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Show .. PAGE 14 t.: .r- - ;. ?. .V ' THE ZEPHYRAUGUST 89 such as education, hospitals, mental Impact Funds from other nasdy projects health sendees and the Iks. The taxpayers would again be lha losers. 3. Recently there was a secret transfer of over 7354 acres of land to ths came State of Utah from BLM without any notice to the public. The translW In such transfers ordsr to 26 days after BLM announced a moratorium on Include 5300 acres lands that These protect archeological resources. tt tor wlktemess Includes designation, Congressman Wayne Owens has proposed National Recreation Area. Glen near Canyon which les tract the Bullfrog There Is a Laks Utah's Intent Is to sell this land to private developers. Del Webb be Corporation? Powell fixation here. And might the buyer 4. There has also been a great political drive toward the establishment ed airport at Hall's Crossing. Secretary Manual Lujan of a commercial and other dignitaries were paraded around Hairs Crossing to dignify the on the natural environment pending destructive Impact the airport would have If available funds might to see B (They werent herded to the landing airport better be spent there.) Development Interests The State Legislature was also targeted. 5. persuaded It to set up legislation to legally divert mineral lease monies to road building. There was much lobbying at taxpayer expense. Creamer and Noble, a Saint George engineering firm, reportedly received a large sum to lobby for the creation of special road service districts to handle the funds. The stage was set for the proposed Book Cliffs road. And Creamer and Noble gained the engineering contracts from both Grand and Uintah Counties. Their advance promotional work paid off. 6. There has been a stepped-u- p campaign supporting devslopment by the National Advisory Council to the BLM, the Moab District BLM Advisory Board, and, of course, the Utah Stato Lands and Forestry Board. Calvin Black, noted and very effective San Juan County Commissioner, Just happens to be a member of them alL His Influence Is strongly felt In these groups. Give credit to (tel, he marshalled his forces wllL Many of his cohorts are quick-steppi- ng right Into line. 7. And the effectiveness of Congressman Wayne Owens has made him a target of these sagebrush rebels. Since he Introduced his bill calling for a moderate 5 million acres of designated wilderness, hes been bombarded with "canned opposition. Its as If somebody from on high gave the marching order. One by one, they parade by. Gam, Hatch, Hansen, Nielson, Bangerter, Walsh, Howell, eL aL Nielson was especially vicious. I think he realizes hes lagging behind. Owens Is doing what Nielson ought to be doing -protecting the environment we all share. 8. And one other thing. The landfill dumps of San Juan and Garfield Counties have been closed to the National Park Service. A bit of harassment here and there. Its sure to bring the National Park Service to Its knees. , Well It appears the battle lines have been drawn. Protection of the canyon environment or Its development Shall we squander away our canyon heritage or sell out? My choice Is clear; the canyons are worth fighting for. I want my kids and my grand kids to know and enjoy the canyons as I have. , Anything less Is not good enough. Jet-elz- - auroimd the bemd by ken sleight So the Stato Lands and Forastry Board threatens to tell off state-ownlands In our parks to private developers. Whats new? Governor Bangerter and his administration have attempted for some time to gamer the park lands In Glen Canyon for private development No matter that they had been set aside for park and recreation for the American people. What this does show Is that the "sagebrush rebellion did not fade away and die. IPs alive and making devastating progress. The State Lands Board Is playing hard ball as the administration calls for accommodation and mutual consultation. Their campaign to .exchange state lands for prime national park lands Is folly and ludicrous. It's simply a manuever to further enrich the alwaye-prese- nt developers and their supporters. IPs small wonder there has been but little progress made In the land exchange process. This "accommodation and mutual consultation thing Is pretty special Interest stuff and one-sidThere Is ft glimmer of a solution. Legislation has once again been His bill, If patterned after his past Owens. proposed by Congressman Wayne would a selection attempt, provide process In which state lands lying within parks, recreation areas and Indian reservations could be traded for other federal lands. This Is a worthwhile endeavor. He Is to be highly commended for taking the Initiative to unravel the many land management nightmares that have cropped up. Lands, according to the Utah Enabling Act, should be utilized so as to gain the greatest benefits for Utahs public education system. Many feel this a green light and license to sell off state lands for short-ter-m gains. To sell off land In this fashion would be a terrible mistake. Even If the land sits undeveloped, It still Increases In value. Much of It Is already producing the greatest economic return possible by merely being an "InholIts highest return comes from being natural, ding a part of the. whole. scenic and undeveloped. It Is a park, and by Its very nature It attracts people to It So enter the tourists. Because of the land and Its attraction, the tourists come and pay surrounding communities for many goods and services. They pay sales taxes and transient room taxes. They pay for our employment and for our way of Pfe. To sell off this land to the developers for a short-ter- m fix Is unconscionable to me when the value of the lands themselves Is Increasing at such a rapid rate. Its great value rests on being so unique and beautiful. We should not destroy the very thing people are coming here to see and experience. What a waste! We need to dig In for the long-terpreserving rather than destroying. It Is small wonder that the land board would take the action they did this It ties In with a time. plan devised by the "sagebrush rebels and the radical groups who are dominated by development Interests. The plan reeks of money, power, and Influence. For a starter, lets look at whafs been going on: 1. Rural money has regularly been siphoned off to produce "documentaries and other propaganda against those working to retain a better The Utah Association of Counties (Mark Walsh) and the environment Southeastern Utah Association of Governments (Bill Howell) has led the fight for such diversions. The Utah Association of Counties has even further Joined hands In the coalition made up of the ht radical groups. James Watt (of recent HUD tame) Inspired such a coalition. A number of leaders and their followers have fallen prey to their propaganda. community There has been a barrage of speeches, articles, and supporting development and thwarting the efforts of the environmental ed ed. - Bed & Breakfast Moab, Utah m, well-calcula- ted fftr-rl- tax-pay- ght ers tar-rig- well-coordin- ated letters-to-the-edl- tor community. 2. There has been a great push to construct ths Book Cliffs road. The developers are the winners. The proponents would divert scarce Community Bob's Body Shop 3207 Roberts Rd. 259-673- 4 insurance work welcome auto glass installed Mountain bikers and river runners often stay, at the Canyon Country bed-anbreakfast. OUTSIDE magazine d- midweek special 20 off (includes breakfasts) house with large patio Spacious ranch-styl- e Comfortable beds Private and shared bathrooms In town, quiet and off Main Street Air conditioning Delicious and filling Continental Breakfast Assistance in selecting the best local tours -Bike, Hike, Raft, Jeep & Scenic Flights No smoking on premises Children 12 and over welcome No pets, please Rooms start at $35.00 mountain bike rentals available on premises Chuck & Judy Nichols 590 N. 500 W. Moab, Utah 84532 801-259-78- .800-635-17- 82 92 outside Utah |