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Show 4 10A Emery County Progress Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday January 29, 2002 Monument Continued from PAGE 1A. der the Antiquities Act, which entitles presidents to declare by public proclamation objects of historic or scientific interest. I'nlike the Crand Staircase, which was declared a monument for its scientific interests, the San Rafael would be declared a monument for its historic interests, which is an important difference when it support it. County commissioners and the liuuis council have sx-n- t the past year trying to develop a plan that would he more successful. Members of the lands council held a series of meetings with members of the wilderness coalition to attempt to find some common ground, and while they rojortcd that the meetings have met with some success, the differences were still too extreme. In the meetings a very good comes to its management. With a friendly administration county leadership said it was critical that if the county was to do something, thut they must act quickly. With the 2002 elections approaching Republican control of Congress could easily shift and with Congressman Jim Hansen preparing to retire, the climate in Washington could be very different. Ac- rapport was developed and progress was made, but we haven't been able to bridge the gap that exists," Curtis said. In looking for options for the county, ( 'urtis said that the council had come upon some inter- esting surprises, namely that there is a new and friendly administration that would supMrt the proposal, but only if it was what people of the county several occasions county commissioners and members of the lands council made it clear to the audience that the derision to go forward with the monument proposal rested in the hands of the people of Emery they needed public input on whether to pursue the idea or let it die. After the meeting Worwood said that written comments on the proposal were three to one in favor of the idea. From here the proposal will be submitted the through governors office to the Department of the Interior, which will begin the process of soliciting public comments and come up with a final proposal. When that final proposal is finalized, the citizens of Emery County will have the opportunity to endorse or reject the proposal. Accord- ing to Worwood if the county approves of the final proposal then the president will designate the monument. If the county doesnt like the final proposal, then he will not. Randy .Johnson, Congressman Hansen has been instrumental for the state not only for what he has been able to do, but for what he has been able to stop from being done. Under the environmentalist's Red Rock Wilderness proposal, almost r() percent of Emery County w'ould be declared wilderness. Hut during the mooting the council and commissioners admitted that even if the area was declared a monument, it wouldnt slop the possibility for In detailing tin proposal to have the San Rafael Swell declared a national monument, ( 'urtis said that the language for the management of the monument would read as the first bill proposed by the county in HIM imd, which was considered the from the county's point of view. The very idea of a national monument leaves a bad taste in the mouth for many in the area after President Hill Clinton cre- 1 On County, hut they were quick to caution that doing nothing may in the end be a mistake. We can sit back and enjoy the ride, but if we do that we have to lie willing to accept whats at the end of the tunnel, said Commissioner Ira Hatch. Although county leadership admitted that the proposal had not Inrn fleshed out, they said it had reached the point where cording to Commissioner wanted. ideal language Heritage Area legislation, which is a bill to manage tourism in the areu. That legislation is currently !eing prepared for introduction on the floor of the i louse. wilderness designations. The president cannot declare wilated the (J ran d Staircase derness, only Congress can desEscalante National Monument. ignate wilderness areas. Hut it is felt that if the area was deThe creation of that monument was met with howls of protest clared a monument it might take because it was commonly felt it some of the pressure off the area for wilderness designations. had been forced on Utah without public involvement or supAccording to (lovernor port. Organizers of the public Leavitt, the key to preventing meeting were quick to point out wilderness designations which that the proposal for the San would hamper access to public Kufael was only a proposal and lands rests not so much in legwould go no further without islation or even in a presidential proclamation, but in the public comment and support. Curtis the meeting quiet title actions underway During detaiksl what led the council and throughout the state in regards county leadership to consider to RS2477 roads. Emery the monument proposal. We County, along with counties have felt fora longtime that the throughout the state, have been environmental agenda is too mapping RS2477 roads for extreme. They would eliminate years and that work continues. cattle grazing, eliminate roads Proving that valid roads exist in the San Rafael is the key to and that is not in the best interests of