Bear Essentials July 16, 2017

~~ Bear Essentials ~ July 16, 2017~~

  Video of Blanding 4th of July, 2017

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San Juan County Info & To Do LIst

n  The Department of Interior Public Comment Period has ended, and Secretary Zinke Releases Statement relative to future decisions.                  

Thank you All for participating and practicing your Citizenship.

n  About two dozen people altogether participated in the Forest Service hearing in Monticello and Blanding this past week. Thank you for going.

n  BLM Seeks to Streamline Review Planning Procedures   Des News               Submit Input and ideas by July 24  Here’s How

n  Public comments on the White Mesa Mill will be accepted through July 31.  E-mail to dwmrcpublic@utah.gov

It’s time to start paying attention to future candidates for the next election: From Heritage Foundation: ‘Obama's legacy is still in play in the federal courts. For example, before Obama took office only one of the thirteen Courts of Appeals -- the 9th Circuit -- was considered liberal. Now, nine out of the thirteen are controlled by liberal appointees!  On average, of the 55,000 cases that are heard by the Appellate Courts each year, only 70 go on to be heard by the Supreme Court. That means these judges have the final say on the 54,930 remaining cases each year, and their decisions become the laws that we as citizens must abide by. Right now, over 120 of these federal judge positions stand vacant. They are ready to be filled by committed constitutionalists. 

n  Native American Management of Antiquities.  Would it be a good match?

n  The “Greening of the West” and how it began (Oct.  2014) – by Jim Stiles- Start mid-way down to learn of the involvement of Bonderman, Wyss, and Fingerhut and how green money controls the “New West.”

n  English Literature classes often study the writings of patriots as well as poetry and prose. Bill Redd, former SJC commissioner and Constitutional author, came to SJHS several times to teach the power of Patrick Henry’s words to 11^th grade students.  Both Henry’s and Redd’s words are still motivational and relevant today.

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n  Cassy Moon’s Aunt even memorized part of Henry’s famous speech

n  Charley Daniel’s Celebrates America  An Awesome Video

                                                                  

Good News Bears

n  More than 400,000 Review Comments on Bears Ears Monument

n  10 Best States to find a job/ Can SJC become part of this success?

n  Top States based on Fiscal Responsibility  Yes, Utah is one of them!

n  Lessons on Liberty and Law Symposium

n  What we can learn from Brian Head fire: Changes to demand

n  Arizona Congressmen want Four Monuments Eliminated

n  Push to Downsize Organ Mountains in Arizona and allow multiple use

n  Jordon Cove Natural Gas Exports promoted by Colorado

n  Transparency in Communication needed in DOI

 

Bad News Bears

n  Grand Staircase N M: Benefits Do Not Outweigh Negative impacts.

“Clinton didn’t mention that the coal he was effectively locking away was a low-sulfur, clean-burning coal called “compliance coal,” so-named because it meets requirements set by the EPA. It is in demand worldwide as a fuel for electric plants. Nor did he mention that one of the only other places in the world where comparable coal is found is Indonesia, the home of Mochtar and James Riady, the Chinese government-connected billionaires who poured millions of dollars into Clinton campaigns in 1992 and 1996 . . .  there is a wellspring of venom flowing through the article in question, so much so that I am indisposed to mention its title. The truth is, the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument was a one-sided deal pulled off by a progressive president with little input from Utah’s conservative leaders, and zero regard for the devastating economic and cultural impacts it would have on the people who live in its shadow.  The greens are undoubtedly anxious that their delusional public lands Utopia is endangered by a pragmatic new administration which believes in resource development and states’ rights, but more than anything, they sense that their federal cash cow is coming to the end of its proverbial 7 years of fatness.,”   Majorie Haun

n  Enviro Green money funnels into Colorado Congressional Contest  “Steyer has even brought in help from New York hedge-fund billionaire George Soros. Both men are senior figures in the Democracy Alliance, a left-wing donor network of millionaires and billionaires which Politico describes as “the left’s secret club.” And both men have clearly signaled where they will focus their outside spending in the battle for control of the Colorado state legislature this year.”

