Showing posts with label Mineral restrictions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mineral restrictions. Show all posts

Monday, May 14, 2018

Understanding the Economic Dilemma of Rural Utah

Charts and graphics showing the burden that Public Lands Bring to Rural Utah and other States

1) Employment in Utah 2007-2016

2) Median Family Income in Utah 2015


This site gives an updated overview of economic factors: 



3) Public land/ (millions of acres controlled by Fed. Gov.) in Western States



This map above illustrates the prevailing concerns of many in the west: Because of the excessive amount of public lands vs. private land, western states are treated more like territories, with little regard for their life style, values, and politics. The great divide is more about the inability to utilize private land because of federal policies created by public land managers.   

How Much Land Does the Federal Gov. Own in the West And Why



Lack of Private Land in San Juan County (only 8%) coupled with Federal Control of Public Lands stifles economic development in rural Utah. San Juan ranks 29th out of 29 Utah counties with a per-capita, annual income of approximately $23,244.  Approximately 29% of San Juan County residents reportedly fall below the Federal poverty line.

Disparity between East States and Western States Sovereignty


4) Existing National Parks, National Monuments and State parks in Utah

 The State of Utah covers 52,696,960 acres. Of that land mass, 35,033,603 acres have been designated into 13 different national parks/monuments.  The federal government inefficiently owns/ runs/ manages 66% of our state!

 For the past two years, National Parks and Monuments were under a two-year deferred maintenance totaling nearly $11.5 Billion. Utah alone was behind $278,094,606 in park maintenance.   Parks/Monuments in Utah are inadequately maintained by the Federal Government.  Chart shows the financial burden ("deferred maintenance") currently felt by the State of Utah: 

(Keep in mind that the Federal Government currently is over 21 TRILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT and it's rising daily.)  National Debt Clock

5) Agencies and Legislation Affecting States with public lands: 

San Juan County is already home to six federal designations/destinations:  Natural Bridges, Hovenweep, Canyonlands, Dark Canyon and Grand Gulch Wilderness areas, and Glen Canyon Recreation Area.   
Listed are layers of protection already in place: 
Layers of land protection affecting the West:
1.     1906 Antiquities act,
2.     1935 Historic Sites Preservation Act,
3.     1960/1974 Reservoir Act,
4.     1964 Wilderness Act
5.     1966 National History Preservation Act
6.     1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
7.     1969 National Environmental Protection Act
8.     1974 Archeological & Historic Preservation Act,
9.     1976 Federal Lands Policy and Management Act,
10. 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act,
11. 1979 Archeological Resources Protection Act,
12. 1980 Amendment NHBA - Exec. Order Protection & Enhancement of Cultural Environment,
13. 1990 Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act,
14. 1996 Indian Sacred Site Protection Act,
15. 2000 Consultation & Coordination with Indian Tribal Government Act
2003 Preserve America Act 


6) Bears Ears/ Public Lands Protections/ Mineral Restrictions

7) The Environmental Money Trail in the US Should Be Investigated

Gutsy journalists need to investigate the $ flow of Sue and Settle litigation over the past 20 years instigated by the Wealthy Green Lobby and its impact on Western States and their economy:   EPA director to End Sue and Settle Pattern
“Scott Pruitt recently issued a directive to end a 20-year string of “sue and settle” cases that have funneled untold millions of tax dollars to environmental organizations. . . About 20 years ago, government agencies stopped collecting data on these settlements, so they could no longer report to Congress on the amount of money involved, or the groups to whom it was being paid. Long-time observers know it amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars, and the recipients are mostly large environmental organizations.”


8)  What San Juan County Does Not Want to Be:  Another Moab

-- Jim Stiles Explains Impacts of Industrialized Tourism -- Canyon Zephyr
--Canyon Zephyr Expose' on Money Trail--Implicates Environmental Powers

Sunday, February 11, 2018

~~ Bear Essentials ~February 11, 2018~~


v San Juan County friends: you are urgently needed tomorrow Monday, Feb. 12th at 5:30 PM for a town hall hosted by Representative John Curtis. This is your opportunity ask those hard questions you’ve been complaining about related to H.R. 4532.  Even though the monument has been reduced substantially, there are questionable items included.  Meet at the Hideout Community Center in Monticello.  5:30-7:00 PM       Car pool if possible.
Linda Patterson:I found a better map. Apparently all of Elk Ridge and the Blue Mountain are being assessed for wilderness designation. The scary part about this for ranchers is: that when they created the Dark Canyon Wilderness they eliminated grazing in that area. Here is the map link https://www.fs.usda.gov/.../FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd547675.pdf

Without your voice the Green Swamp Will Continue to Grow  



Good News Bears
Dwight Lomaintewa, who lives in the Hopi village of Mishongnovi, said the 65-mile (104 kilometer) daily drive to Peabody Energy's Kayenta Mine is well worth it. A steady job means his family can stay on the reservation and his children can learn the language and traditions, the 33-year-old said.
Myron Richardson, a 42-year-old Navajo welder, said he was fortunate to get a job at the mine after being away from home for construction jobs. If the power plant and mine close, he said he'd likely have to move, and his children's cultural lessons with their grandfather would cease.”
A county commissioner’s poor job performance and conflicts of interest have spurred a group of concerned citizens in La Plata County, Colorado to launch a local recall effort. Calling itself the La Plata Liberty Coalition, the group is busy gathering recall petition signatures with the hopes of ousting Commissioner, Gwen Lachelt.
n Montana Senator Writes Resolution supporting Justice for Western Ranchers  “WHEREAS, A seventeen page whistleblowing letter, released by the federal government’s lead investigator (Special Agent Larry Wooten) in the Nevada standoff case, cited multiple cover ups within the federal agencies and a “widespread pattern of bad judgment, lack of discipline, incredible bias, unprofessionalism and misconduct, as well as likely policy, ethical and legal violations among senior and supervisory staff”

n  Be Good Stewards of the Land as Sportmen  Sec. Zinke sets the pace
n  BLM works on Reshuffling the Swamp.  Good?   Or Bad?
n  Petition to Free the Hammonds.  Your Support is needed

 
Bad News Bears

n  Environmental Hype Falls Flat: No one shows up!

n  If pro-monument advocates can’t control themselves to not illegally vandalize Utah’s public buildings, paid for by your tax dollars, WHO KNOWS what type of desecration they have in mind for Bears Ears.... This happened at the Utah State Capitol Feb. 10!
          
Other Articles/ Events of Local Interest


v Drought Conditions in San Juan; please continue to pray for snow!
v  
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 http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/          
                     Documenting Bears Ears “No Monument” efforts since July 2016