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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1990 PAGE 24 the public lands watchdog BLM burns the Amasas Back BIERSCHIED He is aware of Grand Countys needs He believes in long range planning He will serve all the people On Wednesday, September 20, several area residents tried to stop BLM from completing the prescribed burning of Amasa's Back. The area was chained earlier this summer amid protests from environmentalists and with support from members of the Western Association of Land Users. The purpose of the chaining was to Improve cattle and wildlife forage. After learning that there was a large quantity of excellent pinion firewood still available In the chained area, BLM was contacted to see If burning could be held up until more of the wood could be gotten out by area woodcutters. The answer from BLMs Grand Resource Area Manager, Brad Palmer, was that the could not be delayed. Citing two press releases about the matter, one earlier this burning summer which encouraged free woodcutting this summer In the chained area, an another recently, announcing the plans to bum, he felt the public had been given sufficient opportunity to utilize the wood. Palmer was not sympathetic to the fact that the first cool weather was when most people begin to think of gathering firewood, that so much remaining good firewood must mean that many people were unaware of the opportunity, or that this was an excellent chance to work with the people to avoid wasting a public lands resource. Palmer explained that after the bum, the ground will be seeded, then reclaimed to cover the seed. BLM Is borrowing the equipment for the reclaiming from the Forest Service. This plus the seeding and reclaiming deadlines were additional reasons he gave for not allowing any delay. When asked If anyone was putting a value on the loss of their public resources, firewood, that was being burned up, Palmer said, don't know how to value It He said no one was weighing that loss against the growing Improvements from the burning. Palmer stated that 730 cords of wood had been taken from the area since the chaining. He hoped to bum up all the remaining wood to allow proper reseeding. But due to the rains, there would probably only be about a 70 bum. After the seeding and reclaiming, woodgatherers will be allowed back In Immediately to cut any wood that did not bum. Jerry Meredith, Public Affairs Officer for BLM's Utah State Office In Salt Lake City, said that the two press releases were sufficient notice to the public and that BLM had no further legal obligation to save the firewood resource. Mary Plumb, BLM District Office Public Affairs Officer, stated that she hoped they would do better In the future, with more press release specifically urging woodcutters to help utilize the resource before It was lost In the prescribed bum. Plumb pointed out that they were caught between trying to save two resources. If the seeding "window was missed this fall, the chaining would all have been for nothing, and environmentalists would then have been outraged even more. 1 He makes informed decisions He is fair in his treatment of issues He is consistent Jane S. Jones Footnote from a Firefighter Bruce Dlssel Is a seasonal firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management, and recently participated In the BLMs controlled bum on the Amasas Back chained area. According to Dlssel, only one factor motivated the agency to proceed with Its bum when It did. 'Because the seasonal work force was about to be laid off, management felt It should proceed while It still had temporary employees to do the Job. Dlssel said weather conditions were extremely marginal for such a fire. In addition to overall drought conditions, record breaking high temperatures and low humidity during the week made the timing for a controlled bum Inappropriate. In fact, the crew of eight almost lost control of the fire, when It spread to live trees on adjacent Forest Service land. The fire started Jumping In the crowns of trees exploding In flames. The Are, according to Dlssel, burned about two acres of USFS land. Jim Stiles FOR GRAND COUNTY COMMISSION DAVE BIERSCHIED vote nouember 6 paid for by Citizens to Elect Bierschied PACK CREEK RANCH Restaurant Open Daily 6 PM to 9 PM BEAT THE WEEKEND CROWDS. TRY US DURING THE WEEK WHEN THE PACE IS SLOWER. Daily Horseback Rides At The Ranch For Information or Reservations Phone (801) 259-550- 5 |