n  Heal Utah.Org: Jonathon Thompson Weighs in on Bears Ears

n  Soro’s funded publication says Koch Brothers money is behind Anti-Monument Campaign

n  No Change for Washington State NM

n  The Spectrum:  Protect Monuments Before it’s Too Late

n  Fed. Gov refuses to allow use of helicopters in Montanta fire fighting

n  Public Land fees: What is their impact?   

n  Lifetime Sr. Citizen Nat’l Park Pass to jump from $10 to $80, Aug. 28

                                                         

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http://beyondthebears.blogspot.com/

                                     Documenting Bears Ears “No Monument” efforts since July 2016

Brian Head Fire should serve as wake-up call

By Paul Cozzens, Cedar City Council

As we have watched the Brian Head Fire now consume more than 66,000 acres of forest and debated the root cause (which most locals knew was a ticking time bomb), I hear some call for, and demand, civility while we have firefighters in danger.

We all appreciate our firefighters and the amazing job they have done. We would be devastated if any were hurt.

Do we appreciate the firefighters enough that we are willing to get to the root cause and fix this issue going forward?

It will take time, but how about while emotions are high, we go to our local and national legislators and demand change?

A price to pay: The mounting cost of the Brian Head Fire

Sen. Mike Lee has committed to doing so by pushing a bill he introduced as the Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act to expedite wildfire prevention projects in at-risk forests and wildlife habitats. The bill would give federal land managers firm deadlines for reviewing and approving projects and empower them to use proven wildfire prevention strategies like livestock grazing and timber harvesting. I applaud his effort.

How about we look at simple solutions that could make even a small difference, like the U.S. Forest Service offering free woodcutting permits to help clear the forest?

Even before the fire is extinguished, how about we demand that environmental groups stand down and send loggers into the areas that are not on fire?

How about we wait until the snow flies when it's safer and do some prescribed burns to start clearing the areas not burned?

Do we as a public care enough for the safety of those put in harm’s way to do what it takes to fix this?

The bottom line: These forests need to be thinned and managed. If this fire doesn't take our whole mountain, another eventually will if we don't act.

More fire coverage: Brian Head 911 calls reveal quick growth of fire, panic

For years, environmentalist groups have sued the federal government and received millions of dollars in settlements using our tax dollars to push their agendas. Citizens are being quadruple-taxed as a result of environmentalists’ actions.

These are the consequences:

• Timber resource value … up in smoke

• Lost economic engine by shutting down job-producing industries — not just timber but now tourism, too.

• Having to pay federal taxes from billion-dollar settlement payouts.

• Health and land harm from air quality, water quality and total resource degradation, i.e. wildlife, scenic, major and micro ecosystems.

These radical environmentalists don't want the forests managed. This hands-off approach has been a complete failure and we are now paying the price. The amount of timber destroyed so far could build every home in Cedar City three times, not to mention the wildlife that has been killed. What a waste!Top of Form

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Another real challenge after the fire is over is the damage to the community watersheds of Parowan and Panguitch. I cringe to think of the damage to the Sevier, Parowan and Virgin drainages.

Another sad fact is that due to environmentalists’ actions in suing on every timber sale, the Fredonia sawmill owned by Kaibab Forest Products is now out of business. Approximately 250 individuals received pink slips right before Christmas in 1994. Think of the amount of now-destroyed lumber that could have been harvested by them and other closed mills.

I was given a contact number for a forestry expert in Oregon who consults with the Forest Service. I called him and we had a long talk. They are making great headway in managing their forests better. They have been successful in bringing many groups and government agencies to the table and finding common ground.

I feel this is an approach worth trying. I recently posted a resolution that Iron County Commissioners passed in 2014 in an effort to solve this ticking time bomb. The support didn't seem to be there at the time. Is it now? Are you in?

Are we willing to stand and work for a solution? I am.

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 Mr. Cozzens is in his second term on the Cedar City Council. He grew up in Moab, Utah and worked with his father, a civil engineer and excavator, which developed his strong work ethic. He attended Southern Utah University and has lived in Cedar City since 1980. He owns a cabinet manufacturing business and his community activities include: President of the Happy Factory; District Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America; and he also has served on the Cedar City Planning Commission. He loves Cedar City and our Nation,  Can be contacted at paulcedarcitycouncil@gmail.com