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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1992 board member Ollie Knutson) that, in my opinion, they shouldn't even put out bids, because it had pretty much said who it was going to. I didn't think they were legally bound, and maybe T nf stepping out an a limb. I'm not surebut I told them what 1 would recommend is that they tdl everybody right off, you can bid on it if you want, but it's pretty much of a given who's going to get it There wasn't any intention of even seriously considering anybody else. Steve Creamer was toe erne who got the money, who pushed it through. He had all the contacts. That was a gentleman's agreement to begin with. It's not saying it was bound in concrete, but for all intents and purposes, that decision to go with Steve Qeamer had been made a long time ago. Right or wrong, it had. Vs Sakrison: There are a number of reasons. There seems to be a general lack of support. Agendes, such as UDOT.they rank this project right at die bottom of the Ust Throughout die community, there is die feeling that it really isn't a good idea. I don't think there is a lot of legislative support. Even the oil and gas companies tint operate in die Book Cliffs don't seem to want The BLM is critical of the project So those are some of die reasons. And also I think there's a ' new awareness by die dtizens that tills money could be used for other tilings in tills county. it . Zephyn That was my next question. How would you use die money? Sakrison: There are a lot of needs that we need to address and some we've missed the boat on, such as the hospital, die courthouse. ..we probably could even have used it for die dump for all the county residents. There are also hundreds of nrflai of roads in ftk county that need work. Some of this money could go to prfwHnn The high school right now is trying to put together a high tech vocational center at the high sdiooL It could have a great impact on our children's future, to give them the skills they need to dad with it There's also die need for an expansion of the sewer plant Those are just some of die needs we face right now and in the near future. infra-structu- "GO" on the Road During the summer of 1989, the Moab Qty Council gave its support to the project and in August the road district appeared before the QB. It received a $3 miUian loan, contingent upon the completion of the EI& The two districts signed a contract with Creamer & Noble for $944,000; Grand County's share amounted to $441,000. The Utah Department of Transportation pledged to pave the road as soon as the two counties had completed their share of the construction. The project proceeded. Critics erf the road, including this newspaper, argued that to promote the highway as a tourist road was ridiculous. If the idea was to increase tourism between Vernal and Moab, why not utilize a road tint already exists, and which, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars, had recently been rebuilt? State Highway 139, just across the state line in Colorado, connects the towns of Loma and Rangely, to the north. The road dimbs over Douglas Pass, two-third- r v Vjvi'-r"- , the interviews v.v: .. S. fj. ' 'v ..rtY -- i f Chairman, UDOT V-- t ' . tL . , V ' 't 9 Zephyr: I think people were surpriaed with die preferred alternative. We assumed it would either support the project or it wouldn't. Where did you come up with the "pave the existing Y' r.j- -r vY alignment? idea? Palmer: I can't speak far everybody involved. I talked to Daryl Trotter when he came bade from speaking to the contractor in Colorado. It was our feeling that ; there may be a need to upgrade the roads that are there. " ? ' ' die Do ' oil and gas industry? you mean Zephyn Palmer: Yes, them, but also the hunters and others, by paving the existing roads, it might be easier to maintain them and since we're not adding anything, there wouldn't be any cumulative impact on wildlife or other things we're concerned about out there. We'd be taking an existing situation and making it better. Zfcphyri When you talk about using die existing alignment, you mean essentially following die roadway; you would not be straightening every curve and bend of the road?. Palmer Oh no. It would be taking the Seep Ridge road to the rim of the Book Cliffs. It's essentially a 2 lane dirt road right now. They would put a hard surface on that to the Book Cliffs rim and then come down die East Canyon portion to die Harley Dome area at Zephyr One of die conclusions that die ELS reached that Pm sure that die Road Districts are going to vehemently disagree with is the determination that die road would not significantly ri improve mineral production in the area. How did you come to that conclusion? Palmer We don't have anything on the Books right now. There's a lot of speculative interest in tar sands and ail shale. But we have not seen that materialize yet. I guess die county feels that if you improve access up there, it might stimulate exploration and reduce costs. We just didn't see enough information right now to support that. ..maybe in the long term, but not right now. Zephyr In terms of existing oil and gas operations up there right now. Palmer One erf the companies contacted us and Baid that they did not feel building die new road would be to their benefit Our feeling is that if these companies neednew or better access, they're going to come to us to facilitate it through rights of ways at whatever. Zephyn Another question. First, in layman's terms, can you explain RS 2477? Palmer It is a provision in BLM regulations that provides die counties a right to come in and request a determination of a road. If die road was built at a time when there were no other reservations, the ownership of that road could convert to the county. If the land was in an Indian reservation then it would not meet die determination. It's not a decision on the BLM's part, it's an administrative determination. So it's not subject to NEPA documentation or public scrutiny. If it meets die criteria, it's