OCR Text |
Show proponents (and "CloudRot" by members of the Moab community), would be fabricated by constructing three lodges housing about 200 units, 100 condominiums, 70 home sites, Moab’s Adventure Center restaurants, a pool and spa facilities, an equestrian center, and a creek-side lunch and swimming pavilion. All of this on nearly 2,000 acres of Johnson’s Up-On-Top mesa, located seven miles south of Moab. The developers, Moab Mesa Land Company and Butterfield & Robinson, plan to market CANYON "selling wilderness,” and that. “archeological sites will serve as an important marketing draw." Lots for individual homes are expected to sell for over $600,000. Developers were lM careful to position building lots so as to shield one structure from the next, and Moab from their clients, but the, condos, lodges, and mansions would be visible from Mill Creek wilderness study area (WSA), Behind the Rocks WSA, many proposed wilderness units, and the La Sal Mountains. So, their client/s view into wilderness would remain unobstructed, while every other being’s view from wilderness would be ruined. Sadly, proponents propose that SITLA utilize this as a model for other parcels throughout the state. Best Wishes : from all of us. It’s gut wrenching to consider that such contrived communities could encroach on Utah’s most scenic wilderness landscapes. at Canyon Voyages for a great holiday anda peaceful 2 and happy 2001... Exhibit E: SITLA Hopes to Sell Wilderness The State Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) has applied for a right-of-way for motorized vehicles through a portion of the Spring Creek Canyon WSA. SITLA's application was so inadequate (it failed to indicate a legitimate purpose and need for motorized access) that BLM should have rejected the application immediately. But this didn’t happen. Instead, for the past year (in what appears to be a clear conflict of interest) Cedar City BLM has been providing helpful hints and advice to SITLA on how to perfect the application. Although the right-of-way would result in negative impacts to the WSA, it appears that BLM is more concerned with keeping SITLA happy than with protecting the public lands! BLM State Director Sally Wisely has been made aware of this fishy situation and has failed to take any action to put an end to the coaching and special treatment that Cedar City BLM is providing to SITLA. Lg By Fae. aay} “lL d ] TATA to facilitate this outcome. WN S ES fs: LU GIEIAY\ * P.O. Box 416 211 N. Main St. Moab, UT 84532 435.259.6007 800.733.6007 email: cnvoyage@lasal.net www.canyonvoyages.com Jury Instruction: If the evidence presented in one or more of the above exhibits incites you, write a letter State Capitol, SLC, UT 84114 FAX: 538.1528 ~ 500 S., Suite 500, SLC, 84102 FAX: 355.0922 In addition to whacking away wilderness, the proposed mine would wipe-out bighorn sheep and other wildlife, and wreck the area’s hydrologic regime. Lila Canyon supports between 15 and 25 bighorn sheep as yearlong residents due to its unique springs and seep water sources. The EA admits that there is a "noticeable lack of water for most of the cliff talus habitat," and that the mine would "displace" these bighorn sheep. Displacement, however, would most likely result in annihilation since Lila Canyon has both the necessary cliff talus habitat and spring water sources not found in the surrounding country. Similar Stop the proposal to mine Desolation and Turtle Canyon wilderness areas: What's worse than the idea of mining coal in the largest block of wilderness land in the lower 48 states? Possibly the resulting 550 coal trucks and 63 personal and delivery vehicles parading over a freshly bulldozed road and careening down the already overcrowded and dangerous highway 191, the construction of a 39 acre surface facility complete with earsplitting mining equipment operating within the narrow and peaceful Lila Canyon that would encroach on a Fremont component rock shelter and other cultural sites, and the dewatering of springs that are crucial to the survival of a unique band of desert bighorn ’ sheep. Unfortunately, this is the fate of the Desolation Canyon region recently approved by concerns apply to other wildlife species. Whether you are looking through the eyes of a bighorn sheep, a Colorado Squawfish, a hiker, horse packer, wilderness activist, or a frog, the proposed Lila Canyon Mine is bleak when viewed from any angle. Speaking of views, current BLM planning documents classify the area as visual resource management (VRM) class II, meaning that changes cannot dominate the landscape. Certainly, the conversion of Lila Canyon and the surrounding area from a natural, wilderness quality landscape into » an industrial coal-mining zone represents a change that would "dominate" such pristine the BLM. This proposed mine of nearly 2,000 acres would overlap or undermine an existing landscape. SUWA will appeal BLM’s approval of this mine. You can help make this a national issue by expressing your concerns to: Acting BLM Director, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington Wilderness Study Area (WSA), a BLM newly identified area of wilderness character, and citizen’s proposed wilderness units. Specifically, Turtle Canyon WSA would be undermined, and it is foreseeable that the surface of the WSA could be pocked with vent shafts and monitoring holes in the future. The plan already proposes to construct surface facilities within, and to undermine N Ul There is no question that the motivation for SITLA to pursue this right-of-way is to disqualify much of the area as potential wilderness. That's no big surprise, SITLA is not known as a friend of wilderness. What is unconscionable, however, is that BLM is helping expressing your concerns. Governor Mike Leavitt...210 801.538.1000 Dave Terry, SITLA, 675 E. 801.538.5100 VOYAGES ADVENTURE C2 the development to “affluent families and individuals," proudly exclaiming that they are over 900 acres of the new Desolation Canyon DC 20240, fax(202)208-5242; and send a copy to Sally Wisely, BLM Utah State Director, P.O. ~ Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145-0155, fax(801)539-4013. BLM wilderness inventory unit. Both of these areas are proposed for wilderness designation in America’s Redrock Wilderness Act. NELSON'S HEATING & REFRIGERATION Ki Yle G Ca rrie Baile Y's C OTTONWOOp "SERVING MOAB SINCE 1962" Over night Ac, “Omodations hen Uni ts - Wh ily Ea ) Was IS JACK FROST | NIPPING AT ) YOUR DOOR? OR IS HE PAST THE DOOR & NIPPING AT BODY PARTS? CALL IZZIE! \d i Every yect... - the same dopey ® \7 Santa‘cap. : 1070 BOWLING ALLEY LANE 259.5625 |