Halloween 2019 Brings More Tricks, Fewer Treats Oct. 31, 2019

What's New In the West and San Juan County

~~ Concerns regarding Nov. 5 vote:  "Illegal electioneering is a class A misdemeanor and SJC election administrator should be scrupulously neutral."

Better get out and vote "Yes" before Nov. 5 
or you'll have yet another thing to complain about!

~~ Questions Arise Over Nov. Ballot Follow up by San Juan Record 10/28/19

~~ Solutions for Wild Mustangs? Japan and Mexico may Have the Answer  

~~ Utah Fire Fighters Head to California

~~ Nov. 5 Commission meeting Agenda

SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM
AGENDA
November 5, 2019

  9:00 A.M. Work Meeting

1. USU Extension Update / Personnel - Paige Wray, USU Extension Agent/County Director
2. Halls Crossing - Cal Black Airport Capital Improvement Plan - Kirk Nielson, Javiation
3. Halls Crossing - Cal Black Airport Development  Opportunities Discussion - Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development and Visitors Services Director
4. Briefing on Proposed Zoning Ordinances and the Spanish Valley Land Use Status - Walter Bird, San Juan County Planning and Zoning Director
5. Aging Contract - Tammy Gallegos, San Juan County Aging Director
6. County Health Insurance Renewal increase - John Fellmeth, San Juan County IT Director/Deputy Auditor
7. Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah Sponsorship for the Naatsisaan Ultra and Monument Valley Kids Marathon - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
8. Eastern Utah Television and Technology Association Board Member Assignment - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
9. South Eastern Utah Regional Transportation Plan Cooperative Agreement - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
10. Letter to Bureau of Land Management Concerning La Sal 2 Well APD - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
11. Spanish Valley Updates - Jerry McNeely, San Juan County Liaison
12. Public lands updates - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting

1. Approval of minutes - August 6, 2019
2. Citizens' comments to the commission* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Board of Equalization Adjustments - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
4. Aging Contract for Approval - Tammy Gallegos, San Juan County Aging Director
5. New Hires - Walter Bird, San Juan County Human Resources Director
6. USU Dinosaur Museum Partnership Support Letter - Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services Director
7. Approve and Execute County Health Insurance Renewal Increase - John Fellmeth, San Juan County IT Director/Deputy Auditor
8. Letter to Bureau of Land Management Concerning La Sal 2 Well APD - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
9. Federal Partners Appreciation Letters - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
10. Ratify Purchase of John Deere Articulated Dump Truck - Randy Rarick, San Juan County Landfill Manager
11. Approve and Execute South Eastern Utah Regional Transportation Plan Cooperative Agreement - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
12. Y.E.S. for Dine Bikeyah Sponsorship of the Naatsisaan Ultra and Monument Valley Kids Marathon - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
13. A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONCERN AND OPPOSITION OF THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPROVE THE SPANISH VALLEY AGGREGATE AND HOT MIX ASPHALT PLANT WITHIN SAN JUAN COUNTY
14. A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND UPDATING THE REMAINING REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNTY MEETINGS AND MEETING LOCATIONS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE PURSUANT TO SECTION 52-4-202 OF THE UTAH CODE

~~ Senator Lee Makes Case for State Control of Public Lands

   “States like Utah have a proven track record of successful partnerships with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management,” Lee said. “These partnerships have resulted in the restoration of millions of acres of high priority watersheds, wildlife habitat and rangelands. We need to continue to expand and encourage these kinds of efforts to allow states to step up and lead.”

Curtis said there are a “disproportionate” amount of public lands in the Western states and that the dialogue in Washington, D.C. often excludes the downfalls, such as a lack of property tax generated by those lands (often the main source of revenue for local governments) and a limited ability for economic development to take place. He called the situation “divisive,” and said the federal government is failing to adequately fund management of those lands, citing “two BLM agents in San Juan County, managing that entire area” as an example of where federal management has fallen short."