a road. Zephyn That would mean they can do anything they Want? e road and make a four-lan-e Palmer. Well, it's limited in its scope. You can't take a highway. The criteria is based on what the road was when it was established. Zephyn Garfield County invoked RS 2477 in getting the Burr Trail paved. Was die road ?; already developed and wide enough to allow that kind of improvement? Palmer That's my understanding; I'm not that familiar with it But it is limited in scope as to how wide it can be. y Zephyn Since a part of this proposed highway leaves any existing road and goes criteria? RS 2477 as it were, none of those sections would meet die Palmer They'd be outside the Bcope of that determination, right Zephyn Do you expect die BLM to approve die preferred alternative in its final HS? Palmer I don't know. We'll see what kind of public feedback we receive. There are public meetings in Salt Lake, Vernal arid Moab. People are pretty dividedsome are for it while others oppose it and think the money could be better spent an other projects. ,' Zephyn OK. If die EIS stands, do yon see any way they can build die kind of highway they want? ... Palmer. There are some serious questions that would have to be resolved. And there would only be portions that would meet the (RS 2477) criteria that would allow diem to buQd the kind of ' ' road they want to build. , , v : , . . , ' 'p - '! J! ' . V ; i'f-i'- - , from the Grand County Roads SSD It is the goal of Uintah and Grand Counties to have the Book Cliffs Highway in place for future development erf mineral resources and for the economic enhancement of the tourism and recreation industries. Grand County Roads Special Service District arid Uintah County Special Service District arranged for environmental impact surveys to be performed along potential routes for a new Book Cliffs highway. . A culmination of these surveys, performed under the supervision of the Bureau erf Land Management, is in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) available now for public comment. On page erf 2-- 43 the DEIS die Bureau of Land Management judges: "Of the major highway construction alternatives, the Special Service Districts' Proposed Action would be the least damaging braiuse it would avoid wetlands, cross shorter distances of landslide areas, and would result in fewer potential road kills of mule deer, elk, and antelope. Under the heading of Wilderness an page '' yY $ . The Special Service Dtetrids encourage all interested people to study die Draft , Environmental Impact Statement and to give oral andor written comments as to its scope and K public review period. $. adequacy during this y 90-da- Public hearings on the Draft EIS will be held v - !'' Wl'. November 17, 1992; 7:00 pm. - r ! - , ' , - , , toft's : WESTERN PARK 302 East, 200 South VERNAL J i ' : November 5, 1992; 7:00 pm. 4 X Cliffs' road project Recently, Zephyn In 19M, yra voted for a resolution supporting die Book withdrew its support. What erased you to change your howeveryou 'and thedtycouncil p, i'' mind? 4 "L ,,w,v;a v . 'i'VCj . UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ' 1636 West North Temple November 4, 1992; 7:00 pm. SALT LAKE CITY Moab City Councilman . . h i at the following times and locations. BLM DISTRICT OFFICE 82 East Dogwood MOAB Y .r.. n is the following paragraph: . cross-countr- - 5 the WSAs are legislatively approved by Congress, they would be managed under a subsequent management plan as a designated wilderness. The Proposed Route should not be approved or constructed under the BLM's Wilderness Management Guidelines (BLM Manual 8560) because the quality of wilderness values in both WSAs would be reduced. In the event that Congress determines that the two WSAs are not wilderness, the BLM would then implement one of the RMP alternatives which indude nonwflderness actions, such as construction of the proposed highway." v. DAVE SAKRISON 4-3- "If two-trad- v-- ; FOR YOUR INFORMATION f , 'h . . BRAD PALMER Area Manager, BIM r " - Zephyn The BLM has released die draft EIS which haa essentially opposed die conatruction of the Book Cliffs Road. Where does it stand now? Taylor I think it's going to be hard to turn around the recommendation of die BLM. But die Y whole EIS is phony, as far as I'm concerned. . .. Zephyn In what way? . u Taylor If the BIM is going to take this EIS, which, as I understand itj was financed by die two counties, and they are going to make the decision on what the preferred alternative is, then they owe Grand and Uintah Counties some money. BLM road How can It's land. the districts make that determination? Zephyn Taylor Because they're the ones doing die study. They're die ones building the road. If the BLM doesn't agree with die counties' choice, then they can go into the public hearing or give their written comments on why they disagree. ' .. ?' ft ','K ,V.j' - w T-- always, for clarity and lengfh. " SAM TAYLOR J During the wedc of September 14-2- 1 , Jim Stiles interviewed a number of community members who have, in one form or another, have ployed anile in the Back Cliffs project. Hen an their comments, edited, as VVY ral Zephyn Why do you think die road district set up die district boundaries so that it excluded residents in all municipalities, including everyone in Moab Qty? ' Yv, ;.;:r r Sakrison: I'm not sure, but if they had included us, I think we could have had some say-s-o on their board. In any case, they excluded about s of the population of Grand County. hot a councilman, special service districts serve a function, but Speaking as a taxpayer, unfortunately, each one has its own administrative requirements-secretari- es, audits, office rent and so on. It seems like we're duplicating a lot of tilings that could be combined into one entity. So I think die money could be better spent and we could save a lot of money that could be put r back into the community.' risiy flowtiwws m oof s PAGE 9 . a Grind County Roads SSD. 64 S. Main St, Moab. UT 84532 Uintah SSD. , P.Q Box 144. VernaL UT 84078 789-463- 6 25-773- 3 .' U |