Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Bryce • Tropic • Antimony • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder • Fremont • Loa • Lyman
Thursday, December 8, 2011 • Issue # 918
Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville
RESIDENTS CALL FOR HELP TO STOP UTAH’S 1ST DIRTY COAL STRIP MINE
CONCERNS OVER PROPOSED PRIVATE DAM BORDERING LOA By Marsha Chappell, Loa
As published in last week’s edition of INSIDER, there has been a permit application filed by Dixie Leavitt to construct a reservoir with two earthen dams in the area of Mt. Poonikee located at the west end of Third South street in Loa (Loa Rod & Gun Club Area). This would be on private ground with privately owned water from Road Creek. As stated, this would be built to impound water for irrigation and recreational activities. Questions: Why is it necessary to impound already privately owned water in yet another reservoir/pond when there are already four ponds located within a short distance of each other for irrigation purposes? Who is benefitting from the recreational facilities? Since Loa Town culinary water
line would be impacted by this proposal, what happens when and if the line has to be re-located? Who pays? What benefit is there to the town of Loa or Wayne County? There are many homes and farms that would be impacted by this proposal. What happens to all of us if one of those dams was breeched? They said it couldn’t happen to the Teton Dam in Idaho, but what happened there? With 1032 acre feet of water flowing at a high rate of speed, it could possibly affect the entire county as it makes its way down the river toward Lake Powell. How many people would then be affected? Would we all have to purchase flood insurance? What happens to Capital Reef Park Area if this happens? How about
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the fish hatchery in Bicknell? The list goes on and on. Be aware of what’s happening in your own neighborhood! The Army Corps of Engineers is accepting comments until December 9, 2011. Again, why was the comment period listed as from November 15, 2011 – December 9, 2011 when the first day of publication was December 1st? Please make your comments known by contacting Karen Clementsen, USACE St. George Regulatory Office Permitting, 195 East Tablernacle Suite 30, St. George UT 847703474 – 435-986-1961 or Karen.L.Clementsen@ usace.army.mil. Be sure to keep copies of any correspondence you have with anyone connected with this proposal. COMMENT NOW!
LOCATED NEXT TO BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Okay -here it is- our opportunity to be heard. Please read below and attend one of the meetings (if possible) BUT more importantly please send in your comments on how this coal mine and the truck traffic will impact each and everyone who lives or visits this beautiful area. If each of you will PLEASE pass this on you can help us inform many people of a devastating move by our Federal Government. So, give each of us a gift this year, share the info and let others share likewise. Thanks! Bobbi Bryant, Panguitch The BLM has just released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed Alton coal mine in southwest Utah, right next to Bryce Canyon National Park. Scientific analysis shows that the Alton mine would have a devastating impact on the region’s wildlife including mule deer and sage grouse, air and water quality, and the growing tourism and recreation economy. With its stunning redrock sandstone spires and hoodoos, Bryce Canyon is one of America’s favorite national parks, drawing
Santa Claus is Coming To Town
Saturday December 17th Fremont @ 10am Loa @ 11 am Lyman @ 12pm Bicknell @ 1pm
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over 1.2 million visitors per year. The nearby small communities of Panguitch and Kanab depend on this constant flow of tourists, who arrive on Highway 89, a scenic byway. Putting a 3,500 acre coal mine in the middle of this spectacular region -- and allowing huge coal trucks on Highway 89 every seven minutes, rumbling along and spewing coal dust 24 hours a day, 6 days a week -- will destroy everything the Bryce Canyon area is known for. A local public meeting will be held in Panguitch in which the BLM will be taking Public Comment in Panguitch – December 1st, 2011 at the Panguitch City Hall/Library, 25 South 200 East, Panguitch, UT Specific talking points when addressing the BLM: · The Bryce Canyon region is one of west’s most scenic areas, with Bryce and Zion National Parks (drawing millions of visitors yearly), Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Scenic Byway U.S. 89, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, etc. The communities of Panguitch and Kanab depend on this tourism/outdoor recreation economy. This is absolutely the wrong place for a strip mine. · The DEIS makes the ridiculous claim that “new sightseeing recreational opportunities would be created.….through the viewing of active mining operations.” Tell the BLM that tourists from around the world do not come to this region to see a strip mine or an industrial area. · The mine site is home
to the most southern-located sage grouse lek (mating habitat) in the world. It is already being impacted by the existing strip mine and truck traffic and will most likely be completely destroyed if the mine is allowed to expand. · The Alton Coal Mine expansion plan would allow up to 300 huge trucks to haul dirty coal along 110 miles of historic Route 89 (a scenic by-way) every day — that’s one truck leaving the mine every seven minutes! This is unacceptable. · The mine site is in the heart of a documented migration corridor for the renowned Paunsaugunt mule deer herd, an area that is designated by the Utah Division of Wildlife as “summer substantial habitat.” This mule deer herd, numbering currently around 5,000, provides one of the most coveted hunting opportunities in the West. If the expansion is allowed, many more deer will be killed by truck traffic on U.S. 89. · Businesses in the tourist communities of Panguitch and others nearby will be negatively impacted by the coal truck traffic, noise and coal dust. It will also impact the health of locals who live and work in this region. · Strip mining will cause surface water pollution, thereby negatively impacting the area’s rivers such Sevier River , Kanab Creek and others. · Bryce Canyon National Park’s famous night-time skies will be impacted by the constant lighting from the 24-hr/day mining operation. THANK YOU! Tim Wagner, Sierra Club
He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. Chinese Proverb
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PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH PERMIT No. 5