~~ Live Press Overview of this week's San Juan Record 

~~ Utah Company Awarded Timber Contract in La Sals

~~ A Letter in Favor of Better Government in San Juan County (SL Trib)

    Comments Regarding this letter were most Uncivil, yet the  SL Tribune blinks an eye, despite their policy:  

"The Tribune moderates comments to ensure the conversation is respectful and on topic. We do not allow comments that include personal attacks, threats, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives and letters followed by characters), commercial promotion, spam, fake profiles, multiple accounts, incoherence and shouting.

"In addition, a comment may be removed if it is deemed to be uncivil, inappropriate, racist, sexist, homophobic, bigoted, blatant “trolling” or is not related to the topic at hand. While moderation decisions are subjective, our moderators try to be as consistent as possible. Generally, we will not allow comments to become bogged down with discussions of our moderation policy and activity.

"We encourage opinions and criticisms of our work; however, those criticisms must relate to the articles in question. Personal attacks against Tribune staff will not be permitted.

"The Tribune does not edit comments but it may respond to comments that contain factual inaccuracies."

~~ Nat'l Park Maintenance Falls Far Behind Needs

~~ Latest from the Sierra Club 

~~ Goats in the LaSals Get Grand Canyon Trust's Goat

Conflict, CRA's, Commission: Bear Essentials 2/8/2019

What's New In San Juan and the Rest of the West?

Should San Juan Be Divided into Two Counties?

Possibility of Dividing County Studied 20+ years ago

San Juan Election Battles Continue by Jim Stiles

Commission Meeting: 2/5/19

Discounts for Sr. Citizen Camping, Likely to End

Pros and Cons of TIF/ CRA Financing for New SJC projects   by Stacy Young

"To date, San Juan County has formed a Community Reinvestment Agency (CRA) and invited applications for tax increment financing. (Blanding has formed a separate CRA; however, since it is the county that assesses the lion’s share of local taxes, most TIF action is likely to occur within the county’s CRA framework.) So far, two projects have applied for tax increment financing from the county-wide CRA. Both projects are seeking a property tax abatement of up to 75% and 20 years.

One proposed project is a 54-unit boutique resort hotel called Bluff Dwellings, which is already well under construction at the mouth of Cow Canyon. That project is seeking tax increment financing of $458,000, which consists of a $300,000 turn lane into the property from Utah Highway 191 plus $158,000 in other utility improvements serving the project.

The second project proposing TIF is a 70-room limited-service flag hotel identified specifically as a Marriott Fairfield. That project location is targeted for a vacant parcel on the north end of Blanding and is currently in the pre-construction feasibility stage of development. The investors in that project are seeking $1,250,000 described as general site improvements like parking, utilities, and storm drain facilities.

Kudos to School Board: article continues...

"Postscript. At the end of January, the Board of the San Juan School District voted unanimously not to participate in either the Bluff Dwellings or Blanding Fairfield CRA. I personally think this was the right decision, but what was probably even more positive than the result was the independence the board demonstrated in reaching their decision and the seriousness with which they took their fiduciary duty to all of the county’s schools. As outlined above, a sound TIF process is one that closely analyzes “but for” and “opportunity cost” concerns prior to implementing a TIF incentive.

Unfortunately, in far too many instances and in far too many jurisdictions, the participating government entity merely goes through the analytical motions when it comes to such questions. But the School Board in San Juan County treated these questions with great care and concluded that the proposals on the table did not satisfy this more rigorous standard of review. To the credit of the Board, the members spent a good deal of time and effort to become well-informed about the pros and cons of TIF, which enabled them to ask difficult, pointed questions and independently evaluate the answers they were given. Prior to the vote, Board President Steven Black produced a solid conceptual and financial analysis, which concluded that both proposals fell short for “but for” and “opportunity cost” reasons."  Stacy Young

~~ Senator Mike Lee Works to Protect Utah and San Juan County 

Against Aggressive Monument Designations:

  Lee's response: "Very honored to receive this letter of support from State Senate and House Majority Caucuses. Limiting the power of the federal government in Washington to unilaterally restricting how Utahns can use our public lands is one of my top legislative priorities. We all have heard from many constituents about the profound negative impacts monument designations can have on some communities in our state.   I am honored to continue the fight with my Utah legislative colleagues against this unjust law."