our citizens, he said. access, according to Ieavitt. The declaration of a monument Iiy having the area declared a monument it will give us an would have no impact on that opportunity to go back to the work. Theyre our roads and original recipe that we came up theyre our right and in the end I with in 1998. Rather than go think we will win," the governor through Congress we would do said. if the area were to be declared it administratively, Curtis said. lYesident Hush could declare a monument its declaration the San Rafael a monument un would meld with the San Rafael Dennis Worwood, chairman of the Public Lands Council, Public opinion on monument proposal varies By JAMES L. DAVIS Editor, Emery County Progress The proposal to have the San Rafael Swell declared a national monument was met, for the most part, with cautious support by those who attended the Emery County Public Lands Council meeting on Saturday. in detailing the events which had led the lands council to make such a proposal, Wes Curtis said that the council had gone forward on the premise that you control your own destiny or someone else will. After years of struggle to create a San Rafael National Conservation Area the countys attempts have only met with failure after continued battles with environmental groups who are well organized, financed and connected to those who make the decisions in Washington. Hut with a friendly administration which is supportive of the proposal, county leaders tried to persuade local citizens that the national monument proposal might be the countys last, best hope for the San Rafael. This is a unique opportunity and something we will have to move on quickly or it will disappear, which is w'hy we wanted to include the public as soon as possible so w e can hear from you, Curtis said. After detailing some of the Introducing Western Advantage addresses the audience during Saturdays meeting. specifics of the proposal, the lands council opened the floor for questions and comments. At the beginning of the meeting those in attendance were asked to sign in and let it be known if they wished to make comments. With an audience composed of ordinary citizens, ranchers and members of the off highway ve- hicle community, questions were many and varied. The fact that the language of the proposal would mirror the language of the first bill proposed by the county in 191)8 seemed to allay a great many concerns from the audience, while others wrere concerned that the proposal might be something other than it appeared. It looks like a sheep to me, but I w'orry that somewhere under there, there might be a wolf," said Bruce Funk during the public comment period of the meeting. The input of consideration of public comments was an area of concern for many as well. If the proposal is to go forward there would be a 90 day comment period before any proclamation is made and, according to county leaders, if the com- nations would still bo a possibility because Congress, not the president, is the only governmental body which can designate wilderness. If you leave everything to chance Im not sure I like our chances. The monument does not resolve wilderness issues, but it takes away the urgency, said Commissioner Ira Hatch. Others voiced opposition to the proposal because they feared it would lock up the land from public access, a viewpoint the council and county commissioners did their best to dispel. Even if the proposal is sent forward exactly as the county wanted, commissioners cautioned that things could change and if that were to happen the county would have the option to stop the monument proposal from moving forward. The president will not de- clare a monument unless Emery County says so. It will con tinue to come from the ground up," said Commissioner Randy Johnson. That possibility for changing the language of the monument is w hat concerned some. I just want it to be done exactly as wre set it out, said James Gilson. Still others were of the viewpoint that something needed to be done and after years of effort it was time to act. Its time we settled in on a program. We must face the fact that there are other people involved in the use of Emery County. Weve tried everything else, lets do it," said Eugene Johansen. During the meeting Governor Mike Leavitt said that whatever the county decides, he would support them. In making this proposal we w'ould be making a proactive statement to a problem. You are wise to go forward and if you choose to go forward Ill be with you," he said. ments were negative, the proposal would be stopped. The greatest concern for many is that the monument would not stop any wilderness designations. Wilderness desig- - Directory of Sales & Service (INSURANCE PEOPLE WHO Come bowl under lights to disco music hursday Nights from 9:30-1- 2 pm Calling Plans Starting $8 00 at $35 include: 20 Western Roaming Minutes FREE Nationwide Long Distance Free Activation for Limited Time in Shoes 5100 pnorw aftor C ibata States with & T Medium Dnnk Included Gateway Lanes 94 South Main, Helper, Utah Activate NOW and get 3500 Weekend and Evening Minutes Every Month For Life Fill Pei Person (435) 472-501- 5 DONT HAVE AN AGENT-WH- O TAKES CARE OF THEM? CALL ME FOR A FREE PROTECTION REVIEW. Tracy Wilcox 71 S. 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