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Show VOLUME 68 NUMBER 16 WEDNESDAY JUNE 9, 1999 COLOR COUNTRY'S HOME TOWN NEWSPAPER 500 Town Meeting A combined meeting of People Babbitt tells packed house of new monument plan at the Kanab job to think of Canyon Country By Dixie Brunner I believe th land should be and whats going to be here in 50 Thursday night is for the USA and USA-Al- l scheduled for Thursday evening, June 10 at 7 p.m, High school auditorium. People for the USA will kick protected, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt told a skeptical audience at the June 1 public meeting at Colorado City High School. But there will be more people coming, (after the monument is declared), Ill give you off the program with a patriotic presentation. Immediately following there will be an open microphone session where you will... - Have all your questions answered about the wilderness issue. - Learn all that you can do to make your voice heard. - Act to stop the closures of our lands. No one should miss this meeting. All adult residents of Kanab, Orderville, Fredonia, Johnson Canyon - all of Kane County 'everyone on the Arizona Strip - should attend this meeting if you care about our back yard being closed down. In 1993, the People for the USA Players, a group of teenagers from Heber, AZ, was formed to present a musical production to promote traditional American values. The play Freedom Lights the Way, is a reminder that our -- V Secretary Bruce Babbitt was in Colorado City, Arizona last week his position on the new proposed Shivwitts National Monument. explaining U.S. Interior Babbit impressed with Task Force unity By Carol Sullivan At the meeting with the ASRPTF, Arizona Strip Regional Planning Task Force, in Colorado City prior to the public hearing, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, said I want to hear your thoughts and concerns. At the same time, Babbitt made it See USA, Page 20 clear to all that this is not going away. He was speaking of the proposed 550,000 acre Shivwits National Monument. The Task Force is composed of elected representatives from Mojave, Clark, Coconino, Washington and Kane Counties. Babbitt told the Task Force, think about a National Monu- Sa&nnsffl & ? s - - ? - . . s , $ 5 ' i . r . 4 f H ment versus a National Conservation Area. A Monument will raise prospects of getting federal money for roads, and a visitor and information center. It will have more tourist draw. AMonu-men- t will allow for hunting and grazing. Your long term interest is better management. For for the issue real them ranchers, is who is managing the land? If the BLM does not raise its image, it will be part of the National Park Service. (Which is much more restrictive). Mayor Joy Jordan, Fredonia, asked if this can be done by legislative process rather than the Presidential use of the Antiquities Act. Babbitt answered yes. The President can only use the years. There are some multiple uses which arent appropriate for this land. Mining was the inappropriate land use Babbitt continually referred to. There are currently three active mining claims within the proposed monument parameters. Mining is incom- that. Flanked by BLM strip manager Roger Taylor, Lake Mead patible with protecting this National Recreation Area Direc- land, said Babbitt boldly. Other tor Allen ONeil, and Colorado land uses he hopes to limit or City Mayor Dan Barlow, Secre- eliminate are timber harvest and tary Babbitt attempted to sell land disposition. Babbitt said his proposed 557,600 acre grazing and hunting will be alShivwitts National lowed to continue. Monument plan to the people What are we gaining by most impacted. monumentizing everything? potentially This was the second public Asked Barry Bundy of the ConmeetingJBabbitt has held on the servation District. The gain is looking ahead and issue, the first in his hometown of Flagstaff where he was prac- protecting the land for the futically tarred and feathered. He ture. This issue wouldnt go away thanked the'audience for a some- if I resigned, stressed Babbitt. Sooner or later it will be rewhat warmer reception. e A Babbitt solved, and it may be in a much outlined his proposal, adding he more restrictive wray. You folks was intent on getting the monu- are going to have much more ment created. I can either get it freedom on the land under my done by Congress or Presiden- plan. tial proclamation, explained But dont you trust the fedof Babbitt the process. He said if eral agencies you already have Congress does not act, he would managing it, to do it properly? work the points hes gathering asked one rancher. from his public meetings into a Trust but verify, Babbitt redraft document, and go to the sponded, bringing laughter to president and present the proc- the audience. lamation recommendation. I do When asked whether thered have a lot of power of persuasion be monument visitor facilities, with him (President Clinton), BLM strip manager Ron Taylor BLM-manag- ed act to proclaim a National Monument. Babbitt also made it clear that with 18 months remaining as Secretary of the Interior, he wants this done before he leaves office. So if Congress has not considered a bill or isnt showing any progress by the August recess, Babbitt will ask the President to act. Whether Congress acts or the President acts is less important than what is in it. Joe Judd, Kane County Commissioner asked How sensitive are you to our needs like mining leases, use of timber, and access? Babbitt responded, I said Babbitt. drove though Mesquite and it The majority of audience queswas scaiy. We must manage with tions during the two hour meetan eye for 00 years from now. ing moderated by Kane County slightly-defensiv- Im pleased with grazing economic consultant Jim progress, but I am concerned about timber and mining. I do not want to see public land cut up and sold. We must restore these forests and use the byproduct. Mt. Trumbull is an example of good stewardship. As for mining, we stayed away from existing mining leases in the Kanab Creek area. There are only three 20 acre existing min- - Matson, centered on why the' area, the majority See BABBITT, Page 3 r KANAB WEATHER June federally-owne- d already, needed monu- ment designation. I believe the land should be protected, explained Babbitt. He said that another form of protection would be to make it a National Conservation area which is a more restrictive designation and would take an act of Congress to create. The fuSee Shivwitts, Page 20 ture is coming at us and its my Courtesy: Frank Swapp Family |