From Deseret News archives:
Carbon takes aim at Nine Mile Canyon plan
BLM's environmental plan for area irks local officials
An Area of Critical Environmental Concern designation for 60,539 acres in the canyon is to be part of a resource management plan issued by the Bureau of Land Management, county officials say. The BLM hasn't released the plan's final version, adds a county commissioner, but local officials have been shown proposed contents.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nine Mile Canyon Coalition supports ACEC designation for the canyon, which is world famous for its archaeological resources. The group seeks to protect the abundant examples of rock art and other evidence of the past.
But Michael S. Milovich, a Carbon County commissioner, responded, "I don't know why they need to do the whole canyon."
Nine Mile Canyon is actually far longer than nine miles. About a 24-mile section northeast of Price hosts hundreds of ancient Indian rock art panels. Milovich estimated that 60 percent of the canyon is private property. The area also figures prominently in oil production.
Congress intended ACEC designations "to protect small defined areas around sensitive sites," says the letter, mailed to Stevens, who is also the chairman of the San Juan County Commission. The Dec. 16 letter is signed by members of the Carbon County Planning and Building departments.
"We are fearful that local BLM staff and the agency does not recognize the threat to BLM's management authority, the long term damage to the land, to small rural economies or the national implications caused by the reckless lawsuits which stream" from environmental groups, the letter states.
Carbon County planning officials fear that designating the canyon as an ACEC could "amount to total gridlock and allow extremists the ammunition needed to sue BLM and take away their management capabilities while letting a judge make land management decisions."
The letter also refers to "outside communitarian groups" exerting disproportionate influence on federal land decisions. An online dictionary defined a communitarian as a member of a collectivist community.
All that an ACEC designation would do, he said, is to indicate that the canyon "needs to have extra mitigation to avoid destroying the cultural resources," said Steven C. Hansen, coordinator of the Nine Mile Canyon Coalition.
Comments
- Aggie women beat Bison 8:00 p.m.
- Utes stung by empty possessions 7:58 p.m.
- Swine flu vaccine available to all 7:12 p.m.
- Boy hit by car after sledding 6:51 p.m.
- Health care exchange not taking off 6:22 p.m.
- No prison for couple in scheme 6:21 p.m.
- Sources say Halladay to Phillies 5:55 p.m.
- House gives Real honor 5:53 p.m.
- Church museum has Latin exhibits 5:52 p.m.
- Streetcars could pump life into city 5:51 p.m.
- Wet spot found in Powell's home
- Sources: Josh Powell hires attorney
- Y. opponent nearly smelled roses
- D-Will treats military families to party
- MWC looks better in basketball
- Maynor amazed by L.A. fans
- Pace happy not to be noticed
- High school football: All-region teams
- Jazz Extra: Starting 5
- BYU singers compete in 'Sing Off'
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
178 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
152 - Gay-friendly curriculum phased out
142 - LDS to emphasize helping needy
125 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110 - Unga might enter NFL draft
106 - BYU to wear royal blue uniforms
101 - Disappearance called 'suspicious'
96 - TV mom gives birth to 19th child
95 - Choir, guests unwrap musical magic
84
David Rankin, one of Utah's youngest and ablest astrophotographers has...
There was a time when free shipping was rare. This holiday season, you...
First of all, to "20/20," how can you read newspapers and not understand...
For all of you saying he should be paying to live in a cave. According to our...
I suggest that TV commercials be banned, or if that is not possible, show the...
Didn't we have this until the 50's? Tracks are buried under many streets in...
Ditto to both comments above. I've been watching 'The Locater' for a long...
The article didn't state the man's criminal history, but let's assume he's...
I dont know who this Susan is or any of her own family.Just want you to know...
The Utah GOP is a rogue group aren’t they? I hope they get a better...
Utah is the only state that allows its standing legislators to sit on the...
ogden=snow capital of utah for the cities it alway's seems to get the most...
@boo! Conservatives are not afraid of freedom. If you can't see all the...




You can be the first to comment on this story.