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Show PANGUITCH • PAXGUITCIILAKI-: • HATCH • BKYCI-: • TROPIC • ANTIMONY • HENRIEVILLF. • CANNONVIU.E • ESCAUNTE • BOULDER • DUCK CREEK Thursday, August 3, 2006 • Issue #71 ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT IN UTAH AN ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION Bryce Canyon National Park and Southern Utah University (SUU) solidified an agreement between the two entities at a ceremony on therimof Bryce Canyon National Park. On Wednesday, July 26 relay team members representing Bryce Canyon National Park and Southern Utah University started at Sunset and Sunrise Points and met at the halfway point, each team passing the agreement to the SUU Board of Trustees. Coincidentally, it was the same location that the Olympic Torch was passed in 2002. The agreement will formalize and expand the partnership between the park and SUU that has been in effect for over 20 years. The park has hired many SUU students and alumni. In addition, a number of SUU professors have presented programs to the public and training to park staff for many years. Park staff have presented as speakers in classrooms at SUU. The park will be an experiential classroom for professors and students to explore natural and cultural sciences as well as social sciences. It will also provide an exposure to the mission of the National Park Service; to conserve the scenery, natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of future generations for those who are involved in the partnership. The Bryce Canyon Natural History Association has been a catalyst in formalizing this agreement along with the High Plateaus Institute. This is an institute where scientists, educators and agency managers, and members of the public can participate in scientific activities and translate those activities into practical information that advances knowledge of this region's natural and cultural resources. It was exciting to see the educators, students and park staff intermingled on the rim of Bryce Canyon National Park overlooking the amazing landscape of Bryce. WATCH WEATHER Thu Aug 3 Ed etJ TStorms ed T- 7B*/30» 30% Aug « | P * Storms 79*7*9* 30% Aug 5 Stormc 79V-t3° 30% Aug 6 Storms COUNTY Prof et YQUI' Planti From "... •'".-. - - • 82°F Protect Yovr PUntt From PROGRAM INSIDE THE INSIDER Dale Carnegie PRESORT STANDARD PAID PO BOX 472 LOA, UTAH snapshot@scintemet.net Loa, Utah 84747 PERMIT No. 5 BOXHOLDER THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and distributed weekly to all of Garfield County . Its purpose isto inform residents about local issues and events. Thank you. 4// c/ws /e/«/ to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. Men 0— Au<) 9 FOR THE GARFIELD BLM plans to offer 334,000 acres in August Lease Sale Utah BLM Director Henri Bisson ies in central Utah hold new promise." joined with other Utah state and county LaVonne Garrison, Assistant Direcleaders in a press conference Friday, tor for Oil and Gas with the Utah School July 28 that discussed the economic ben- and Institutional Trust Administration efits of oil and gas development in Utah (SITLA) directed her remarks to how and BLM's upcoming August 15 oil and leasing of BLM lands benefits the state's gas lease sale. funding for schools and other programs. "SITLA was organized to manage The state has seen dramatic increases in leasing and development on lands held in trust by the State of Utah federal lands since 2003, with market for the benefit of 12 beneficiaries, the prices and discovery of new reserves in largest of which is the public school systhe central portion of the state fueling tem," Garrison said. "Since our lands are interest in historically non-producing ar- primarily islands within the sea of fedeas. BLM has had three record-break- eral lands in Utah, we are directly afing sales in the past two years, and last fected by BLM's actions. SITLA sup : year nearly 700 wells were drilled in the ports BLM for enabling responsible enstate compared to 378 wells drilled in ergy development by leasing areas for continued in-fill and new exploratory 2002. Bisson discussed the role the BLM drilling." plays in oil and gas development and Sevier County Commissioner Ralph how development benefits local econo- Okerlund also supported BLM's decimies. He said that the Rocky Mountain sions to offer lands for lease in the cenRegion is the largest on-shore natural tral portion of the State. "Sevier County gas reserve in the lower 48 states. Fed- has seen significant economic benefits eral Lands managed by the Department from the leasing and development of oil of the Interior account for one-third of and gas resources on federal lands. Part all coal, oil, and natural gas reserves. of leasing revenues that the State re"With demand for natural gas ex- ceives are granted to the counties for pected to increase 50 percent over the transportation and other programs." next 20 years and oil consumption exProduction royalties were $179 milpected to increase 30 percent, leaders lion dollars and leasing revenues hit $36 of our country and state are highly in- million dollars in 2005. Half of these revterested in how to meet these future enues are shared with the State. In addemands," said Bisson. "Utah is in a dition, oil and gas development brings jobs prime position to meet these demands— and other kinds of tax revenues to Utah. BLM's Vernal Field Office has the largAccording to a report by the Utah est number of conventional oil and gas Energy Office, the drilling of a typical wells in the Bureau, and new discover(continued on page 9) 20% Don1' Fuiael > ^9^ S Phone: |