~~ Preliminary Budget for San Juan County

~~Get to Know your Navajo Neighbors

~~Executive Order on Managing US Forests

~~Navajo Tribe Negotiating to Purchase Generating Plant and Coal Mine

~~ Retired Mine Inspector: Info Provided by Environmental groups is Wrong

~~ Emery County Supports John Curtis Public Lands Bill

~~Ted Cruz and ChucK Norris: How to Pay for THE WALL

~~ Could be Good, Could be Bad: Larry Echohawk as State Counsel on Indian Affairs

~~ A Little Satire Now and Then is OK:  So I'm Sharing this Video  Enjoy!

Facts Speak Louder Than Opinions

~~ Maryboy Pressuring Aneth Chapter 

Aneth Chapter Meeting: Feb 13 @ 3:00 PM * * *

Commissioner Maryboy is currently lobbying the Aneth Chapter for a return to the original 1.9 M. Acres for Bears Ears.  In the past the Aneth Chapter courageously voted TWICE AGAINST BEARS EARS MONUMENT.

Their strong Independent Voting Membership is needed again Wednesday February 13th, 2019 @ 3:00 pm, chapter meeting.

Aneth Chapter understands the true nature of NOT allowing the monument to expand, cutting off resources like firewood to Navajo people who need to use the resources that public land provides. Free thinking Navajo people who are against Expanding the Monument currently in place need to exercise their right to vote, and not be controlled by outside puppeteers. Protect our local public lands via state and county action, not through a debt ridden Federal Government that operates with a $21 Trillion cash deficit.

"The Aneth Chapter also requested that No More National Monument designations be established in the State of Utah (2017)"
#NoMonumentalExpansion #VoteAgainstExpansion

--Alliances with Rich Environmental NGO's Taints New SJC Commission

"Here’s the $64,000 question: Will the policies of the new pro-Bears Ears county commission begin to align – to varying degrees – with the goals of a grand alliance whose members include the foundation established by multibillionaire Hansjorg Wyss ($2.2 billion, see sidebar), Utah Diné Bikéyah, Round River Conservation Studies, Friends of Cedar Mesa, the Conservation Lands Foundation, the Grand Canyon Trust, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Earth Justice, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Nature Conservancy, Packard Foundation ($7 billion), William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ($9.8 billion), Wilburforce Foundation ($115 million), Pew Charitable Trusts, Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation and some of the nation’s most prominent and politically aggressive outdoor recreation companies?"

