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Show Southern Utah Cheers Decision On 'Integral Vistas' Dispute Governor Norman Bangerter cheered the decision of the Secretary of the Interior Donald Hodel to release the land around or adjacent to national parks, national monuments and wilderness from consideration as "integral-vistas". The announcement on Friday ended years of controversy among private landowners, environmentalists, state and federal officials and among various federal groups themselves. Integral vistas are said to be areas within the boundries of the various parks and other recreational areas. These areas are usually overlooks from which no sign of industry or commercial develpment can be seen. In the case of Bryce Canyon National Park the view from, Yovimpa Point is one that overlooks the Alton coal fields. At the present time no development of any kind can be seen. With the integral-vista concept nullified, it is possible to foresee potential development of the fields and the possibility could exist that smoke might be seen from Yovimpa Point. The Friday announcement brought immediate outcries from environmental organizations, led by national parks and conservation organizations. In 1981, 173 areas were considered to be integral-vista sites. There were three sites each in Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and five sites each at Zion and Capitol Reef National Parks. Bangerter was quick to state that Utah would act responsibly. He said, "I think we are capable of protec ting our own environment and quality of life." He said that he and Utah's congressional delegation as well as most western states had made recommendations to Hodel against the integral-vista concept. Bangerter made it plain that as far as he was concerned, the integral-vistas represented another federal hoop for us to jump through. Bangerter said the state of Utah is perfectly capable of taking care of its own business. He said that there would be differences of opinion between developers and environmentalists, "they won't agree on everything and that's where government comes in." He said, "Tourism is Utah's foremost industry and I am sensitive to the needs of balancing the environment with the industrial needs of the state, If we destroy tourism with irrational development we will surely pay the price." Congressman Jim Hansen echoed Bangerters throughts by' stating, "Because I recognize the strong feelings and emotions surrounding the integral-vistas issue, I praise Secretary Hodel's courage to make the right decision for the right reasons." "The final identification of integral-vistas would only have resulted in unnecessary additional regulatory burdens and harm to our local economies without meaningful environmental benefits. |