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Show BLM Grazing Cuts Mean Economic Disaster in Area Proposed BLM cutbacks which could "economically devastate" certain Utah counties should not be implemented until the affected cattlemen have a chance to challenge federal claims of overgrazing, U.S. Senator Jake Gam (R-Utah) said. Gam has joined Sen. Pete Domenici (R N.M.) in (sponsoring a bill which would suspend implementation of the grazing cuts while the cutbacks are being appealed. "It is important that ranchers whose families have grazed this land for four generations be given the chance to fully air their case before being faced with cutbacks," Gam said. "Most of the Utahns have invested their lives in the lands, and are sensitive to problems relating to grazing capacity." Referring to testimony Gam heard during an August hearing in Cedar City on public lands, he pointed out that "The environmental impact statements upon which many of these cutback proposals were based may not be entirely valid." Garn said many Utah cattlemen could "literally be put out of business" by the proposals. "In Garfield County, the cuts ranged from 35 percent to 75 percent, and there were similar problems in Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver and Rich counties. Many individuals were cut from several thousand cattle to under 100, and in a moderate cattle operation this is economic ruin," he said. Some counties are already losing residents and school children whose families can no longer make a living on the reduced permits. Garn said testimony indicated that the Hot Desert Environmental Impact Statement in southern Utah was prepared during drought conditions, and many questions surround study procedures and methodology. "The hearing record includes statements that the Hot Desert and other EIS's were prepared by inexperienced federal officials who were unfamiliar with the area, and failed to take into account the unusually dry conditions," Gam said. Elder Ronald E. 1 oelman |
