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Show Southern utaii news WEDNESDAY Opinion Letters MARCH 6, 2002 velop a strong economy. Kane further improve in stewardship and Garfield County residents through association participadepend on the use of public lands tion. for economic survival and to Third, develop better planning and Trust in alleged scheme to eliminate grazing BLM Continued from Page 4 critical to our economy and way of life. Thanks Dixie for highlighting the issue. Respectfully, Worth Brown, President Canyon Country Ranchers Association Linda Smith Michael Noel Frank Alleman Buck Wetzel Richard Swapp Roger M. Pugh Jill K. Brown Bruce Bunting Truman E. Lynch Monte Chamberlain Norris Brown Kline Esplin Brian Lamb Todd Macfarlane Wally Johnson . Mark Habbeshaw Marilyn Lawson Team activity Dear Editor: . The importance of school activities cannot, from my experience, be overemphasized for our high school students. The great majority of students in activities do better in school, and have higher are generally 'happier. The team concept gives kids a sense of belonging and a built-i- n support group, when things self-estee- m go wrong. Dear Editor: We believe the staff of the Na- ' Grand Staircase-Escalant- e tional Monument (GSENM) has been quietly working with Bill Hedden of the Grand Canyon Trust in a scheme to permanently eliminate cattle from Bureau of Land Management grazing allotments purchased by the Trust. This public lands grazing elimination alliance has been documented through Freedom ofInformation documents, grazing file research, interviews with BLM employees and ranchers and other information. A correlation of information from the Trusts web site Grazing Retirements; a Trust grazing retirement agreement and the proposed actions in BLM Environ- mental Assessments leaves little doubt regarding the existence of an alliance to eliminate grazing based on the Trusts negotiations to buy out ranchers rather, than on agency action based on actual range conditions or valid science. These decisions were made before agency planning requirements were complied with and do not appear to be consistent with federal grazing laws. Local counties, livestock asso. . ciations and BLM advisory boards were ignored in this pro- cess, in spite of federal law requiring consultation. Those in support of livestock grazing that our public lands and our ecosystems depend on grazing aniipals for plant, animal and soil health. US Department of Agriculture literature and programs supporting livestock lands grazing bn validates this position. Those opposed to grazing on public lands appear to be operating under a misguided philosophy that our public lands should be managed strictly for preservation purposes, without mans imprint and allowing nature to take its course. Economic impact to rural communities is misrepresented in attempts to sell this scheme. The BLM and the Trust contend that if a rancher is compensated for the allotment there is no negative economic impact. In reality, federal grazing law established grazing districts in order to stabilize the livestock industry for the continued benefit of rural America. The Trust, however, has invested over 1.5 million dollars to purchase over 325,000 acres of grazing range. The 850 grazing animals lost in this planning effort eliminates tha annual beefneeds of approximately 6,650 Americans and creates a correspbnding loss to local mies. Generally, western states have very little private land on which rural Americans can de be- Activities help kids learn the give and take of life in tough situations and pushes them to improve. All of these things make for a better student grades, behavior and cooperation at school and in the home. Parents, get your kids into something other than the computer, it will pay big dividends. Doug Williams . Kanab, Utah Informed S Deart Editor: I have recently finished read- ing Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz, of the Humane Farming Association, based in California. I believe that Slaughterhouse is a very shocking, very important book. It is amazing how little we consumers know about the food we eat. The people in charge really dont want us to know; the less informed we are, the better it is for them. Eisnitz risked everything, including her health and life, to tell us the truth about what goes on, on a daily basis, behind closed doors. A copy ofthe book is available in the local library for anyone who is interested. If it is checked out, it can be reserved upon request. Sincerely, Rhoda Christopher Kanab, Utah lieve non-feder- al augment private property grazing as recognized in federal grazing law. The basic issue is not whether a rancher can sell an allotment, as allotments are bought and sold frequently. The important issue is whether or not a preservation organization can purchase a grazing permit in prior collusion with the BLM to per-manent- relationships with federal and state land managers and related agencies. Rancher? intend to become involved in both federal and state planning efforts and would like to develop 5 ronmental representatives and others with an interest in the western livestock industry. The BLM and the Grand Canyon Trusts efforts to eliminate public lands grazing, however, may result in litigation rather than resolution without some recognition of local needs. Worth Brown Mark Habbeshaw Canyon Country Ranchers Association community- ecosystem management partnerships with governmental entities, agencies, envi -based ly eliminate grazing, prior to public planning and in apparent violation of existing grazing law and without congressional approval. This latest scheme may be more significant than the recent lynx hair scandal in the northwest because it appears that this collusion to eliminate grazing from public lands may have support from the highest levels of the Department of Interior. Not only were federal grazing and planning laws violated in accomplishing this scheme but the GSENM proclamation recognizes livestock grazing as being compatible With monument purposes. In addition, a recent US Supreme Court decision, Public hinds Council v. Babbitt held that a grazing permit could not be used for conservation use only but that it must be used for grazing. In that case Wyoming Tanchers feared a scheme such as this would effectively mothball grazing permits. The Court OfAppeals and the US Supreme Court agreed with the ranchers in this case. This BLM, Grand Canyon Trust scheme to eliminate grazing on public lands is forcing rural America to draw a line in the sand that may determine the final fate ofcattle grazing on our public lands. Southern Utah and Northern Arizona ranchers are organizing to protect livestock grazing on public lands and to work with local county officials in that ef- Share & Save with South Central Ref er friends or family and save them $10. They receive a $10 discount when they mention at slgn-u- p that they were referred to us by youl You also receive a $10 discount on your bill Plus you save on ail calls to the person you refer with savings to last as long as your friendship! - Do a favor and save them $10. You will also receive a $10 discount on your next bill. ft from ittGi Centra COMfJlUMICATIOfJS "Southern Utah's dear Choice to Cellular "N tin si sf; sii'i- s- -- t1 W .in, a There are 441 new fort. Organizing chairman, Worth Brown, of Kanab Utah, stated that approximately 70 area ranchers recently met to organize the Canyon Country Ranchers Association. The ranchers developed three priorities in the first meeting First, develop strategies to preserve livestock grazing on public lands. Ranchers believe that livestock utilize renewable resources on both public and private land, such as grass and water- in producing food and valuable important to America. Ranchers also believe that livestock are beneficial to the Wests lands and ecosystems when managed with good range stewardship. Second, develop better land and ecosystem stewardship. Ranchers have made significant strides in improving western range conditions and intend to a friend or family member tax law changes. 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