~~ New "Green" Deal Relies on Minerals Environmentalists Don't Want Mined: Catch 22 Alive and Well

~~~~~~~~~

 Information for Contacting Your County Commissioners

Kenneth Maryboy, Chairman

Phone:

Cell Phone:

kmaryboy@sanjuancounty.org

 Willie Grayeyes, Vice-chairman

Phone:

Cell Phone:

williegrayeyes@sanjuancounty.org

Bruce Adams

Phone:(435) 587-3225

Cell Phone:(435) 459-1351

bbadams@sanjuancounty.org

Pehrson Clears Name; Meetings, Roads, Windmills, and Wildlife/ Nov. 15, 2019

Meditations to Start the Day

Thanks, Anna Tom

Thank You, Readers!  Beyond the Bears -- October 2019 had the Highest Readership in a single month since inception -- 1637 site contacts

===================================================

Citizens Invited to Attend

====================================================

 State Representative Lyman Sues U.S. for $10M over Trespassing Conviction

Satire from the Navajo Times:  Jack Ahasteen is a great cartoonist

An Important message

~~ BLM Oil Leasing Facing Protests in Mesquite area

===================

~~ November 19 San Juan Commission Meeting

        SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM
AGENDA
November 19, 2019

  9:00 A.M. Work Meeting

1. Spanish Valley Planning Ordinances - Mark Vlasic, Landmark Design 
2. County Seat Presentation - Chad Booth
3. Bluff Town Updates - Bluff Town Council
4. County Predation Management Plan Contract - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
5. Public Works Purchase of Bottom Dump Trailer - Clark Hawkins, San Juan County Road Department
6. Public Works Purchase of Fruehauf 8400 Gallon Trailer, Clark Hawkins, San Juan County Road Department
7. Spanish Valley Updates - Jerry McNeely, San Juan County Liaison
8. Public lands updates - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting

1. Approval of minutes - November 5, 2019
2. Citizens' comments to the commission* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Public Hearing to consider the following draft ordinances
a. Spanish Valley Residential (SVR) District
b. Spanish Valley Planned Community (PC) District
c. Spanish Valley Residential Flex Planned Community (RF) District
d. Spanish Valley Business Flex Planned Community (BF) District
e. Spanish Valley Highway Flex Planned Community (HF) District
f. Spanish Valley Highway Commercial (HC) District
g. Spanish Valley Water Efficient Landscape Requirements
h. Spanish Valley Outdoor Lighting and Sign Illumination Requirements
i. Spanish Valley Sign and Display Requirements
j. Spanish Valley Overnight Accommodations Overlay District Requirements
k. Amendment of Chapter 11: Multiple Use, Agricultural, Rural Residential Districts Adoption, specifically Subsection 11-3 of the San Juan County, Utah Zoning Ordinance (2011) to amend the minimum lot sizes in those districts from one-acre to as small as one-quarter acre as compatible with state regulations on water and sewer sources and lot sizes.
l.  Adoption of a new Section 4 of Article II. Planning Requirements for All Zones in San Juan County in the San Juan County Subdivision Ordinance (2016) to create a minor subdivision ordinance permitting developments up to four lots to be exempt from the platting requirements of the subdivision ordinance.
4. Planning and Zoning Ordinances consideration for Approval
a. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE SPANISH VALLEY DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES AND MAP AMENDING THE SAN JUAN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE
b. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11; MULTIPLE USE, AGRICULTURAL, RURAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS ADOPTION, SPECIFICALLY SUBSECTION 11-3 OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTY ZONING ORDINANCE (2011)
c. AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 4 OF ARTICLE II. PLATTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ZONES IN SAN JUAN COUNTY IN THE SAN JUAN COUNTY SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE (2016) CREATING A MINOR SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE 
5. Ratification and approval of  Capital Improvements to the Public Safety Building - Monte Perkins, San Juan County Maintenance Director
6. Consideration of the following Subdivisions for Approval - Scott Burton, San Juan County Planning & Zoning
a. Hummingbird Nest
b. La Sal Acres Amendment No. 1
c. Cannon Ranchos Amendment No. 3
d. Flat Iron Mesa Ranch, Phase XXIV
7. Ratification and Approval of the Purchase of Landfill Loaders - Randy Rarick, San Juan County Landfill
8. Ratification and Approval of the Purchase of Landfill Custom Scaling System - Randy Rarick, San Juan County Landfill
9. Ratification and Approval of the Purchase of Public Works Bottom Dump Trailer - Clark Hawkins, San Juan County Road Department
10. Ratification and Approval of the Purchase of Public Works Fruehauf 8400 Gallon Trailer - Clark Hawkins, San Juan County Road Department
11. Approval and Execution of the San Juan School District Quality Teaching Incentive Program Resolution - Kyle Hosler, San Juan School District
12. County Predation Management Plan Contract - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
13. Election Canvas for Approval - John David Nielson, San Juan County Clerk
14. Tax Abatement - John David Nielson, San Juan County Clerk
15. Convene as Local Building Authority
a. Local Building Authority Request for Reimbursement Authorization Form
