From : <AlertList@suwa.org>
Sent : Thursday, August 4, 2005 12:57 PM
To : AlertList@suwa.org
Subject : Utah Redrock Report August 4, 2005
| | | Inbox
================================================================
This alert is brought to you by the Southern Utah Wilderness
Alliance
425 E. 100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 801-486-3161,
www.suwa.org
================================================================
In this issue:
*****UPDATES*****
(1)DANGEROUS PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS
INCLUDED IN NATIONAL ENERGY BILL
(2)SAVE FACTORY BUTTE--PRESERVE UTAH'S WILD
HERITAGE FROM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DAMAGE
(3)SENATE ADJOURNS WITHOUT ACTION ON
CEDAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
(4)WIDE HOLLOW DAM AND RESERVOIR SHOT DOWN
*****SPECIAL SECTION*****
(5)MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO UTAH WILDERNESS
JOIN OR DONATE TO SUWA TODAY
*****EVENTS*****
(6)WILD NIGHTS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN
SALT LAKE CITY
(7)JOIN SUWA FOR A BACKYARD BBQ
============================================================
*****UPDATES*****
(1)DANGEROUS PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS INCLUDED IN NATIONAL
ENERGY BILL
For several months now, SUWA has been closely tracking the
progress of the energy bill, knowing that strong pro-drilling
forces in the Administration and Congress were inclined to weaken
protections on public lands to facilitate production for their
friends in the oil and gas industry. Instead of moving toward a
new energy future, the House(275-156) and the Senate (74-26)
passed an energy bill (H.R. 6) that provides tens of billions of
dollars to the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries despite
massive public outcry. Congressional members had only one day to
read H.R. 6 (a 1725 page bill) before voting on it. Amongst its
many shortcomings, this bill reveals the White House's distorted
vision for our special public lands - and in this future, oil and
gas development rules.
The bill threatens the water supply of Western communities,
granting to oil and gas companies leasing public lands wholesale
exemptions to: 1. The Safe Drinking Water Act- Hydraulic
Fracturing regulations (regulates the underground injection of
chemicals in oil and gas drilling) and 2. The Clean Water Act-
Storm Water Runoff regulations (regulates polluted runoff from
all construction activities in an oil and gas project).
Furthermore, SUWA is particularly concerned that H.R. 6 will
allow the energy industry to circumvent public involvement and
impact analysis provided under the National Environmental Policy
Act. H.R. 6 has made it significantly easier for industry to
categorically exclude from NEPA analysis a variety of oil and gas
exploration and drilling activities - such as surface
disturbances less than five acres, adding a drilling well to an
already established well pad, and some pipeline construction.
These exemptions are unnecessary, as quite contrary to the view
that environmental review is an obstruction to development, more
oil and gas leases are being approved than ever before.
Congress has also significantly limited the amount of time the
understaffed BLM has to review permit applications for oil and
gas leasing. H.R. 6 requires that the BLM decide whether or not
to approve a completed application within 10 days of receiving
it, which will likely force the overworked staff to "rubber
stamp" applications without adequate environmental review. This
provision is even more disturbing when considered in context with
the other environmental exemptions in the energy bill, the fact
that the Utah BLM has been using volunteers paid by the oil and
gas industry to expedite the environmental review process, and a
recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
claiming the BLM's increase in permit processing has led it to
neglect its responsibility to protect the environment. To see
the GAO report, follow this link:
http://www.suwa.org/library/001_Lieberman_Press_Release.pdf
Another major concern is the initiation of a major federal oil
shale program on public lands. Oil shale development is costly
and difficult for the industry and extraordinarily destructive to
the land, and has a dubious history of false hope and severely
damaging local communities. Despite that, H.R. 6 rushes ahead
with a commercial oil shale development program - requiring the
first leasing to begin no later than two and a half years after
the enactment of the legislation. This flies in the face of the
pace that the oil industry has set for its own production. Shell
Oil predicts it will simply not be in the position to make a
decision on the commercial viability of an oil shale program
until the end of the decade at the earliest. The energy bill
directs the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to
identify federal land with high oil shale value, and to give that
land priority for land exchange, in order to make it easier for
energy companies to access that land.
SUWA is disheartened with H.R. 6, a shortsighted bill that will
not provide a significant answer to America's energy crisis, at
the expense of Utah's public lands. This bill passed despite the
major public and congressional opposition, but thanks are due to
all of you who voiced your disdain for this bad legislation. We
will continue to educate the public, and there will be more
opportunities to let your elected officials know that you want a
sensible energy policy for this country--stay tuned.
(2)SAVE FACTORY BUTTE--PRESERVE UTAH'S WILD HERITAGE FROM
OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DAMAGE
Factory Butte rises more than 1,000 feet above the desert floor
just north of Hanksville, Utah and is an internationally
recognized scenic landmark. To the dismay of many, the
uncontrolled use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) such as ATVs and
high-performance dirt bikes is eroding delicate soils and leaving
wheel ruts virtually everywhere. Scars of ORV use have become so
numerous that professional photographers say it's nearly
impossible to find a view unmarred by tire tracks.
