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Show .11 igjL , rw & HOMETOWNEWSPAPER FOR SAN JUyAN COUNTY, UTAH 50 cents SINCE 1915 August 23, 2000 wMgaKauwiwimSb: Angel Arch Road opened after ruling by Appeals Court close Salt Creek Road. However, the proposed closure initiated a wide ranging public debate that resulted in what appeared to be A U.S. Appeals Court has overturned a ruling by the U.S. District Court in Utah and opened vehicular access to one of the signature attractions in Canyonlands National Park. On August 15, the U.S. Tenth District Court of Appeals ruled that Salt Creek Road in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park should be open to motor vehicles. The popular drive trail, which meanders through a rough and beautiful red rock canyon to Angel Arch, was closed in 1908 by a U.S. District Court. The District Court ruled that the National Park Service erred when it did not close the road when creating a backcountry four-whe- el management plan Park. Canyonlands for The Appeals Court ruled that it was the District Court who had erred in its interpretation of previous law and reversed and remanded the original decision back to the District Court. In so doing, the Court of Appeals lifted the injunction that closed the Salt Creek road. With the ruling, local residents and visitors alike will be able to access the spectacular beauty of Angel Arch. Because of the strenuous 20 mile round trip hike required to reach the arch, closure of the road had restricted access to the arch for all but a small number of hikers. National Park Service officials state that the road will be opened as soon as visitor safety and maintenance concerns are adequately addressed. At the current time, because of severe fire danger, there is no overnight camping of any type allowed in the Salt Cieek corridor. A fire in Salt Creek in the past week An Appeals Court ruling has opened vehicle access to Angel Arch in Canyonlands National Park. The arch features the outline of an anCourtesy photo gel in the buttress on the right side of the arch. to hear of the court ruling. AnDry lightning apparently gel Arch is a source of pride for caused the Salt Creek Canyon local residents who consider it attraction in fire, which began August 14 and the was not put out until August 17. Canyonlands National Park. A fire crew, with heliThey also felt betrayed by the to copter support, was able stop original District Court ruling, which overturned a backcountry the progress of the fire. Officials state that several sig- management plan developed by nificant archaeological sites are Canyonlands National Park afwithin the fire zone, including ter considerable public input. In 1992, the Park Service beMan and the Crews Gourd Grotto sites. were gan developing the backcountry able to protect both sites, but of- management plan for Canyonficials say that other sites may lands. The plan was developed have burned. Archaeologists will in response to growing visitation evaluate the site in coming days. to the area. A preliminary Park Local residents were delighted Service preferred ruling was to consumed 133 acres. pre-emine- nt 10-pers- on All-Americ- an a compromise agreement. Instead of closing the 10 mile portion ofSalt Creek Road, Park officials decided to leave it open to vehicles on a limited permit system. Up to 10 vehicles per day were permitted to enter Salt Creek canyon. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance filed a complaint in District Court challenging the Park Service decision. The Court ruled that permanent impairment would occur from the continued use by motorized vehicles and told the Park Service to not allow motorized vehicle traffic in Salt Creek Canyon. Appeal of the Courts ruling was filed by the Utah Shared Access Alliance and other groups supporting four wheel drive vehicle recreation. Salt Creek Canyon is the only d fresh water creek in year-roun- Canyonlands National Park, aside from the Colorado and Green rivers. Apparently, as soon as the road was closed, monitoring equipment was placed along the old roadways to measure the impact of the road closure. Defending themselves before the Appeals Court, the Park Service asserted that the legislation which created Canyonlands National Park authorized a balancing between competing mandates of resource conservation and visitor enjoyment. They argued that the backcountry management plan represented a reasonable accommodation of conflicting mandates that should be afforded considerable deference. 'VJliat bo you think? THISWVEEKl Commission brief - See page 2 planned at area airports Fly-i- n - See page 4 Jr. Livestock & Talent Find results See page 5 a Nutshell Life in - See page Hillman triathlon - See page Next time they get in a lawsuit they ought not to neglect the owner of the road. Commissioner Bill Redd, regarding an Appeals Court ruling to reopen the Salt Creek Road, stating that there had been an error in a previous District Court decision and they had abused their discretion in granting the injunction that closed the road. c Weather' Montici-ll- Aug Hi 14 86 15 86 16 85 17 18 19 20 Bl.inding o Ix Ir 60 58 tr. 59 .06 85 56 .06 84 57 .53 80 56 .17 78 58 tr. Hi 91 95 95 93 87 89 87 might help the crashes. heard there are a lot. - Janessa Bowring I 62 .10 60.06 63.25 59 tr. NEWS ROUNDUP. LETTERS SOCIETY. SPORTS COMMUNITY NEWS San Juan Record love saying we live in a town with no stop light. I can't say that anymore." I is okay! Our city looks even better! It - Yolanda Lopez I stand here at Parkway Texaco from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day and three semis have run the red light already this morning. - Kerri Randall - Chris Ruiz Ir INDEX takes It Lo, 64 65 56 CIASSIFIEDS Central streets vehicles a day which travel through the intersection Area residents were asked how they like the new light. Most gave it a green light 14 a LEGALS REAL ESTATE A new stop light now sits on the comer of Main and in Monticello. The light will help manage the 6,000 1 1 2 8 10 14 IS 21 22 22 |