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Show From San Juan County... AROUND THE BEND AGAIN... By Ken Sleight tootsie rolls and some Pepsi and drove to Moab where I met Dave at the SUYVA office. Together, we drove to the Hart's Point road. Driving hurriedly up this wide graded dirt road we left sand clouds behind. From this road, to the left and the right, other narrower roads leading out onto the mesa had also been freshly graded. As we topped the juniper-covere- d mesa, we met the grader and its crew at lunch time. The grader was positioned to start down another jeep trail - a trail never before graded. The trail consisted of two tracks, each track limited to about the width of an vehicle tire. Vegetation was still growing between the tracks that led winding out across vehicles had been driven over these lands for no d the mesa top. It was obvious that real reason except for the adventure of driving over rough and virgin lands. Dan Kent and Kevin Walker were already there. We huddled together at the huge grader and talked over the situation. The equipment operator was ready to go. The county road supervisor was in touch by radio with San Juan County. They were aware that there would be some type of confrontation and they were preparing for it. The media came. The stage was set. When BLM's Kent Walter finally arrived. I le came alone, however, with no federal officers with him to back him up. Walter immediately conferred with the road and supervisor equipment operator. lie informed them of the cease and desist order and the trespass notice. If they didn't comply they and the county would be held liable and in violation. We had expected a delegation of county officers. Instead, Sheriff Mike Lacy and three deputies were sent in their place. Sheriff Lacy conferred with the county officials and then walked over to where we were ay off-roa- SHOWDOWN IN SAN JUAN COUNTY: The Desecration of Sacred Lands I have always been intrigued by Native American views as to what constitutes sacred lands. Their feelings arc real and they view many lands as sacred. This would include Rainbow Bridge, Navajo Mountain and many other areas of the canyon country. But many ohor of our people also feel the same way. Many especially feel a real spiritual affinity to the canyon countiy. They have shown this in a number of ways. Congress enacted the Wilderness Bill so that the people of the United States could retain much of their land for solitude and spiritual purposes. Many other lands have been placed in parks, memorial sites, and other protective sites. Other legislation has been enacted to assure that the environment of these lands shall be protected. Witness the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act which calls for studies to be made on federal lands prior to adverse uses made of the lands. Antiquity laws have also been enacted to assure the survival of places of great cultural values. The Mormon people themselves, who settled here, feel many such areas arc sacred to them. Many edifices - even temples and hundred of houses of worship - have been built on lands on which they settled. Parks and monuments have been established because of the ." very feelings of reverence they feel toward them. They often refer to these lands as "God-given- We all view lands differently. We often don't hold the same significance for some lands as our neighbor might. What all this comes down to is that there must be a mutual respect among all of us to sec that the best and most noble use of lands are assured and that the lands are not desecrated needlessly and wantonly. Respect for each of our views can be achieved. Respect can be shown by our sitting down together and talking over our differences concerning the proper uses of our lands - lands that belong to all Americans. Then we develop the plans together. But wishing this to be doesn't make it so. There arc people and organizations that do not hold this same respect. It is extremely disconcerting to me to see in my own county -among some of my own people - such continuing disrespect for our lands and for the values held by others. This said, let me recount the recent events as they happened, as I saw them, concerning the blading of lands and development of roads recently on Hart's Point near Canyonlands National Park. On the early morning of October 1, 1 received the expected call from David Pacheco, SUWA's Moab representative. We had previously been alerted that San Juan County was about to blade some more roads in the Hart's Point area. Armed with a cease and desist order and trespass notice, BLM was to stop the illegal blading operations on lands it administered. Some of us wanted to watch this actually happen. It was long past due. Moving quickly to get my chores done, I gathered up my camera, recorder, note book, Protester Ken Sleight is palled to the side of the road while Sheriffs Deputies attempt to arrest Dan Kent. standing. Fie ordered us to disperse. We didn't I asked him for what cause and by whose orders we were to disperse. Fie told us the county attorney had ruled on the legality of their actions and that he had been in touch with Commissioner Bill Redd. I told Sheriff Lacy that proper procedures had not been complied with. The San Juan Commission had not acted on this action in any commission meeting that I was aware. The county had not yet complied with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or with the provisions of antiquity laws. Other laws, rules, and regulations were also being violated. I asked Sheriff Lacy for a conference via radio with Commissioner Redd before allowing the blading operation to begin. I wanted Commissioner Redd to come to the site. Why Redd or the other commissioners did not come, I do not know. Sending the police force out &WPP. WtNTERINVERSlONf WITHAdoODlHOT ((Whqtele"are'you QUALITY REALTY 505 (801) CALL TOLL-FRE- rirtnuia .jv- - 259-50- 259-649- 21 FAX: (801) 259-838- 7 Each office is independently owned and operated. 800-748-48- 87 h E: N. Main Street 3 or - TW. |
