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Show Kaiparowits Major Part Of BLM's 1974 Program An Initial rough draft environmental impact statement on the proposed Kaiparowits Project in Garfield County was prepared by the Bureau of Land Management during 1974 as part of the major activities of that agency's activities during the year. The draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in April. Paul L. Howard, BLM state director for Utah, said the energy crisis and national emphasis on environmental protection greatly influenced the activities of BLM during the year, and that Kaiparowits fits into both categories of energy and environment. Another project In the southern Utah area this one of a rather different nature was undertaken by BLM when it moved an old gold mill out of the Henry Mountains. Parts of the mill, which Included a 20-foot diameter water wheel, were flown out by helicopter to Hanksville. Plans are to reconstruct the mill as part of a visitor's center near Hanksville. There were increased efforts by the Bureau to develop energy resources in harmony with the various other uses of the national resource lands, stated Paul L. Howard, BLM state director for Utah. The first geothermal steam energy leases on BLM-administered lands in Utah were issued during the year. A competitive lease sale resulted in bonus bids of $877,188 on 12 tracts. Leases were issued on 23,350 acres in the Roosevelt Hot Springs known geothermal resource area northeast of Milford, which is one of the more promising areas in Utah. In March the first coal lease offered by the BLM in Utah since September 1970 was issued to the Plateau Mining Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The lease involved 1,360 acres and is located in the Wasatch Plateau Coal Field south of Price. The lease was issued under the Department of the Interior's short-term criteria involving coal that is needed for production in the immediate future. Mr. Howard added that interest in leasing oil and gas on federal lands increased during the year. A total of 5,870 leases were issued and the total acreage under oil and gas lease increased to 14,800,000 acres. Early in the year more than 75 million dollars was bid by Phillips Petroleum Co. and Sun Oil Co. for the first Utah oil shale lease offered by BLM. In April, a second prototype oil shale tract lease was issued by BLM to the White River Shale Oil Corp. for more than 45 million dollars. The two Utah tracts are located approximately 40 miles southeast of Vernal with 5,120 acres in each tract. The oil companies are proceeding with baseline environmental data collection and monitoring studies before development of the oil shale resource. During 1974, the Utah State Treasury received $5,003,279 from BLM. This represented Utah's share of income from BLM-administered lands within the State. Mineral activities contributed the major portion of this amount. There was increased emphasis on the condition of grazing lands throughout the West, stated Mr. Howard. Public comment was, solicited by the Bureau to help In assessing range conditions on BLM-administered lands in Utah. Public participation is an important part of the Bureau's planning process, stated Mr. Howard More than 61,000 acres of never-before surveyed land on the Kaiparowits Plateau In southern Utah was surveyed by BLM in connection with a proposed coal-fired electric generation station to be located in the area. Mr. Howard pointed out that a general study of BLM's organization in Utah was started during the year and is continuing. The study will determine whether changes may be appropriate to make BLM more efficient and responsive to the public. Severe drought conditions caused the worst fire year In history for BLM in Utah, with 216 fires that burned more than 31,000 acres. Four Utah students became BLM's first all-girl fire fighting crew in Utah! The girls were hired as summer employees and were stationed at Grouse Creek. BLM was also involved in studies of sections of rivers within the State which might be designated wild, scenic, or recreation rivers. Rivers included in the studies were the Green, White, Colorado and Dolores. There was an increased use of national resource lands in Utah during the year for recreational purposes, said Mr. Howard. Another BLM recreational site was made available to the public with the opening of the Simpson's Spring Campground in June. The campground is located near the site of a former Pony Express station in Tooele County. A project of a different nature was undertaken by BLM when it moved an old gold mill out of the Henry Mountains. The parts of the mill, which included a 20-foot-in-diameter water wheel, were flown out by helicopter to Hanksville. Plans are to reconstruct the mill as part of a visitor's center near Hanksville. Land transactions for public purposes by BLM during the year Included selling 160 acres on Westwater Creek southwest of Blanding to the Utah Navajo Development Council for development. This will be a recreation site. The city of Blanding also purchased 100 acres north of the town from BLM to enlarge an existing recreation area. Mr. Howard pointed out that these transactions were authorized under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act with the land being sold for $2.50 an acre. And again, in 1974, BLM made it possible for Utah families to cut their own Christmas trees from 30 designated areas in various parts of the State. Mr. Howard noted that BLM-administered lands make up approximately 43 percent of the total land area in Utah. The director expressed his appreciation for cooperation and support received during the year from the many organized user groups and also the public in general. |