16. Reconvene as Board of San Juan County Commission
17. Commission Reports

*The Board of San Juan County Commissioners can call a closed meeting at any time during the Regular Session if necessary, for reasons permitted under UCA 52-4-205*

~~  State Records Committee Clears Kelly Pehrson of Insubordination 

   "The management style of the new commissioners has taken a toll on day-in, day-out workings of government. The most visible and possibly far-reaching impact so far could be Maryboy’s accusations of insubordination directed at Kelly Pehrson, county administrator, who left in April to take a high-level state job in Salt Lake City. Pehrson has fought to clear his name over the past five months, and yesterday the State Records Committee sided with him in that effort."  Bill Keshlear

~~ Range Magazine Tells Part of the LeVoy Finicum Story

~~ Dept. of Interior Paves Way for Future State Control of Public Land Roads

"In a notice in the Federal Register on Friday, Interior revealed it would open a 30-day review of control of Manganese Road in southwest Utah.

Nearly all of the 10.18-mile thoroughfare sits on lands governed by the Bureau of Land Management. Interior's approval would give control of the right of way — including maintenance and improvements — to state and local officials.

But conservationists warn that the Manganese Road could be a test case for Utah, which has long disputed control of more than 14,000 rights of way covering some 35,000 miles in the state."

~~  Huntsman Visits Southern Utah:  "Ground Zero" for Growth in Utah

~~ Penetrating the Ballot Fog in San Juan (Nov. 5 vote on study regarding type of Gov. )

~~ Utah Explores Alternative Fuel Solutions

~~ Farmers Contribute to Economy: 1.5 Billion Eggs produced in Utah

~~ Patagonia Pays Bail for Arrested Protesters 

Who Wonders What "Industrial Tourism" Looks Like, and Why SJ Doesn't Want it?  

~~ What Happens When Wind Turbines Reach the End of their 20 Yr. Cycle?

~~ "Sustainable Development" Policies Work Against Beef Industry

"The term “Sustainable Development” was born on the pages of the 1987 United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. It is basically the policy for the implementation of Agenda 21 which came along in 1992. The announced purpose of Agenda 21 was a “comprehensive blueprint for the reorganization of human society”.

~~ Encroaching Bans on Animal Products Threaten Food Producers

"Politicians want to tax farmers and ranchers for emissions and slap sin taxes on meat to encourage plant-based diets. Celebrities are spinning faux science into meatless propaganda in the name of compassion to animals and the planet."

~~ Last Resort?  When the Only Card You Know How to Play is "Racism"

~~ Cougar Sightings on the Rise in SW Utah; How to Protect Yourself 

~~ Fires in Central Utah; A Convenient Excuse, or Good Policy?

~~ Feral Horse Management Creates Crisis

~~ Bad Environmental Policy Causes Forest Fires

~~ From James Adaki's FB Page:

Chris Herrod Understands Rural Counties and Utah's Needs. He'll Be in Monticello July 22!

Commissioners from San Juan and Grand discussed land issues with Chris Herrod July 15 in Monticello 

Chris Herrod is a candidate for 3rd district congressman hoping to replace Jason Chaffetz who retired earlier this year.  Herrod visited San Juan County Saturday, July 15, and was hosted by Commissioners Curtis Wells from Grand County, Bruce Adams, and Phil Lyman of SJC. All three commissioners support Herrod’s candidacy. (All have signs if you wish to put one up in your yard.) 

While discussing land issues, Herrod explained, “We’ve lost understanding of what Stewardship means.” He compared it to care of a garden. "You don’t just leave it alone to tend itself, hoping something will grow. . . .It is offensive to me to think that people over 2000 miles away think they can care better for public lands than Utah stewards."  He emphasized that “Locals should have the loudest voice” and not be the victims of “political payback.” 

Commissioner Phil Lyman complained strongly about the BLM Master Leasing Plan, whose goal seems to be to delay decisions as long as possible and then give a plan they know San Juan County won’t like.” Adding salt to the wound, the Master Leasing Plan, "only applies to Grand and San Juan Counties, NOT other counties," Lyman stressed. He also emphasized, "This is a “pivotal time in history.”

All three of these SE County Commissioners support Chris Herrod in his bid for Congressman representing District 3

Available from Amazon

Herrod referred to a book on State's Rights written by Bill Redd and Bill Howell, given to him by Howell several years ago. After reading it, Herrod bought 30 more copies and sent them to constituents who needed to be informed about state and county access rights and property rights. He emphasized that it is not enough just to “vote right” but there is a need to education people. “It is easy for public lands states to understand these issues, but we need to do a better job forming coalitions with other states and help them understand. Utah has already given their share of land for federal parks and monuments.

"The Antiquities Act has been the most abusive of all federal legislation passed," Herrod stressed. “We need to claw back the BLM and other rule making authorities and ask, 'What is the true intention of the Constitution?'"

