Show Page Herald JoumaiCache 2-- The Surety August 15 1993 iiijaa ESA myths ttmt fununsiuMD Having labeled me an environmentalist long ago many people out them in our reading public might think I would find fault with state representative Evan Olsen’s latest proposal to fight the Endangered Species Act On die contrary I think u’s a good start With a little vision CHsen has the chance to make a good bin a pretty great bill His proposal so far suggests Oat Utah residents must register and post a $100000 bond before they can ask federal managers whether a species is at risk of extinction If research shows die species is safe die money would be forfeited Now at face value one might think this is one of the most blowhard bits of rhetoric that has been crafted well since Jim Hansen proposed his Human Intelligence since ftotection Act some months ago Or was it the Human Resource Protection Act? Olsen's bill is in actuality a good start Let’s say fiur is fair and help him expand it sosne I mean why just pick an environmentalist desert tortoise lovers? bond an their Let’s also ask ranchers to post say a $100000-or-s- o grazing allotments Then if they obliterate the landscape as badly as some of diem have in the past well just collect die bucks and plant new grass so the deer and antelope can play And let’s ask loggers to post a dollar bond on their cuts Then if they moonscape the forests and skip town we’ll throw a party with their seedling money Let’s get the mining industry to put up a few million to make sure they reclaim all the lands they’ve stripped bare Let’s get UDOT to put up $100 million to insure that die promise they keep making about a bigger and especially better Logan Canyon will materialize Then nobody will have to say I told you so Well just take die money and buy Earth First! bumper stickers for everyone No Olsen’s on track with a real winner The bill is probably unconstitutional since it puts a price tag on a person’s right to free speech It would set a state policy dud rejects a federal law — die feds would laugh it off in a minute And it has absolutely no dunce of passing even with — perhaps especially with — “cowboy caucus” hero Rep Met Johnson in tow This proposed bill is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money designed I imagine solely to make political hay rather than address the issue itself Most disturbing of all this bill and die sales pitch dud accompanies it once again restate a number of the tired myths that continue to be attached to the Endangered Species Act Pick up a copy of the August 1992 issue of the Journal of Forestry (not anyone’s idea of a “liberal’' publication) Here are a few of the Ideas the article “A Tough Law to Solve Tough Problems” points out Myth: “The ESA fails to consider socioeconomic effects and instead elevates protection of plants and animals above human needs Fact “Far from ignoring socioeconomic concerns die ESA requires a careful balancing of those needs with die conservation needs of threatened and endangered species Perhaps the most misleading contention by critics is that the ESA rigidly precludes consideration cf 4 WORM CREEK OPERA HOUSE a m ?mm o The final show of die summer season at Worm Greek Opera House will be Joseph and the Amazing Ibchnionlnr Dreamooat which opens Thursday and continues Riday Saturday and Aug 23 5 BOOK SIGNING g western author Ivn Doig will sign copies of his latest book Heart Earth at A Book Stare 130 N 100 K—r on Tuesday from pjn Award-winnin- 30 half-milli-on 7 MOVIE REVIEWS By Robert Deoerstein Robert Denecstein movie critic for die Rocky Mountain News takes a look at some of the movies playing in local theaters 8 LOOKING BACK ByAJ Simmoods The eighth part of an extended series about human impacts on the Bear River discusses tapping die river’s energy for hydroelectric power economics” The decision to list a species is made solely on biological factors A species is either threatened or it’s not But part two of the process — the action part — authorizes a number of alternative actions In the St George area for instance a compromise Habitat Conservation Flan is being developed right now It might include land exchanges die use of the controversial area in exchange for extra protection of the desert tortoise elsewhere It’s a long process but it worts Myth: “The ESA is bringing development to a grinding halt Fact One study found that of the more man 48000 activities reviewed under the ESA from 1979-8-6 only IS projects were canceled because of threatened or endangered species In die St George area more building has probably been completed far the three years nice die desert tortoise was listed than in the entire history of the dty Myth: "The ESA is taking private property without just a rf PM AmwiitniHit ” "—“ and political Fact “While this daim has superficial appeal it public is wholly unsupported by the facts” The numerous alternatives that the ESA allows to resolve the conflicts between landownere and qpecies managers make ft unlikely that no more din a small number of the crenpiaintants will ever have a case in court The bad guy in dus issue is not the Endangered Species act or out-c- f control oppressive federal land managers The Mg bad evil out there is that person who Is willing to waste our time our money and most hrmortandy our critically endangered critically baolofical diversity Just to make political pomts m :fwvV-- 9 THE MINI PAGE By Betty Debaam Three pages especially for children This week: Let’s Visit Mere Verde 12 UNDERGROUND By Mark Reece magic A walk into Minnetonka Cave Lake is an expedition into a features in St Charles Canyon nesr Bear -- I TtmViUle CarbaatHtpr (Ksgti Go !Ln7 ON THE COVER: Statacmas and stalagmites taka on and "ndw cava Photo byRRwT ' KL4 ' “'' - 1 |