Scientific studies show that unrestricted ORV use is causing
extreme soil loss and long-lasting damage to the Factory Butte
landscape. This has resulted in contamination of important water
sources for nearby farmlands, and local residents worry that dust
churned up by the vehicles is polluting local air and water with
salt and heavy metals. In just a short decade, ORVs have managed
to devastate a landscape that took thousands of years to create.
For decades, the BLM has been aware that ORV use damages
resources in the area and conflicts with other public land uses,
yet it has not acted to prevent further harm to the region. YOU
CAN HELP by signing SUWA's online petition which asks the BLM to
implement SUWA's Factory Butte Area Emergency Protection Order
immediately.
PROTECT FACTORY BUTTE FROM FURTHER OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DESTRUCTION,
SIGN THE PETITION NOW by following this link:
http://capwiz.com/awc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7855186
THANK YOU!
(3)SENATE ADJOURNS WITHOUT ACTION ON CEDAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
In a flurry of votes and arguments, the Senate wrapped up the
summer work period and began its month long August recess. Left
behind in this legislative frenzy was the Cedar Mountains
wilderness bill, a proposal sponsored by Utah Congressman Rob
Bishop which would designate nearly 100,000 acres of wilderness
in Utah's West Desert. The bill passed the House in May as part
of a broader omnibus defense related bill called the Defense
Authorization bill. In the Senate, the progress of the Cedar
Mountains bill has slowed, but hope remains that the Senate, then
the full Congress will enact this legislation in the fall.
The Cedar Mountains wilderness bill, officially titled the Utah
Test and Training Range Protection Act, is a three part approach
to protecting public lands, military training capacity, and
public health. As previously mentioned the legislation would
designate roughly 100,000 acres of wilderness for a chain of
mountains that lie 45 miles west of Salt Lake City in Utah's West
Desert. In addition, the legislation allows continued use of
military installations and military airspace (called the Utah
Test and Training Range) over the Cedar Mountains. Finally, the
bill seeks to prevent establishment of a nuclear storage facility
on the Skull Valley reservation by blocking the BLM from granting
rights-of-way across public land for a potential rail line needed
for transporting nuclear waste into Utah.
To accomplish these three goals we need support for this
legislation in both the House and Senate. Thus far, Congressman
Bishop has successfully led the bill through the House. Last
Congress, he shepherded the legislation through both the House
Resources Committee and the full House. This year Rep. Bishop
has once again succeeded in moving it through the House-this time
as part of the larger Defense Authorization bill.
***CONTINUED IN NEXT WINDOW***
Sent : Thursday, August 4, 2005 12:57 PM
To : AlertList@suwa.org
Subject : Utah Redrock Report August 4, 2005
| | | Inbox
================================================================
This alert is brought to you by the Southern Utah Wilderness
Alliance
425 E. 100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 801-486-3161,
www.suwa.org
================================================================
In this issue:
*****UPDATES*****
(1)DANGEROUS PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS
INCLUDED IN NATIONAL ENERGY BILL
(2)SAVE FACTORY BUTTE--PRESERVE UTAH'S WILD
HERITAGE FROM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DAMAGE
(3)SENATE ADJOURNS WITHOUT ACTION ON
CEDAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
(4)WIDE HOLLOW DAM AND RESERVOIR SHOT DOWN
*****SPECIAL SECTION*****
(5)MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO UTAH WILDERNESS
JOIN OR DONATE TO SUWA TODAY
*****EVENTS*****
(6)WILD NIGHTS FOR VOLUNTEERS IN
SALT LAKE CITY
(7)JOIN SUWA FOR A BACKYARD BBQ
============================================================
*****UPDATES*****
(1)DANGEROUS PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC LANDS INCLUDED IN NATIONAL
ENERGY BILL
For several months now, SUWA has been closely tracking the
progress of the energy bill, knowing that strong pro-drilling
forces in the Administration and Congress were inclined to weaken
protections on public lands to facilitate production for their
friends in the oil and gas industry. Instead of moving toward a
new energy future, the House(275-156) and the Senate (74-26)
passed an energy bill (H.R. 6) that provides tens of billions of
dollars to the oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries despite
massive public outcry. Congressional members had only one day to
read H.R. 6 (a 1725 page bill) before voting on it. Amongst its
many shortcomings, this bill reveals the White House's distorted
vision for our special public lands - and in this future, oil and
gas development rules.
The bill threatens the water supply of Western communities,
granting to oil and gas companies leasing public lands wholesale
exemptions to: 1. The Safe Drinking Water Act- Hydraulic
Fracturing regulations (regulates the underground injection of
chemicals in oil and gas drilling) and 2. The Clean Water Act-
Storm Water Runoff regulations (regulates polluted runoff from
all construction activities in an oil and gas project).
Furthermore, SUWA is particularly concerned that H.R. 6 will
allow the energy industry to circumvent public involvement and
impact analysis provided under the National Environmental Policy
Act. H.R. 6 has made it significantly easier for industry to
categorically exclude from NEPA analysis a variety of oil and gas
exploration and drilling activities - such as surface
disturbances less than five acres, adding a drilling well to an
already established well pad, and some pipeline construction.
