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San Juan County Public Meetings for Comments on Eastern Utah Lands Bill

San Juan County is holding public meetings to gather feedback on Congressman Bishop's proposed lands bill. The bill aims to protect resources and allow appropriate uses of federal and state lands in the area. Various designations and restrictions are in place to safeguard certain areas and resources. The meetings aim to gather input from stakeholders and interested parties.

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San Juan County Public Meetings for Comments on Eastern Utah Lands Bill

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  1. San Juan County Public Meetings to solicit comments regarding Congressman Bishop’s Eastern Utah Lands Bill

  2. All Federal and State lands are managed to protect resources and permit appropriate uses.

  3. In addition to standard protections, a variety of more restrictive designations are in place, designed to protect certain areas and resources.

  4. These areas can be leased for oil and gas exploration and development subject to certain conditions. These stipulations are typically imposed to protect wildlife and cultural resources. This does not mean these areas will be leased but only that they can be considered for leasing.

  5. 575,745 acres These areas have been found by the BLM to have wilderness characteristics but are not Wilderness Study Areas. Management decisions must take into consideration these characteristics.

  6. Areas where special management attention is required to protect certain resources or values i.e., cultural, scenic, wildlife.

  7. These areas are not wilderness study areas but have some wilderness characteristics and are managed to protect the wilderness character.

  8. No oil or gas exploration or development is permitted in these areas.

  9. These areas are subject to strict restrictions regarding any development that has a visual impact.

  10. Areas of 5,000 acres or more with wilderness designation potential. Prohibited activities include road construction and the sale, cutting or removal of timber.

  11. These areas are strictly managed to preserve their wilderness character and maintain their suitability for future wilderness designation.

  12. Most public land managed by Federal agencies is subject to multiple layers of protective management.

  13. The area of San Juan County included in the Greater Canyonlands proposal is already protected by a variety of protective designations. The management plans currently in place are based on years of analysis and public input. They are designed to protect the special character of these lands while allowing appropriate development and use. The current management is not broken but is effectively protecting these landscapes and resources. We believe that a Greater Canyonlands Monument designation would be a step in the wrong direction. We strongly oppose this proposal.

  14. Proposed Designations • National Conservation Area (NCA) • National Recreation Area (NRA) • National Monument In most cases, these proposed designations will result in more restrictive and intensive management than the current management plans.

  15. Congressman Bishop has requested and received ideas and proposals for his lands bill from a number of stakeholders. We have summarized most of these proposals in the following slides.

  16. Blue Ribbon Coalition • Codification of existing management plans • No net loss of motorized and mountain bike recreation • Would consider special land designations

  17. Colorado Outward Bound • Concerned with impacts of resource extraction on students experience. • Concerned with impacts of monument designation on School operations.

  18. Dine Bikeyah • Propose NCA with wilderness designation for much of western San Juan County. • Travel plan to match the needs of the Navajo.

  19. Friends of Cedar Mesa NCA or National Monument for Cedar Mesa area.

  20. Glen Canyon Institute Expansion of Glen Canyon NRA in much of western San Juan County.

  21. Grand Canyon Trust • Greater Canyonlands Region – mix of National Monument, NCA, wilderness and wild and scenic river designation. • San Juan River basin – mix of NCA, wilderness, wild and scenic river designation and expansion of Hovenweep NM.

  22. National Parks Conservation Association • Expansion of Canyonlands NP and Hovenweep NM. • Withdrawal of all RS 2477 claims in national parks.

  23. Natural Resources Defense Council Sierra Club Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Wilderness Society Support adoption of Red Rock Wilderness Act.

  24. National Trust for Historic Preservation • NCA designation for Montezuma Canyon, Indian Creek, Ruin Park and Cedar Mesa. • National Historic Trail designation for Hole in the Rock trail from Lake Powell to Bluff.

  25. Outdoor Industry Association • Note the importance of the Greater Canyonlands and Glen Canyon/San Juan Basin for outdoor recreation. • Recommend equal consideration of outdoor recreation with energy development.

  26. Pew Charitable Trusts Propose a combination of wilderness, NCA and wild and scenic river designations.

  27. Red Cliffs Lodge • Support tourism and multiple use. • Oppose Greater Canyonlands National Monument. • Support special protection for some areas.

  28. SE Utah Grazing Advisory Board • Support multiple use, roaded access, scattered State lands, State control of water rights and private water right ownership. • Oppose wilderness, National Park and Monument designation/expansion.

  29. Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) • SITLA is charged with administering trust lands to maximize revenue to the State. • Propose exchange and consolidation of State lands into areas with high potential for revenue generation. • The consolidated State lands would generally be in areas with a high mineral development potential.

  30. Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife • Support big game and upland game populations and reasonable access. • Oppose wilderness, WSA and National Monument designations.

  31. The Nature Conservancy • Propose a combination of NCA, wilderness, and wild and scenic river designations in the Eastern Canyonlands and San Juan Basin areas. • Propose a research center in the Eastern Canyonlands area.

  32. Utah Environmental Congress Wilderness designations for National Forest areas.

  33. Utah Mining Association Support access, State land exchanges, designation of mineral/energy zones and resolution of WSA status.

  34. Utah Outdoor Business Network Support designations of NCA, NRA, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers and National Park expansion.

  35. Utah Wilderness Coalition Support adoption of Red Rock Wilderness Act.

  36. Western Energy Alliance • Support resolution of WSA status and release of administrative designations (wilderness character). • Oppose top-down/unilateral Federal designations. • Support Congressional consent for Antiquities Act designations.

  37. How can I comment? • Forms are available tonight. • A mailer with information and comment form will be sent to all County Post Office addresses as well as absentee land owners. • County web site: www.sanjuancounty.org • Email: nsandberg@sanjuancounty.org Please comment no later than November 15, 2013.

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