Beyond The Bears Ears

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

Friday, May 11, 2018

BEAR ESSENTIALS: May 11, 2018

v Dr. Mike Kennedy, candidate for Utah senator will be in Monticello May 22,

7 PM at the Hideout. Get your questions ready.

v Phil Lyman: Updates on Campaign and Causes Plus inspiring words!

v Future of Bears Ears Explored by PBS

v Willie Greyeyes Considered “non-resident” of San Juan Fox News

v SL Tribune’s Take on Willie Greyeye’s Utah Residency

v SJC and San Juan Record to Host Journalism Students from USC

Open house May 15 at Monticello Discovery Center 7 PM

v Yet Another Reporter Comes to San Juan To Stake a Claim!

“Approximately one-third of the acres removed from Bears Ears are wilderness or wilderness study areas and remain off-limits to claims. Finding a parcel that was previously part of Bears Ears, did not have an active claim and was not otherwise restricted to mining proved to be a bit of a challenge.” . . . In 2017, an estimated $75.2 billion worth of minerals were produced in the U.S. — up 6 percent from the previous year. And the Trump administration has prioritized boosting domestic production of minerals it has identified as “critical” to the economic and national security. A draft list of 35 minerals includes both uranium and vanadium, a malleable metal also found in the White Canyon area of southeastern Utah.”

n Trump Administration & Congress Defend Mining on Federal Lands

“Despite the vital importance of minerals, the previous Administration took dozens of anti-mining actions which, if left in place, will stifle job creation, decimate local economies and disrupt public education funding streams. This overreach locked up millions of acres of Federal lands under false pretenses and harmed our nation’s domestic mineral supply…”

n Recapture Canyon Road Was Never Under Federal Jurisdiction

n Proposed Railway Would Haul Freight between Unitah Basin & Craig, Co.

n Impact of Judge Shelby’s New Voting Districts on Blanding

n Epic Mistake Impacted Manufacturing Jobs In USA

n Chilcoat Felony Trial Moved to Price, Ut, May 23

n The Hammond Plot Thickens: Was Uranium on Malheur land the real reason for prosecution of ranchers?

Peter Thiel—the founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook, is also an investor in carbon neutral nuclear production and the future of mining uranium. His new startup company is called Helion Energy.

n Colorado Woman’s Mineral Research Discredited by Former Administration/ Nobel Prize Affected

“Through the years, Wenrich searched for uranium deposits in northern Arizona, which, says the U.S. Geological Survey, has “the highest uranium potential in the country.” After spending $100,000, she staked 71 mining claims with joint interest in another 94 claims. In fact, she had a $200,000 agreement to sell 61 of the claims. Yet, in 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar closed more than a million acres of federal lands from mining, blocking her from selling the 61 claims, developing her other claims, or exploring for more uranium resources.”

n The Coup d’état Over Idaho Land -- Goal: Identifying species and habitat for corridors which can be used to place large tracts of land into conservation for connectivity to other protected areas, convincing private land owners to place their land into conservation easements, buying land through NGOs and the federal government, erasing jurisdictional boundaries between counties, states, and countries, and creating a regional environmental governance. This CSP graphic gives a visual picture of just a few groups who are involved in controlling public land use.

(San Juan County is also impacted by many of these:)

n Why would we ask our US Representative to Support Industrial Strength Tourism?

n Protest March on White Mesa Mill planned for May 19

Other Articles/ Events of Local Interest

v Salt Lake Tribune Faces Cuts Due to Reduced Circulation

v Ute Tribes File Lawsuit Over Mismanagement of Tribal Lands

v Jurassic National Monument in Emery County?

http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/

Documenting Bears Ears “No Monument” efforts since July 2016

Monday, April 30, 2018

BEAR ESSENTIALS: April 30, 2018

v Type in Address to Find Your Commissioner Voting District

Attention citizens in San Juan County District 3-- Rebecca Benally and Kenneth Maryboy are the only two candidates running for commissioner in this district. Both are running as Democrats in the primaries, and there is no Republican candidate. If you’re registered as a Republican the ONLY viable way you can vote is to request a democratic ballot for the primaries. Please contact Janet Wilcox 678-2851 or respond to this e-mail Before May 4 if you’re willing to do this! Rebecca has gone out on a limb multiple times to help us in the Bears Ears fight. She needs our support NOW in getting reelected!

v SPEAR Meeting Tues. May 1 Monticello Court House 7 PM

Anyone who has an interest in maintaining their access to public lands is invited to attend. This includes not only ATV riders, but also jeepers, hikers, bikers, and others. Spear is an organization that not only builds and maintains trails, but fights to insure your public access rights are not denied

v Dr. Mike Kennedy, candidate for Utah senator will be in Monticello May 22, 7 PM at the Hideout. Get your questions ready.

v John Curtis video on Utah issues, including Bears Ears

n President Trump Signs Antiquities Ex. Order April 26

The Antiquities Act does not give the federal government unlimited power to lock up millions of acres of land and water, and it is time we ended this abusive practice. This executive order will end this egregious abuse of federal power, and give that power back to the states and to the people, where it belongs.