 He expressed concern about Emery County with its two power plants and Kane and Garfield counties which have nothing for kids to come back to after earning college degrees. “We need to push as much authority back to the state.” We need to push back on policies which "cause terrible fires like Brian Head."

Commissioner Bruce Adams complained that when laws are passed, then employees have to write hundreds of pages to explain the regulations. For example, FLIPM (land management act of 1976) used to be fairly simple, but has overgrown and expanded excessively.

Herrod entered state politics in 2007, and referred to the Patrick Henry Caucus which has been a force helping push back federal overreach. It was created in Utah In 2009 to fight against socialism. He also described flying for 2 hours in a Black Hawk Helicopter over Bears Ears when Secretary Zinke came to San Juan. Bruce Adams, also referenced the 2 hr. 15 min. helicopter ride with the Sec. of Interior, which "just covered the boundaries of the Bears Ears Monument, not the interior of 1.3 million acres.  He also emphasized, "As commissioners] we are responsible for the boundaries of San Juan County. We are not a sub-division of the Federal Government.” Our county has existed for decades on mineral extraction.

Herrod also stressed the need for multiple use of the land, including resources. “PILT in lieu of tax monies, are nothing compared to actual taxes generated from a business. This “Big Brother” philosophy causes many problems in foreign economies.  When you visit them, you will see the differences. “Socialism wants us to be dependent upon the government.” (See links at the end.)

Grand Councilman, Curtis Wells with Herrod

He also referred to the inspiring words included in both the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials in Washington DC, and compared them to those on the FDR memorial, most of which allude to citizen rights coming from government. 

Curtis Wells, Grand County Councilman,  stressed three things in his comments as top concerns. 1) Need to claw back regulations. 2) Foreign policy: help make the US stronger. 3) Need to address “entitlement” issues

“It is a misnomer to think that a National Monument is the only way to protect lands, Herrod emphasized. “Environmentalists use it as a hammer to get their way. We should use the legislative process." He mentioned that in the Howard-Redd book, it explains that states gave up rights and jurisdiction to Reservation Lands, BUT that is not true of Public lands. “Minerals are the great equalizers of public lands vs. the eastern forests.”

 

Members of Stewards of San Juan attended the meeting:
L-R: Jami Bayles, President, Members: Kim Henderson,
Jodi Lyman, and Janet Wilcox.

 Herrod also encouraged citizens in the rural west  to tell the tough stories about what happens to a  community when regulations, such as “protecting  the spotted owl, become more important than people not having a home.” He mentioned the overreach of militant BLM personnel like Dan Love, and the punitive overreach against Ken Brown and his son-in-law Dustin Felstead, who were only repairing an historic road built by an ancestor, yet ended up with horrific fines. The case against them was built on fabrication and lies not the truth. Herrod told of living in the Soviet Union, where any entrepreneurial effort (such as kids selling biscuits) is considered criminal. He alluded to the 150 “Nazi” officers who came into San Juan County, interrogated Dr. Jim Redd, and its sad aftermath. “They acted as judge, jury, and executioner,” he emphasized. They sold “untruths.” 

Richard Ryan, Dennis and Stella Lightfoot from Spanish Valley attended
and are very involved in politics. 

He also asked for help from San Juan County is showing life as it is, and how it will be affected. In answering a question on the Antiquities Act from Kim Henderson, he said one plausible avenue is to ask for Utah exemption from future designations, as part of an omnibus bill, which is how the “other” side works. Right now, environmentalists are funded through “Sue and Settle” lawsuits. They win enough that way that it funds all their environmental activities. He also emphasized that there is a “difference between land management and land exclusion.”

Another major concern in his view is the National debt, which is “a national security issue.” Utah has the resources we need for a strong country, but "not when they are locked up." Richard Ryan from Moab mentioned that Kate Cannon of Arches Nat’l Monument indicated that Arches will soon go to “visitation by reservation only.”

=========================

• About Chris Herrod 
• Herrod to be interviewed July 25 by Glen Beck
• KUER Interview with Chris Herrod
• Have a question you want to ask Chris ?
• Inscriptions on Jefferson Memorial
• Inscriptions on Lincoln Memorial
• Inscriptions on FD Roosevelt's Memorial

Past is Prologue: Bears Ears Monument Reappears

~~ Biden's Expansion of Utah Monuments

The Antiquities Act gives presidents too much power, ignoring the many stakeholders whose needs should be considered. . .

By The Deseret News Editorial Board 

  

. . . .well-meaning members of Congress in 1906 did something that flew in the face of America’s governing philosophy. They passed the Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the power to create national monuments without a public process and without a vote of Congress. 

