkler Systems Drainage Systems New Landscapes, said. The distinction is subtle, he acknowledged, between according land “careful and particular attention’ and treating it as a WSA. It’s a real fine line, but because these have a high degreeof interest expressed by Congress, we feel it is prudent not to do anything to preclude Congress’ options,” Banks said “Once Congress has a chanceto look at theissue directive the Interior Department issued 242 years ago. That directive from assistant secretary Bob Armstrong called for ‘careful and particular attention to any proposals within these areas,” Banks said BLM officials have interpreted that in several and make somedecisions, a lot of concerns and problems will diminish.” we canrefineit so it isn't so objec- Congress who have drawn a line in the sand and aretrying to save face.” We've got it back with our sharpies and they're going overit line byline to see where wefeel there’s anygive at all.’ Hansen also wants a better \ ‘is need rake room! orate me a ven) 5 . aha suas and we caper Per. i ear eg SM edOSS Ba a ‘ athuge savings and discourts find factory direct prices XX reading of what Clinton maydo if the bill comes to his desk. “T have to analyze andsay is it at Sy and see what happens Nov. 5?” me! back sofa set. Chair also 0081 available. Fabrics may vary. C WINDSHIELD §>| THAT'S RIGHT...FOR A LIMITED TIME GLASS ACT WILL WAIVE UP TO $100 OF YOUR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE, CALL FOR} DETAILS. 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Or wouldit be smarterto hold ontoit SATMLLIONsonensebs Re-Landscapes or @ @ @ @ The system logs roughly 300 to 500 proposals annually “We identify if a site is within the HR 1500 area to give full and complete information,’’ Banks Theextra 2.5 million acres promoted for wilderness in Hinchey’s bill do not enjoy those protections, RADAR ALAAAEEA F im The BLMalsohas attempted to aid public involvement by establishing an electronic notification reboard, a computer listing anyone can access to viewpending actions involving public lands. tionable to certain members of barbs that are going to be thrown to get it through the House and co concerns about the issue Another alternative, Hansen worth all the effort and all the LANDSCAPE time to involve the public in the review process because we know there are quite a few people with said, is to “go back and look at the bill and seeif there is anywhere self,” said one. Roeky Mountain Whena proposalaffecting HR 1500 landsin Kitcheil’s MoabDistrict. shesaid, wetakea little more Added Meredith: “It would make management a lot better knowing what Congress wanted in wilder- and Senate, the Utahns could find dent’s statement speaks for itThe department has other serious problems with the bill besides acreage, the aide said, namely “hard-release”’ language that im- We'retrying to do the right thing.’ Banks said. ‘Weknowthose areas are potentially controver- for an election,” he said. If Bob said, this bill is a sorry wilderness ploy,” the vice president said. Whatstruck the delegation and million acres qualify as wilderness in Utah. Although Interior officials have testified at congressional hearings about the bill, they never had Both were denied sial. It might be wiser to focus our limited resources tobe able to process and handle leasesalesin areas ness and whatit didn’t and verydeliberate” way by BLMfieldstaff under a LeGatesays thestatus quo of 3.2 million acres managed as de facto 1993 onewayor the other so we know where we stand with wilderness — instead of being in limbolike we have current congressional makeup — tremist and inadequate and used Utah's largest newspaper as a ba rometer. Takeleasing, for instance. BLMofficials have considered two requests on HR 1500 landssince August The lack of resolution is discomforting to Smith White House intent came from Vice President Al Gore — after YOUR Complete Landscaping Service Co. © @ @ @ @ callyoffer those for sale or for lease,” Banks said ronmental groups and sponsored by Rep. Maurice With the current climate — and ist, Gore trashed the bill as ex- the HR 1500 acreage Tl look at it If an industry nominates an area, we on a case-by-case basis, but we just don’t automati- The strongest indication of the Senate vote of icallylease or offer an oil and gas lease within any @ Continued from A-1 said Don Banks, spokesman for the BLMstate office But theyare being managed in a “very conservative a veto. for sale perigasexploration ‘automatically come up odically. But area BLMpolicy now is not to automat. deserving of wilderness protec- of taking the heat in a losing cause, I'll peel off.’ " From his turf on the other side of the Capitol, Hansen chafed having maintained that the bill would have passed on its own. As for theveto threat, he waswilling to chance it “We had 53 sure votes on wil ways. For example, areas leased for potential oil and The Lands: Business As Usual for the BLM thinks there is much moreland ZEAKAAAKAALEASALE I making Utah wilderness a nation- plies lands not designated for wil derness are open for develop: ment, land-exchange language |