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Show BLM PLANS TO APPROVE WELLS IN DUMA POINT: Years ago, the BLM set a 10 well limit on drilling activity within the Paradox Basin Fold and Fault Belt, an area of oil and gas potential surrounding Moab extending in all The current plan was developed in 1995 under a majority council of faces that scoffed at wilderness and smiled upon development. The boundaries of the plan illustrate these BLM wants to expand this limit further to allow Riata Energy, Inc. to construct or upgrade expressions as they gerrymander around oil and gas leases, and other extractive or motorized uses of the land. The ‘95 Council even excluded roughly half of Mill Creek Canyon — the community's backyard wilderness playground, not to mention its water source— to accomodate Ray Pene's insane, hair-brained fantasy of erecting a dam for powerboat recreation. Other areas ignored by the plan include Fisher Towers, Mary Jane access roads and drill two wells within the new Duma Point unit of the citizens' wilderness Canyon, Goldbar Rim, most of the Labyrinth Canyon unit, vast tracts in the Bookcliff that directions east of the Green River. After 10 wells were drilled, an environmental impact statement (EIS) would be required to analyze the impacts of oil and gas development on the various resources. Well, that number was exceeded last year...and still no EIS. Now, the proposal. To avoid an EIS, the agency claims that these wells are not drilling into the Paradox Fold (and are therefore an exception to the EIS requirement), and that additional “information gathering” wells are needed to determine if development is “economically feasible.” These excuses are outrageous. Regardless of whether the wells are drilling into the Paradox Fold, the surface impacts to the area identified by the BLM in setting the 10 well limit are the same. Like any well site, habitat-fragmenting, visually-impacting, and wilderness-wrecking roads will be built and rigs will commence operation. If productive, are integral to wildlife, Hunter Canyon, Dome Plateau, Duma Point, and Big Triangle . . . to name a few. However, included was a recommendation for “hard release” language in the final legislation, which means in a nutshell that the areas not included would never be considered for wilderness again. As made obvious by comments during the hearing, this weak plan does not represent the interests of Grand County residents. The Council is scheduled to vote on the plan at the September 20" meeting. Until then, the jury is still out. additional wells could be drilled, more road construction would be required for haul trucks, and pipelines could be installed. The BLM's excuses are also misleading since Riata drilled a similar well in a nearby location last year that did not prove to be economically feasible. BLM cannot allow industry to continue hedging its bet at the expense of wilderness. Help SUWA hold the agency to the “10 well limit” by writing to: Sally Wisely, Utah State Director, BLM, 324 S. State St., Suite 301, P.O. Box 45155, SLC, UT 84145-0155; and Maggie Wyatt, 82 E. Dogwood, Suite M, Moab, UT 84532. THE ABAJO MOUNTAINS ARE UNDER ATTACK: ORV enthusiasts including representatives from Southern Utah Land Users (SULU) and San Juan County want to convert the peaceful, biologically critical Abajos into an ORV jungle-gym. Earlier this year, SULU and San Juan County submitted a proposal to the Forest Service requesting funding to build new routes that would link hundreds of trail miles throughout the forest. Although that proposal was declined due to a lack of funds, under the guise of "maintenence" ORV interests have been utilizing chainsaws, winches, motorized vehicles, and other equipment to reconstruct or to construct over 20 miles of routes. These routes pierce roadless and sensitive areas untouched by vehicles or that have been void of motorized travel for decades. Many more areas are threatened, as San Juan County and SULU have access to a “trail cat” - an elusive name for a 4-foot wide bulldozer with other vegetation clearing capabilities. Road densities on the Moab/Monticello District are already far higher than target levels, and thus far any attempt to reduce this density by closing damaging routes has been met with extreme resistence from ORV groups. San Juan County is a ring-leader in illegal bulldozing and obnoxious county road claims, and less than one year ago the District prosecuted an officer of SULU for illegally constructing a motorized trail within a roadless area on the north flank of Shay Mountain. Despite th gade actions, the Forest Service continues to support County and ORV group projects, actually constructs more roads, and refuses to follow through with promised closures. ~~ Please help halt these damaging actions by writing: Glenn Casamassa, USFS, Monticello Ranger District, P.O. Box 306, Monticello, UT 84532, Chris Wood, Senior Policy Advisor to the Chief, United States Forest Service; 14% & Independence, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250; and to Don Fullmer, Acting Supervisor, Manti-La Sal National Forest, United States Forest Service, 599 W. Price River Drive, Price, Utah 84501. DON'T FEAR, “FRIENDS OF THE ABAJOS” IS HERE! Friends of the Abajos has recently organized as a non-profit to work on local solutions aimed at sustaining the ecological health and diversity on our forest islands-in-the-desert. The Friends are seeking volunteers to help with spring and wetland restoration (that are getting hammered by cows and ORVs) in the Abajos. Current issues needing public comment and involvment include the expanding illegal ORV trails (see above), the Maverick Point Timber Sale, and many cattle grazing allotments on the Abajos and La Sals which are being reviewed this year. For more information, call Dan Kent at (435)259-1667 SUWA WINS AN APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GRAND GULCH PLATEAU Protection for the world class Native American cultural and archaeological resources in the Grand Gulch/Cedar Mesa area is moving in the right direction. The Grand Gulch Plateau spans over 385,000 acres in Southeastern Utah and encompasses Grand Gulch, a 52mile-long canyon loaded with ancient cliff dwellings and other significant remains of prehistoric cultures. The BLM recently instituted a permit system to decrease damaging visitation. However, the agency almost shot itself in the foot a few years ago by exposing these resources to impacts from more visitors. In 1996, the BLM issued a decision to build a visitor center at Kane Gulch as a “portal” to the significant resources. SUWA appealed that decision, arguing that the agency failed to consider that constructing new facilities would encourage increased visitor use, further impacting an environmentally and culturally sensitive area. The Interior Board of Land Appeals agreed, and stated in its recently issued Opinion that “the center will also unquestionably attract visitors to the resources.” The issue is now on remand to the BLM to fully analyze these impacts. PAUL'S GLASS & GARAGE boo2s 11021 A. South Highway 191 Moab, UT 84532 THiS??? IS PAULP NO WA This Is TINA ands she'll also be here to help you with all your glass needs. or 259-5440. GRAND COUNTY WILDERNESS PLAN: Grand County residents returned from their Labor Day weekends to attend a public hearing on the County's wilderness plan (well, I guess it's possible they came back ‘cause they ran out of beer, but that's a separate issue). All attendants, except one individual who represents the anti-wilderness Utah Association of Counties (UAC) and the oil and gas industry, spoke-out against amending the General Plan to adopt the County wilderness plan. Residents felt the plan failed to include many of their favorite wilderness areas, calling it “minimalist.” fi In sum, they wanted more wilderness. For information or service call: TOLL-FREE: 1.877.259.2235 or 435.686.2233 — Heh...it's election —_ “au RIVERSIDE —is # PLUMBING & HEATING 366 N. 500 W What plugged season...What do up the drain? you think? RHETORIC. ¢ MOAB « 259-8324 Residential - Commercial - Sales Installation - Drain Cleaning COMPLETE LINE OF PLUMBING FIXTURES Kohler - Grohe - American Standard Ejer - Moen - Delta - Briggs Price Pfister HOT WATER HEATERS - GARBAGE DISPOSALS | | |