~~~~~~~~

San Juan Record Bears Ears Coverage

 
Oct. 13, 2021

In restoring the Bears Ears National Monument, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that there is adequate staffing and resources to appropriately protect the area’s natural and cultural resources, to manage the increased visitation that the area continues to experience, and to make Bears Ears a model for Tribal participation in the management of the Monument.

The Bureau of Land Management plans to assign additional rangers to the region; install appropriate signage and infrastructure to inform and support visitors; begin working with local communities, the State of Utah, and Tribal leaders on assessing the potential opportunity for a Bears Ears visitors center that highlights the monument’s cultural resources; and support the Bears Ears Intertribal Commission’s participation in management of the National Monument. 

All six of Utah’s federal representatives including Representative John Curtis, Senator Mike Lee and Senator Mitt Romney issued a joint statement ahead of the announcement.

“President Biden is delivering a devastating blow to the ongoing efforts by our delegation, along with state, local, and tribal leaders, to find a permanent, legislative solution to resolve the longstanding dispute over the boundaries and management of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.

“Rather than take the opportunity to build unity in a divided region and bring resources and lasting protections to sacred antiquities by seeking a mutually beneficial and permanent legislative solution, President Biden fanned the flames of controversy and ignored input from the communities closest to these monuments.

“We will continue to support efforts to ensure that our monuments’ boundaries and management reflect the unique stakeholder interest and uses in the area, but today’s ‘winner take all’ mentality moved us further away from that goal.”  

https://sjrnews.com/public-lands/bears-ears-national-monument-resized-136-million-acres-nearly-27-percent-county

~~ Help us Challenge Abuse of the Antiquities Act 

By Benjamin Burr

I don't think anyone was surprised by today's announcement. Many of us have been preparing for this in the meantime behind the scenes. We knew this step of the fight would need to happen once it became clear that Utah's federal delegation - with unprecedented congressional seniority during the Trump Administration - refused to fight for a permanent Antiquities Act exemption for Utah like Alaska and Wyoming have (Mike Lee did fight for the exemption, but the others did not). While the Senate is generally a sclerotic, do-nothing institution, during the Trump Administration the Senate was busy confirming an insane amount of judges, and the balance of power on the Supreme Court shifted. For those who haven't been paying attention, Chief Justice Roberts has signaled that there are concerns with abuse of the Antiquities Act, but the Court has chosen to wait for the right case.

