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Show August 1970 Farm Leaders Review PLLRC Report The Public Land Law Review Commission Conference held in Salt Lake City July 21 and 22 at the Ramada Inn was indicative of the high interest that can be expected to develop in regards to public land use in the future. The total attendance was tighter tham estimated and exceeded our preliminary estimates ' said Leonard Johnson, Assistant Director of Natural Resources, AFBF. Those leaders in attendance were provided opportunity to examine the Commissions report chapter by chapter and underline many of the most significant points in the 137 recommendations. This means your state participants are now equipped to assist the state Farm Bureau officers and boards of directors in informing and alerting the membership of Farm Bureau and the leadership of county and state governments relative to the impact the Commission's recommendations will have upon the economic and rural living conditions in public land states. Major attention at the conference was directed towards identifying policy development issues which state Farm Bureau will wish to call to the attention of county Farm Bureau officers this fall. At an early date, you will want to visit with members of your state's delegation to arrange for them to report to your State Board of Directors; One of the major accomplishments of the conference was that each participant received a copy of the Commission's Report for his personal use. Mr. Mclntlre placed his order early and AFBF now has an extra 50 copies of this report in the Washington, D. C. office, which will be sold to the states at $4.50 -- first served basis. This extra supply means each state president and state per copy on a first-coto mark up and use in the months ahead. Those states wishing adsecretary may have his personal copy G. Mclntlre, the Washington, D. C. office. to Clifford ditional copies should send their orders , The AFBF Information Department had two staff members present who prepared news releases and made photos of state delegations for the use of state Farm Bureaus with daily and weekly newspapers and In the state Farm Bureau publications. They also prepared tapes for use on radio programs. The high point of the conference was Roger Fleming's presentation at the concluding luncheon, in which he said the Commissions report is not the end, but the beginning". We have a challenge which will require mobilizing the full organizational capability of a general farm organization to do an important job. All indicatons are that this was a successful conference. Major credit for this achievement must go to the Farm Bureau leaders who were in attendance for their sacrifice during busy farm times to take time to be in attendance. They are to be commended. me Protect Rights While Public Benefits Develop 11 'Public lands' are only a part of our national land resources. Failure to identify that fact could lead to the false impression that federal ownership is the only means of securing wise use of lands. No such casual disregard of our American system should be possible." said H. Byron Mock, attorney, Salt Lake City, and PLLRC member and during its study. Mr. Mock was the dinner speaker at the Conference of Western Farm Bureau leaders, held for the purpose of reviewing the recently released report of the PLLRC. The report was presented to President Nixon and Congress on June 231970. The Commission had it beginning 6 years earlier in September of 1964. After extensive study and evaluation of public lands in the widest concepts felt to be in the public Interest, the report was finally completed. It was to be finished by July 1, 1970. Lawrence Burton of Utah was also a member of the Commission. The report includes 137 recommendations spread throught the twenty chapters and 289 pages which Vice-chairm- an comprise the report. Mr. Mock outlined the fundamental guidelines for the report by saying "The functioning of the Federal Government should reflect principles of the Constitution." He included three specific ones as follows: (a) Congress makes policy and its administered by the exectube Branch. (b) Strong state and local governments are to be maintained as important to the Federal System. (c) Individual citizens' rights are to be protected and citizens should be equitably dealt with. 'Interests', he said, "should be balanced to assure maximum benefit for the general public and no one interest should benefit to the unreasonable detriment of another." As Mr. Mock discussed responsibility for management and planning he had this to say: "Is the governmental discretionary power to 'classify' for various uses now or into the future subject to meaningful review when agricultural interests challenge whether land is properly or improperly made available for agricultural use or Improperly withheld." "Can the planners of 'plans' be required to recognize Interim use of lands for agriculture pending the need for such lands to meet the 'plan' to use them for recreation, new cities, or other purposes?" "Any change in the pattern of use of land affect some individual or group of individuals by disturbing a dependency for forage, cultivation, hunting, scenery, residence, access, or other use. While it would be difficult to dispute that our 'public interest' require ability to change established uses or dependencies as time, place and conditions alter, we still must ask what consideration should be given an economically or emotionally dependent user should he be recognized as having a compensable Interest? Can he be ignored?" While speaking of 'Tax Immunity' and 'payment in lieu of taxes ideas this comment was made regarding water in relation to public lands, "payment for rights under state law to water a rising on or passing over reserved public lands is proposed, but only up to the date of a recent Supreme Court decision, which presumably made every water user immediately aware of the Federal Government's superior right to future use of certain waters without compensation." "Congress will not consider Implementing legislation before next year. Drafting of proposed legislation is already proceeding in various government departments and agencies, and probably also in offices of many Important associations. Perhaps some individuals can afford to try their hand also. Implementation of some recommendations by executive action has already begun. The Interlro Department new appeals procedure is an example. More executive implementation may be expected. The interdependent nature of our report justified our hoping that there will be adquate coordinations in all proposals," he conducted. Understanding report requires help. Gone , But Not Forgotten LOOK, MA, NO SALES BILIM -- AFTER SEPT. 30th oen Father lan ve MUST ifgflKST firearms? Ajg AJ ' J.uAV'r W setting of Stainless Steel Flatware. Available at Intermountain Farmers Stores until Sept. 30th. Get the complete story 5-pi- ece place Uni-Ro- se ollt '"Those who cannot remember the past are condemmed to repeat it" - - - Santayana. at any IFA store NOWI |