These exemptions are unnecessary, as quite contrary to the view
that environmental review is an obstruction to development, more
oil and gas leases are being approved than ever before.
Congress has also significantly limited the amount of time the
understaffed BLM has to review permit applications for oil and
gas leasing. H.R. 6 requires that the BLM decide whether or not
to approve a completed application within 10 days of receiving
it, which will likely force the overworked staff to "rubber
stamp" applications without adequate environmental review. This
provision is even more disturbing when considered in context with
the other environmental exemptions in the energy bill, the fact
that the Utah BLM has been using volunteers paid by the oil and
gas industry to expedite the environmental review process, and a
recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
claiming the BLM's increase in permit processing has led it to
neglect its responsibility to protect the environment. To see
the GAO report, follow this link:
http://www.suwa.org/library/001_Lieberman_Press_Release.pdf
Another major concern is the initiation of a major federal oil
shale program on public lands. Oil shale development is costly
and difficult for the industry and extraordinarily destructive to
the land, and has a dubious history of false hope and severely
damaging local communities. Despite that, H.R. 6 rushes ahead
with a commercial oil shale development program - requiring the
first leasing to begin no later than two and a half years after
the enactment of the legislation. This flies in the face of the
pace that the oil industry has set for its own production. Shell
Oil predicts it will simply not be in the position to make a
decision on the commercial viability of an oil shale program
until the end of the decade at the earliest. The energy bill
directs the Secretary of the Department of the Interior to
identify federal land with high oil shale value, and to give that
land priority for land exchange, in order to make it easier for
energy companies to access that land.
SUWA is disheartened with H.R. 6, a shortsighted bill that will
not provide a significant answer to America's energy crisis, at
the expense of Utah's public lands. This bill passed despite the
major public and congressional opposition, but thanks are due to
all of you who voiced your disdain for this bad legislation. We
will continue to educate the public, and there will be more
opportunities to let your elected officials know that you want a
sensible energy policy for this country--stay tuned.
(2)SAVE FACTORY BUTTE--PRESERVE UTAH'S WILD HERITAGE FROM
OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DAMAGE
Factory Butte rises more than 1,000 feet above the desert floor
just north of Hanksville, Utah and is an internationally
recognized scenic landmark. To the dismay of many, the
uncontrolled use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) such as ATVs and
high-performance dirt bikes is eroding delicate soils and leaving
wheel ruts virtually everywhere. Scars of ORV use have become so
numerous that professional photographers say it's nearly
impossible to find a view unmarred by tire tracks.
Scientific studies show that unrestricted ORV use is causing
extreme soil loss and long-lasting damage to the Factory Butte
landscape. This has resulted in contamination of important water
sources for nearby farmlands, and local residents worry that dust
churned up by the vehicles is polluting local air and water with
salt and heavy metals. In just a short decade, ORVs have managed
to devastate a landscape that took thousands of years to create.
For decades, the BLM has been aware that ORV use damages
resources in the area and conflicts with other public land uses,
yet it has not acted to prevent further harm to the region. YOU
CAN HELP by signing SUWA's online petition which asks the BLM to
implement SUWA's Factory Butte Area Emergency Protection Order
immediately.
PROTECT FACTORY BUTTE FROM FURTHER OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DESTRUCTION,
SIGN THE PETITION NOW by following this link:
http://capwiz.com/awc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7855186
THANK YOU!
(3)SENATE ADJOURNS WITHOUT ACTION ON CEDAR MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS
In a flurry of votes and arguments, the Senate wrapped up the
summer work period and began its month long August recess. Left
behind in this legislative frenzy was the Cedar Mountains
wilderness bill, a proposal sponsored by Utah Congressman Rob
Bishop which would designate nearly 100,000 acres of wilderness
in Utah's West Desert. The bill passed the House in May as part
of a broader omnibus defense related bill called the Defense
Authorization bill. In the Senate, the progress of the Cedar
Mountains bill has slowed, but hope remains that the Senate, then
the full Congress will enact this legislation in the fall.
The Cedar Mountains wilderness bill, officially titled the Utah
Test and Training Range Protection Act, is a three part approach
to protecting public lands, military training capacity, and
public health. As previously mentioned the legislation would
designate roughly 100,000 acres of wilderness for a chain of
mountains that lie 45 miles west of Salt Lake City in Utah's West
Desert. In addition, the legislation allows continued use of
military installations and military airspace (called the Utah
Test and Training Range) over the Cedar Mountains. Finally, the
bill seeks to prevent establishment of a nuclear storage facility
on the Skull Valley reservation by blocking the BLM from granting
rights-of-way across public land for a potential rail line needed
for transporting nuclear waste into Utah.
To accomplish these three goals we need support for this
legislation in both the House and Senate. Thus far, Congressman
Bishop has successfully led the bill through the House. Last
Congress, he shepherded the legislation through both the House
Resources Committee and the full House. This year Rep. Bishop
has once again succeeded in moving it through the House-this time
as part of the larger Defense Authorization bill.
***CONTINUED IN NEXT WINDOW***