The next phase of the fight over the Antiquities Act and controversial monument designations can and should take place in the courts. There are three entities that have the standing necessary to wage this legal fight: the State of Utah, SITLA, and any private in-holders within the monument. The State of Utah's standing is the strongest, so it is crucial that effort is focused on ensuring that Governor Cox and Attorney General Reyes pursue this fight. They need to hear encouragement from Utahns who are frustrated by the monument expansions. We've created a tool that makes it easy for you to start by sending a letter to the Governor (like 2 minutes of your time and a few clicks). Or you can reach out on your own. I think a simple message of encouragement will go a long way.

Help us spread the word about this! And Sign the Petition!!

~~~The Biden Administration used the Antiquities Act to restore the original boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. This undoes what the Trump Administration had previously done in shrinking these monuments. This is a blatant attack on Utah and its public lands and will result in restrictive access and management policies. Governor Spencer Cox has previously stated his frustration with the Biden Administration's unwillingness to work with lawmakers regarding this issue. Show Governor Cox that he has our support to challenge this designation with a lawsuit from the State of Utah. 

Please Sign Petition: https://www.sharetrails.org/fight-for-every-inch/#/6/

~~~~~~~~

Biden's Bears Ears Expansion/ Belies Real Plans for Protection 

~~ CNN) President Joe Biden on Friday (Oct. 8) announced the expansion of three national monuments -- Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine -- in a move that restored protections that had been undone by then-President Donald Trump. "This may be the easiest thing I've ever done as president, so far," Biden said ahead of making the announcement. 

The White House previewed the move in a fact sheet released Thursday night. The Utah monuments, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, have been on Biden's agenda since his first day in office, when he ordered a review of their boundaries and conditions. Bear Ears National Monument will be restored to 1.36 million acres and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will be restored to 1.87 million acres, according to the fact sheet. 

Additionally, protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts monument off the coast of New England, as established under then-President Barack Obama, will be restored. "I'm grateful to the tribal nation leaders, both those who are here with us today and those unable to join us. Today I'm proud to announce the protection and expansion of three of the most treasured national monuments, our most treasured, based on powers granted to the President on the Antiquities Act first used more than a century ago by Teddy Roosevelt," Biden said. "The truth is that National monuments and parks are part of the identity, our identity as a people," the President added. "They are more than natural wonders, they're the birthright we passed from generation to generation, a birthright of every American. Preserving them is the fulfillment of a promise to our children." 

Biden said his move to protect national monuments also ties to his administration's climate agenda. "We're not only saving birds and fish and the livelihoods of people who depend on them, we're also shoring up the natural defenses to absorb the fury of hurricanes and superstorms," Biden said. "Nearly one-in-three Americans live in a community that has been struck by weather disasters just in the last few months -- hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, heat waves -- both the Build Back Better plan and my bipartisan infrastructure bill make critical investments, significantly increasing the resilience of these devastating effects on the climate crisis." 

 The decision marks a reversal of Trump administration policy that shrank the Bears Ears monument, which Obama established, by 85%, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante monument, which then-President Bill Clinton designated, by roughly 45%. The two former Democratic presidents designated the Utah monuments for protection hoping to preserve their culture, history and natural beauty. 

While announcing his policy in 2017, Trump slammed what he called "federal overreach" and said past administrations thought "the natural resources of Utah should be controlled by a small handful of very distant bureaucrats located in Washington. And guess what? They are wrong." 

 Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said Thursday in a critical statement that he had been informed of the decision to expand the monuments' size by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. "The President's decision to enlarge the monuments again is a tragic missed opportunity — it fails to provide certainty as well as the funding for law enforcement, research, and other protections which the monuments need and which only Congressional action can offer," Cox said. 

This map illustrates what Public Land Overload looks like!

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also criticized the move, saying Thursday on Twitter that his state's national monuments are being used as a "political football." "The decision to re-expand the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante is a devastating blow to our state, local, and tribal leaders and our delegation," Romney said. "The President squandered the opportunity to build consensus by working with stakeholders to find a permanent, legislative solution to resolve the longstanding dispute over the monuments' boundaries & management, which would've brought certainty to and benefited all stakeholders." 

CNN's Shawna Mizelle and Andy Rose contributed to this report.

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