|
Here is what I got back:
Dear Terry:
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for HR 1925, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act. It was good to hear from you and I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me.
As you may know, HR 1925 would designate over 9 million acres of land in Utah as federally protected wilderness. While I share your support for preserving our natural resources, I am concerned that HR 1925 goes over and beyond the process identified in federal law for protecting wilderness. In fact, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was required by a 1977 law to evaluate 21 million acres of land in Utah -- nearly 40% of that state -- and determine which areas should be designated as wilderness. After 15 years of study and over 45 public meetings, the BLM determined approximately 1.9 million acres should be included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. That determination has since been supported by virtually every elected official in Utah.
Consider what actually lies within the boundaries of the area HR 1925 proposes to "preserve": private homes and buildings, power lines, utility corridors, grazing allotments, cultivated fields, thousands of acres of private and school trust lands and other non-BLM areas that simply cannot be legally designated as wilderness. It also includes hundreds of miles of well traveled roads, fences, mining claims, mineral leases and existing oil and gas wells, as well as the largest untapped known coal resource in North America. While we must take measures to preserve our dwindling wilderness areas for future generations, passage of HR 1925 would demonstrate a complete disregard for the Wilderness Act of 1964. Let me also point out that HR 1919 is not supported by a single Member of the Utah delegation, the Governor, the State Legislature, the State's County Commissioners or the BLM.
Let me assure you, however, that whatever portion of Utah is eventually designated as additional wilderness, no lands in that state will be left unprotected nor will remaining lands be open to uncontrolled development if they are not designated as wilderness. Under the BLM's authority, land managers may exclude all human activity, grazing, mining, oil and gas development, off highway vehicles and surface occupancy.
Please know that I share your support for land acquisition and conservation, and have worked to preserve endangered land in Florida and in my District. However, we must act in a fair and balanced fashion respecting state and local authorities' property rights and weigh that carefully with the need to protect and preserve our endangered lands.
While I regret that we may disagree on this particular issue, I appreciate you letting me know your views and hope you will not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of further assistance on this or any other matter in the future.
_________________  2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Get Out. Eject. Escape from the prison planet.
the site must've been on the fritz when i submitted that post haha
