Public Comments Sought on Moab Management Plan
The US Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments before it finalizes management plans for the vast tracks of land it controls in the Moab area.
The Salt Lake Tribune has this article on the proposals. Here are excerpts:
Since 1985, though, much has changed. Moab, with its hundreds of miles of slickrock trails, has become a mountain-biking mecca. In recent years, all-terrain vehicles have mushroomed in popularity, oil and gas drilling has boomed due to rising prices worldwide, and tourism has become the economic mainstay of the area.
And the BLM has come up with a new management plan.
To be exact, the agency has drawn up four alternatives, including the status quo, its own preferred plan, another that protects additional land from multiple use and one that opens up more areas to motorized recreation and energy development.
The plan that is adopted will be a far-reaching set of regulations that will profoundly affect this area for decades. The BLM is asking for public comment on the four alternatives until Nov. 30, and we encourage all Utahns to study it and voice their opinions.
The Deseret Morning News has this article. Here are excerpts:
Critics say a new Bureau of Land Management proposal that would sharply limit off-highway vehicle travel in the Moab area doesn't go far enough and should have more time for pubic discussion.
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is expressing that viewpoint as the BLM gets ready for a series of public meetings to discuss the proposal. Those meetings are scheduled for tonight in Moab, Wednesday in Monticello, Thursday in Grand Junction, Colo., and Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City.
Present rules allow off-highway vehicle travel across 620,212 acres in the BLM area that surrounds Arches National Park. On nearly 1.2 million acres, OHV travel is limited to existing roads and trails, while 5,062 acres are closed to OHV travel.
The BLM's preferred option going forward would close 339,298 acres to OHV travel, limit OHV use to designated routes on almost 1.5 million acres and open 1,866 acres to cross-country travel at White Wash Sand Dunes.
The Salt Lake Tribune has this article on the proposals. Here are excerpts:
Since 1985, though, much has changed. Moab, with its hundreds of miles of slickrock trails, has become a mountain-biking mecca. In recent years, all-terrain vehicles have mushroomed in popularity, oil and gas drilling has boomed due to rising prices worldwide, and tourism has become the economic mainstay of the area.
And the BLM has come up with a new management plan.
To be exact, the agency has drawn up four alternatives, including the status quo, its own preferred plan, another that protects additional land from multiple use and one that opens up more areas to motorized recreation and energy development.
The plan that is adopted will be a far-reaching set of regulations that will profoundly affect this area for decades. The BLM is asking for public comment on the four alternatives until Nov. 30, and we encourage all Utahns to study it and voice their opinions.
The Deseret Morning News has this article. Here are excerpts:
Critics say a new Bureau of Land Management proposal that would sharply limit off-highway vehicle travel in the Moab area doesn't go far enough and should have more time for pubic discussion.
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is expressing that viewpoint as the BLM gets ready for a series of public meetings to discuss the proposal. Those meetings are scheduled for tonight in Moab, Wednesday in Monticello, Thursday in Grand Junction, Colo., and Oct. 3 in Salt Lake City.
Present rules allow off-highway vehicle travel across 620,212 acres in the BLM area that surrounds Arches National Park. On nearly 1.2 million acres, OHV travel is limited to existing roads and trails, while 5,062 acres are closed to OHV travel.
The BLM's preferred option going forward would close 339,298 acres to OHV travel, limit OHV use to designated routes on almost 1.5 million acres and open 1,866 acres to cross-country travel at White Wash Sand Dunes.
posted by Utah Blog Admin @ 4:17 PM
1 Comments:
At 11:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
I think in general there are too many people with too much money and free time. I'll vote for higher interest rates and leave things the way they are. Think global act local.
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