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Show Involve The Local People Many people are applauding the creation of the Crand Staircase Escalante National Monument. I was born and raised in the area adjacent adja-cent to the north west corner of the monument. This has given me the opportunity to know many of the wonders within its boundaries. My grandfather homestcaded and raised his family in the Willis Creek drainage, a contributory of the upper up-per Paria River. I love this land, it is my heritage, my children's heritage her-itage and a part of my very soul. I agree this land should be protected from detrimental intrusion. However, the way this monument was created should be of great concern con-cern to everyone, to every citizen. It seems that the entire Democratic process was thrown aside for its creation. The key people responsible responsi-ble for the state, its lands and its people were excluded from the process. pro-cess. The boundaries were hastily thrown together with complete disregard dis-regard for section 2 of the act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431) which gives the president presi-dent this authority. The act states in reference to establishing boundaries; bound-aries; "in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management manage-ment of the objects to be protected." pro-tected." Some areas included were excessive and do not meet the objectives ob-jectives such as the area around my grandfathers homestead and yet, possibly the most photographed, prominent landmark and geologic formation .in the Bryce Canyon area, the pink cliffs of the Escalante Mountain was exclude - while abandoned coal mines at its base were included. I wonder what the priorities were? I am certain these problems could have been avoided had our president adhered to the democratic process by which this great country was built. It is frightening to me that a special interest in-terest group is allowed to meet its objectives in a Stalinist manner with complete disregard for the democratic process. If this and all future lands are to be protected in this manner, for our children's future fu-ture benefit then it should be done by the people. All Americans should be involved, not a hand-picked hand-picked few. Moyle C. Johnson Tropic |