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Dear Senator Bennett and State Director Sierra I learned from an email sent by the BlueRibbon Coalition that Senator Bennett is opposing any unnecessary delay in the RMP/Travel Planning process. I agree completely. Furthermore; So called "environmental groups" such as SUWA are trying to delay these important decisions. It seems likely that their strategy is in hopes a future administration might install a "Bruce Babbitt type" leadership at BLM. The Babbitt years in Utah were a mess, resulting in unnecessary and costly litigation. The Babbitt BLM ignored needed updates in recreation management, such as designating roads and trails, and got tied up in the political agenda of Wilderness advocacy groups. The Kanab plan as presently constituted provides reasonable opportunity for my wife and I to collect agate, petrified wood, onyx, minerals, etc to make into jewelry in our "Rockhounding" hobby. And as Dr. Jim Kirkland, Utah State Paleontologist, will certainly agree, it is knowledgeable amateur paleontologists like myself that bring to his attention most of the new fossil finds in Utah. I support reasoned decision making on public lands and reasonable restrictions on motorized uses. Generally, I support keeping existing roads and trails open unless environmental damage can not be mitigated. My wife and I are in our 70's, and she in particular is unable to walk more than a very short distance from our truck. Please include in your final RMP access possibilities for personal, non-commercial rock and fossil collecting. Shutting us out by incorporating "non WSA lands with wilderness characteristics" in this region which has been extensively explored and covered with trails and roads is doing us a disservice. Sincerely, |
Last Revised on
January 05, 2009
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