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Show Moss Urges Creation Land Administration by Plays Ever Larger Utah Role BLM Land in Utah administered by the Bureau of Land Management about 43 per cent of the total land area of the state had an increasing role of importance to the state and nation in 1970. This was evident in a summary of BLM activities during the past year released Friday by Robert D. Nielson, BLM state director for Utah. After detailed study during the past four years BLM officials completed in 1970 the classifies tion of 21,242,000 acres in Utah for retention in federal ownership and management under multiple use principles. Congress in the 1964 Classification and Multiple Use Act directed that BLM determine which lands it administers should be retained in federal ownership and which were more suitable for disposition. Public meetings were held in the state concerning the classification proposals and most comments were favorable to retention of the lands in federal ownership. In fact, nearly 5000 acres were added to the proposals for retention as a result of suggestions from the public. Of the lands classified for retention in federal ownership, only a little over one per cent was segregated against mining activity because they are particularly valuable for recreational, archeological, scientific, historic, scenic or administrative purposes. One example of an area restricted against mining is the 3,674 acre geode beds area of Juab County which is of particular interest to rockhounds. Rockhounding is only one of many recreational activities now carried out on BLM administered lands. It is estimated that about two and one half million recreation visits were made last year to BLM administered lands in Utah. A large percentage of the colorful and scenic areas in southern Utah is under BLM ad- - Keep up on current affairs the easy way Read the Pulitzer Prize winning Christian Science Monitor. Rarely more than 20 pages, this easy-to-rea- d daily newspaper gives a complete grasp of you national and world affairs. Plus fashion, sports, business, and the arts. Read the newspaper that 91 of Congress reads. Please send me the Monitor at the special introductory rate for six months for only $8 . . . a saving of $7. Check or money order enclosed Bill me name state. ,xlp- - PB 18 The Christian Science Monitor Box 125, Astor Station Boston, Massachusstts Page Five FRIDAY, JANUARY 29 1971 THE SALT LAKE TIMES 02123 Df a Department 3f Natural Resources Defensive Driving haps. Instructors for the courses are qualified by the National Safety Zould Cut Toll On Utah Highways Council. Will 1971 be another banner rear for the Grim Reaper, who ast year claimed 335 lives in xaffic accidents on the streets and highways of Utah? The traffic accident problem m the state could be reduced, eo H. Barlow, Utah Councils Vice President for Traffic, said his week, if every driver will ake it upon himself to learn the defensive driving techniques hat have proven to be an effec-iv- e means of reducing traffic mishaps. The Defensive. Driving Course is intended for all drivers who wish to become better in the art of driving an auto in todays traffic. Drivers in Salt Lake City area will have three opportunities to enroll in a course to be held in he State Office Building Audi-oriuThe first course starts on Monday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. and will continue each Monday course has until the eight hour ' ieen completed. One session of the eight hour course is devoted to the art of ireeway driving. With many of he 1970 traffic deaths in the state occurring on the freeways t would behoove drivers who frequently use this highway sys-eto become better trained in how to stay out of traffic mis- - Senator Frank E. Moss this ministration. BLM now main- week urged the President to rectains 14 camping and picnicking ommend creation of a Departsites in Utah that were used last ment of Natural Resources. In a letter to Mr. Nixon, Mr. year by a third of a million perMoss wrote: . sons. A news story by Roberta More than 350,000 persons hunted and fished on BLM ad- Hornig in the Washington Star ministered lands and waters in on Sunday, Jan. 10, indicates are expected to recommend 1970. They harvested about 0 you it create a Dedeer, 170 antelope, 40 elk, 0 Congressof that Natural Resources, four bighorn sheep and six buf- partment absorb the would which Departfalo. BLM is responsible for some and ment Interior of the much of the habitat of the game birds and animals but the game 'unctions of the Department of itself is the responsibility of the Agriculture. T write to support strongly Utah Division of Fish and Game. such a move. Arrangements were made for As you know, I have spontransplants of deer from within sored a bill to establish a DeZion National Park and Capitol of Natural Resources Reef National Monument where partment n each Congress since the 89th habitat is being overused to the Congress. Hearings were held on areas near Beaver Dam Mounbill by the Subcommittee on tains and Henry Mountains as my Ixecutive Reorganization of the original herds have been severe- Senate Committee on Governly reduced from hunting pres- ment Operations in the 90th sures in recent years. Other 1970 The bill pending in Congress. studies will result in introduc- the 91st Congress provided that tion in 1971 of antelope to areas he Department be called Deon Hatch Point in San Juan partment of Natural Resources County and Myton Bench in and Environment, and was coUintah County. sponsored by Mr. Case, Mr. More than 50,000 acres in Utah Dodd, Mr. Hart, Mr. Kennedy, were transferred