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Show WASATCH MOUNTAIN TIMES Governor’s Fast Track Process Could Mean Utah’s Wilderness Will Be Downsized fast track to determine the size of Utah’s Wilderness has environmentalists biting their fingernails, because it appears as though Gov. Mike Leavitt’s plan favors county governments that want to minimize land preserves. Although former Congressman Jayne Owens once had proposed a bill that would include 5.7 million acres as Wilderness, other members of Utah’s delegation want something more along the lines of 1.2 million to be protected. According to the governor’s plan, the Utah Congressional delegation will introduce a bill by June 1, in hopes of having it passed during the present session of Congress. What might not be apparent, is that lands not included will be open to mining, lumbering and other types of industrial uses. About 3.2 million acres that may be developed are now protected as designated “Wilderness Study Areas.” A 1.2 million-acre designation would mean a net loss of 2 million acres that are now protected. During February, with little public notice, Garfield, Grand and San Juan Counties held public meetings for input on the Wilderness designation issue. SOUNDING BOARD Letters to the Editor Avalanche Forecasters Put Safety First Dear editor, Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the article on avalanche forecasting in Little Cottonwood Canyon that appeared in the January 1995 issue of the Times. I would like to say that the avalanche that took place on Jan. 17, 1995 had nothing to do with the recent controversy over the personnel problems within the Utah Department of Transportation. That event, like the other natural avalanches (those not initiated by explosives) that have occasionally crossed the road while it has been open, could have happened to any of the past or present forecasting teams, | have been fortunate enough to have been intimately involved with avalanche work in Little Cottonwood Canyon since 1971 and I have worked closely with all the highway forecasters since that time. Forecasting avalanches for the highway in Little Cottonwood Canyon is a vety difficult job, and even after 20 or more years, it is still quite possible to make a mistake. You can't outsmart the avalanches, so you just have to be real careful. The ski resorts in this canyon have had the luxury of maintaining, more or less, the same individuals in their avalanche control programs for up to two decades. Since the retirement of Binx Sandahl in 1990, the UDOT has unfortunately gone through many forecasters. Some of this problem with the UDOT personnel has no doubt been due to personality conflicts and to questions of authority. 1 feel very strongly, however, that when the sittuation becomes critical, all of the UDOT forecasters | have worked with and UDOT supervisor Bill Hale have kept the safety of the public on the road foremost in their minds. Lite Cottonwood Canyon is a truly remarkable place, climate and terrain have produced a rather unique environment. Most people would agree that Alta and Snowbird are associated with abundant snow and steep terrain. It is a fact that along with deep powder skiing, this canyon is also famous for its avalanches. To address this infamous problem, the UDOT must provide for an avalanche forecasting and control program equal to the potential threat of the canyon highway. To continue the safe and effective use of the canyon highway, UDOT should promote longevity among the forecasting staff and continue to allow those best suited to make decisions regarding snow stability, to do so, Some of what has appeared in previous articles on this subject in The Wasaich Mountain Times, as well as in other publications, has not conveyed the situation, as I see it, and by offering opinions from the far sides of the issue, adds to the divisiveness of the issue. Avalanche forecasting is more of an art than a science, and it is easy for some to say what should have been done after the fact. The avalanche problems in this canyon are much greater than problems between individuals. As those of us who work daily with snow and avalanches: know, by working together and being careful, we can get by. Liam Fitzgerald director of snow safety, Snowbird PAGE Mike Their suggestions will go to Gov Leavitt and Utah’s Congressional delegation Hatch, — Republican Republican Republican Sen. Congressman Sen. Bob Jim Orrin of Bennett Hansen, Republican Congresswoman Enid Greene Waldholtz and Democratic George Nickas “Our delegation has seen a window of opportunity .-. They are not going to lengthen the process for us. It isn’t fair. But that’s the way it is.” Congressman Bill Orton — who will use those reports as the basis of a Wilderness proposal. But Utah environmentalists say the plan is flawed because the county governments in question are on record as wanting to protect fewer lands, in favor of development. “We are skeptical that the counties will make an effort to get a lot of public input,” said George Nickas, assistant coordinator for the Utah Wilderness Association. The short notice gave northern Utahns little chance to participate, Nickas noted. “It limits the opposition, especially at the county government level of public input . . . For those around the state who have interest, it makes it practically impossible to participate.” The fast track process makes things convenient for the Utah Congressional delegation, who find themselves in a Republican majority that is itching to get things done. And all the Utah senators and representatives favor a smaller Wilderness, Nickas said. “Our delegation has seen a window of opportunity . . . They are not going to lengthen the process for us. It isn’t fair. But that’s the way it is.” Nickas said. He urged interested recreationalists and others to write to the governor and members of the Utah delegation to voice support for a larger Wilderness Area. The counties in question will submit their proposals by April 1. The Congressional delegation will then hold five regional meetings from April 9 to 23 to take public input, according to the office of the state planning coordinator. The fast track strategy to get a bill before Congress by June 1 is a clear attempt to short-circuit public input, in 3 favor special of the Alliance interests, Southern “It's an effort said Utah to move Ken Rait Wilderness to a minimal Wilderness Bill before people can get educated on what Wilderness means, Rait said. He contends that conserva tive political forces have purposely mis-characterized Wilderness to forward their plan for development of areas now protected A Wilderness designation will not hamper present land use, Rai con tends. Among other things, Rait explained that grazing is allowed in designated Wilderness Areas. And mining, as well as motorized access, are allowable in Wilderness areas where they have been found traditionally. “I challenge the anti-Wilderness folks to show how the users of those lands will be adversely effected by a Wilderness designation,” Rait said. In the long-term, a minimal wilderness will work against Utah, Rait said. “Wilderness protects the land for all generations.” Yhe governors tight planning schedule was done at the behest of the senators and representatives. Brad Barber, the state planning coordinator, agreed that the process could be “con strued as rushed.” Ken Rait - “It’s an effort to move to a minimal Wilderness Bill before people can get educated on what Wilderness means,” “The Congressional delegation wanted to get things moving,” he said. Although the meetings and lack of notice were not convenient, Barber said Utahns did have a chance at making known their ideas on Wilderness designation. “There were opportunities for people to go down and make their feelings known. It wasn’t convenient, but sometimes life is not convenient.” The various counties were given the discretion to set their own meetings, Barber said, and “were encouraged to keep the meetings open.” Gov. Leavitt has not yet made up his mind on the Wilderness issue, the planning director said. “The governor and the delegation will sit down with the proposals and other input and will reach a decision on what should be included in the Wilderness Bill,” Barber said. |
