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Show Bryce, Z'.on, Cedar Breaks Utah Parks studied in Wilderness Bill A House Interior Subcommittee Sub-committee this week tentatively ten-tatively approved a plan to separate four Utah National Parks from an omnibus wilderness bill until a state study on wilderness designation of those parks is completed. Dan Marriott, a member of the full Interior Committee, Com-mittee, sent a letter to National Parks and Insular Affairs Subcommittee chairman Phillip Burton (D-Cal.) (D-Cal.) asking that "any omnibus legislation considered con-sidered this year not include any wilderness designations for Utah." The letter was also signed by Utah Senators Jake Gam and Orrin Hatch. In the letter Marriott and the Senators reminded Burton that the State of Utah "has been engaged in the development of a comprehensive com-prehensive position on all lands administered by the National Park Service, and has actually completed its analysis of two of the areas, Glen Canyon and Canyonlands." They said the entire delegation had agreed it would not support an omnibus wilderness bill and that Congress should "wait until the State had completed com-pleted its review, and then agree on a set of proposals that would be acceptable to all parties." The four areas include Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, Zion. Marriott and the Senators said as much as 30 percent of the State remains a potential wilderness area. "We have de facto wilderness and it will suffer no harm by waiting until there is a comprehensive State position." During the discussion of the letter in Burton's committee, the Chairman agreed to support that approach ap-proach when the bill is completed Wednesday. Marriott said he was pleased with that response, as it gives Utah more time to plan effectively for potential wilderness areas. "We must move slowly and decisively with regard to wilderness in Utah," he said. "There is much that needs to be protected and much that can be developed witho'tit harming the unique attractiveness of the parks. In ei'ther case, the State is closest to its needs and the requ irements necessary for pres erving the public lands. Our study will make a great contribution to the final disposition of those areas, with an eye on the long-term nefids of the state and the country," he added. |