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Show THE ZEPHYROCTOBER 1992 -'-- i the interviews ' 'y . (continued) ' Zephyn You're laying if they pay for it, they get to guarantee thecondusion. Taylor. No, the study would have to justify the selection process. Hie point I'm trying to make is that the BLM didn't buy that study. The counties bought it, and as the owners, they should have been the ones to select the preferred alternative. . y v, ,, Zcphyn I don't follow you, because yon can be guaranteed, if the choice had been left to the road boards, die preferred alternative would have been their proposal. Taylor. No, because if their conclusion was not backed up by the EIS, that would kill the project Zephyr. If it's an invalid EIS, should they take the BLM to court? Taylor I'm not saying it's an invalid EIS; but if the BLM is going to be a party to the EIS, mid if the agency is going to make the preferred alternative selection, they should buy the study. Zcphyn But the districts knew what die rales of die game were, going into it They knew they would pay for it and live with the conclusion. Taylor That's right. But if UDOT was going to build a road and die BLM required us to do an . ElSt, we'd be the ones to make the final decision. Zcphyn But you're saying that any time a small government agency, in this case, 10 people, n comes along with a dollar project if they pay for the EIS, they can control die conclusion. And, in fact if die BLM wrongfully participated in die process so did die road boards. Memos from the BLM's Vernal office to die Moab office indicate die road districts were allowed to mitigate problems before it was released to die public, in violation of die ' NEPA process. V..v ; 1 ; Taylor That's probably valid Zcphyn In any event what is die recourse now for die road districts?. Taylor To protest the validity of the BLM's decision and force what they consider to be a better .t ' alternative, through any means at their disposal. like lease for we some mineral this Are use of they litigation money you suggesting Zcphyn did on die Burr Trail? .fV1'1. 1 think I would if I were a member of the Board. They should explore what their options Taylor are, and if that involves a little more expenditure of their money. I'd say fine. They've gone a '.s'1.; j , j. ,v longway down this road. CUB road districts die think loan EIS do will die sdll die stands, money it you Zcphyn If die has requested? . .; state standards. and I federal meet won't them will that think OB loan die don't money Taylor 6 to the with of 150 wife in feet that's need a rightaway wide, neighborhood grades They curvatures that will allow a minimum 50mph speed. If this does not become a federal highway, it Vy I'm not sure if the QB is going to proceed. where leave diem to go with that doee S3 even die can't So if ndlUon, again, diey get Zcphyn ; x ; V. H: ' thisroad? after to the bad think be would And I Nowhere. existing pave throwing good money they Taylor roads. All they're doing is creating a liability problem for the counties. multi-millio- ; '- . : . 7, ,, "1 v H''r-V A i s ' $ . ! SUZANNE MAYBERRY . Board member, Grand County Roads Special Service District V- . . . ' Zcphyn The BLM's EIS has been made public rod its preferred alternative does not support die road district's proposal to build a federal highway over the Book Cliffs. If it is approved, where does that leave this project? Mayberry: I don't think there's a consensus on the road board. I haven't made my mind up '' V" "V either. "5 Zcphyn If die EIS stands, which would prohibit die district horn building the road, what " . options do you have to pursue the road then? Mayberry: I don't know. I don't know that that's up to the BLM. I didn't understand it that way. VZcphyn What don't you understand? f if the road was going to be built. decide them was to to understand it I that didn't Mayberry: up to kind decide of can what rightaway give you, and they have decided to Zcphyn Well, they allow file paving of the existing roadway but not allow the construction of a highway that meets federal standards. Mayberry: This initial thing is a draft. I'm reserving a decision until there's a final decision on PAGE 11 Mayberryil'd be guessing, I don't know. I don't know If they will or not Zcphyn In the minutes to your meetings, there are many references to RS 2477T Mayberry. That doesn't necessarily apply to file road. That has to do with all the roads in the county--. I'm not an expert on roads. I don't study all fids stuff when I'm not at file road board meetings. But what I know is what I hear there; because I have s full time job and other obligations. But there are many roads that have been used by citizens of fids county. By redesignating those roads, the state will give us a larger contribution toward those roads so we can " help the county do what needs to be done. Zcphyn If die EIS stands, die only avenues that I can see the road board pursuing are RS 2477, which is doubtful since it only applies to die existing alignment, or a legal battle in die courts. Would you be in favor of using these mineral lease funds for legal fees? ; Mayberry No, I wouldn't be in favor erf getting involved in a legal battle. that money toward other projects? Zcphyn So you'd then be in favor of I other Toward road we have the right; at our discretion, to give don't think Mayberry projects. that money to the hospital or the schools. Zephyn You're saying the commission would have to abolish this district and create a new one, in order to use the funds for anything else? ", Mayberry The new district would have to go through the same procedures that we did. I may be wrong, hut this is what I understand. We couldn't just transfer money to them. Zephyn I've heard that one of the road board's concerns with file EIS is that it does not address or appreciate the potential for mineral development in die Book Cliffs that they think fliia project could stimulate. Specifically, I've heard the potential for tar sands development mentioned. We've known for years that oil can be extracted from tar sands. But at what price per barrel does oil have to reach before this is economicaly viable? Mayberry: I don't know that I know we've talked about itl don't believe it's something that is (viable) right now. I don't know what it costs to extract it There is a reserve of it up there. V Probably Jimmie Walker would, but I don't know if he does. But I would this would be a major point for the road districtJiow close we are think Zephyn to being economically viable. Mayberry: 1 don't think we've taken the opportunity to argue at this point. Well be deciding what stand to take, to see what the issues are, and what direction to go by all the people v 1 involved. y '.-- y Zephyn Bottom line question. Do yon think this road is going to be built in the next 10 years? Mayberry I think there's a 5050 chance. And that's just a gut feeling, that there are a lot of ' reasons to do it, and a lot of reasons that stand in the way. Zephyn Do you think you can get the money to do it? Mayberry Not specifically Grand County by itself. Zephyn Even if yon got the QB loan, you're a long way from having what yon need to complete this project; yet you still think it can be done in 10 years. Mayberry: I just told you what my gut feeling was, and I don't base that on millions of dollars. If you drive over the Douglas Pass road or the Indian Canyon road, neither of those are very desirable. But if we need a road, and that ia yet to be determined, I'd like to see everybody get together in good faith, and listen to what the other side has to say. Let's see if we can come up with a consensusAnd let's see how the public responds. As I understand it, all that Grand County is obligated to is the amount the QB will loan us. Zephyn But if yon are way short of the amount yon need to complete the road, ia it wise to borrow die $3 million and spend it? Mayberry: I don't know. We haven't done that yet I.? ;j t ? '? iiiPf 'i .... - the ' EIS. v ' . Zcphyn Are you going to have input on the EIS when they ask for if at the hearings? Mayberry: I will attend but I'd like to hear what the public input is. Zcphyn If file EIS is finalized die way it ia now, do you think the Community Impact Board (CIB) will still lend you file $3 million? Mayberry: I don't know. I haven't had any contact with the QB personally. That was all done before I was placed on file board. Since then, I haven't had any communication with them. Zcphyn But you've been on file board for two years, listening to the other board members. Is file loan contingent on approval of file highway, or might they loan the money in spite of die EIS? - LIN OTTINGER'S . & rock shop : tours ' ' Ai. .s i . V FOSSILS DINOSAUR BONE MINERALS GEMS .' 600 NORTH MAIN: ST. . 259-731- 2 Come in and meet V.., Moab's Dinosaur Man t t ,v.. ' A p y- - a t. A. - v V IV,M 1 ' 'j - ... ij. i "s ' |