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Show Federal Land Exchange Provides New Concept "Conceptual changes" is the way that Clair Baldwin of the Powell District, Dixie National Forest, refers to the proposed exchange of properties between the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land The announced proposal is to seek an interchange of management between the two agencies of about 30-35 million acres of land and underlying minerals. The agencies claim that the plan will improve overall efficiency in administering both entities of government, and result in significant savings. "The concept," Baldwin said, "is a proposal only at this1 point and requires legislative process to bring it to reality." "It will provide an opportunity to increase efficiency by localizing vast areas and will bring control units closer to their assigned areas in some cases. Currently some offices are sufficiently remote from assigned territories that significant savings could result in travel time, fuel, and upkeep on vehicles", said Baldwin. "We could expect to encounter some difficulties", Baldwin said, "but the very fact that the various BLM land units and national forests would come under an even closer scrutiny by managing agencies should enhance service to the public", said Baldwin. Service to the public is the main priority of both agencies, he added. One of the reasons suggested for the change said Baldwin Is that "present land jurisdictions are intermingled and are somewhat accidents of history. "They resulted," he said, "from separate, unrelated actions which didn't consider future BLM or FS management". He said that the public is expected to benefit, for example, because it will be easier to do business with either agency due to a more consolidated land pattern. Many of those who use federal lands, and need to obtain authorizations such as grazing, rights-of-way and recreation permits, will be able to do so from only one agency, rather than both. While both BLM and Forest Service now hold management responsibilities on federal lands, a single governmental entity would eliminate duplicate activities, personnel and facilities under the proposal. Another cost-cutting factor is that the elimination of duplicating activities would require fewer people and offices necessary in the long term, less travel for administration, and fewer permits . and authorizations to be issued. The cost of implementing the change-over would be expected to offset the over-all saving the first' several years, according to a USDA report. After implementation however, the savings will continue to build, perhaps as high as $250 to $350 million over a 10 year period, which makes the proposed change extremely cost efficient. Concept planning and realignment maps are now complete and during the next several months more detailed implementation will be developed, a Department of the Interior reporter noted. The intitial concept map is based on a number of criteria in addition to those mentioned. One is the predomlnence of BLM-FS administration in counties and towns where both agencies operate. The potential problem of disrupting a town's economy by a precipitous move has been considered, said a BLM spokesman. The Department of Agriculture Clair Baldwin, district ranger of the Powell District, Dixie "atlonal Forest, points out some of the lines of demarcation In the proposed l Interchange of land between the FS and Bureau of Land Management. Program that will be Implemented this fall throughout the nation. Land said that the concept does not take into account, nor does it even consider, the acre-for-acre or value-for-value factor. Although geographical guidelines are a consideration, the FS would gain acreage to the BLM's loss. Currently, agencies have the authority to make administrative adjustments in land management functions, but Congress must act to redesignate BLM lands to FS and vice-versa. The BLM-FS functions will remain the same initially. Details and reassignments can be made so that BLM-FS personnel can function and have jurisdiction in all concerned areas. Most agency offices would remain as situated for a time. However, said the USDA report office, mergers would take place later in the process. These decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis based on detailed analyses. The interchange would have no effect on payment programs because the legal status of the lands will not change until Congress takes acction The USDA pointed out that the 1964 Wilderness Act will remain intact under implementation of the interchange. Designated areas will remain wilderness and study areas will continue to be studied. To the question, will these two agencies themselves eventually merge, the Forest Service says no. Public and congressional reactions to past such proposals appear to be that one agency would be too large and unresponsive to public needs. The Panguitch area Forest Service currently has 16 people. The entire Dixie forest has 150 permanent and winter seasonal employees as well as an additional 30 summer or seasonal employees according to a personnel spokesman in the Cedar City office. The BLM offices serving the Five County area currently employ 90 people. |