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.”
--Canyon Zephyr Expose' on Money Trail--Implicates Environmental Powers
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