out of federal Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Yarborough. ownership during 1970. A total The Star news story indicates of 26,524 acres was sold by BLM that only the Forest Service and for $2.50 per acre to state agen- he Rural Electrification Admin-- : cies, counties, cities and non- stration would be transferred profit organizations under pro- n the new department. My bill greatly strengthened the case visions of the Recreation and s somewhat broader. It was lor a Department of Natural RePublic Purposes Act. Another drafted before the creation of sources. Let us hope that this is 6,271 acres were put under R&-P- P ;he Environmental Protection indeed an idea whose time has lease for 50 cents per acre Agency and the National Ocean- come. per year. In addition, 30,022.22 ography and Atmospheric Adacres were transferred from fed- ministration. It proposes to eral1 ownership under a variety pring into the Department of of other land laws. Natural Resources and Environs, During the year it appeared ment all environmental conincluding pollution that uranium prospecting on the BLM administered lands in Utah trol and oceanogrophy. I think was slowing down and that the this is sound. The Moss bill would also industry was moving into a development stage. In other sig- bring into the new Department, nificant mining activity on pub- where the Bureau of Reclamalic lands there was a coal explor- tion would already be located, ation program in the Kaiparo-wit- s all other major water resource area to determine feasibil- development programs of the of establishing a power plant federal government, including ity near Lake Powell. An extensive the U.S. Corp of Army Engi sand and gravel area near Glen neers. On the basis of expendiCanyon City will provide a half tures the Army Engineers is the million tons of aggregate for most extensive federal activity construction of Navajo Power in harnessing rivers for electric Plant southeast of Page, Ari- power and storage. I realize this zona. From the Circle Cliffs area recommendation is controversial there have been shipments of but I feel that it would be in the a fairly high grade copper ore countrys best interests to have to El Paso, Texas, during the all water development programs one cabinet year and extent of the deposit coordinated under includes the oficer. My bill also is not fully known. and program watershed development In oil and gas exploration de- of Soil Conservation Service. continued was there leasing Finally the Moss bill provelopment of the Upper Valley addiand Escalante Field near posed transferring the Bureau of is field tional wells indicate the Indian Affairs and the Office of larger than initially anticipated. Territories now in the Interior BLM administered lands in the Department, to the Deparement state continued in importance to of Health, Education and Welthe livestock industry. Total fare, where they would be more feed consumption on Utah range compatibly situated. There has been resistance to is about 3,770,000 animal unit one third about which of months practically every move proposed land. administered in my bill the staff members of is from BLM that the agencies proposed for trans There were 2,316 operators 167,146 to graze fer would rather fight than held permits on the cattle and 868,863 sheep switch, but that is to be expectwith ed from somewhenever substanpublic lands. In cooperation State the tial change is recommended. grazing permittees and BLM and Game, Fish of Division Although I would like to see im- a much broader reorganization range several out carried provement projects in 1970 that of our natural resource agencies included seeding of 22,000 acres, than the Star indicates your brush control on 1,600 acres, 191 recommendations will contain miles of fencing and develop- 1 do want you to know that ment of 52 reservoirs, 19 springs am delighted to hear that you are formulating recommendation and seven wells. for the Congress. I will study them with great interest. It is most gratifying to anticipate a One goal of the nation wide to proposal, which I have been March of Dimes program is pushing for years recommended encourage all American womei to the Congress by the President. to seek medical care early and The march of events has now regularly during pregnancy. . 27,-00- m. m 9 -- pro-pram- 99 Persons interested in enrolling may obtain further information by contacting the Safety Council, 535 South Second West or by telephoning Although advanced registrations arc desired, persons unable to do 328-585- 1. register at the time the class starts. A small registration fee is charged to cover the cost of the materials used in the course. The second class gets under so may way in the same auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. and will continue until the four sessions have been com- 2-h- our pleted. For those unable to enroll in an evening class, a Saturday session will convene on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. This will be concluded with two four-hosessions. As like the other two .classes, this will be in the State Office Building Auditorium. ur National Guard Names Chief of Staff The Utah National Guard has a new chief of staff. . Appointment of Lt. Col. Bill W. Nielson, 5190 So. 820 East,. Murray, as chief of staff was announced this week by Maj. Gen. Maurice L. Watts, Utah Adjutant General. Lt. Col. Nielson replaces Col. Ray Cox; who retired recently. The new chief of staff has been with the Guard since 1948. He served on active duty during the Korean Conflict' call up. Since 1961 he has been the Utah Guard aviation officer. |