The Real Threat
The real threat to our freedom and public lands lies with in, and is being perpetrated upon the American people by organizations with in the
environmental movement and our land agencies. Recapture Canyon is a prime example of how this is being done. I would like to recap the Recapture Canyon closure.
The BLM performed an emergency closure on Recapture Canyon in September 2007. They then held public meetings to answer any questions and explain why they had closed the canyon. The objective of the closure was to establish if there had been damage to an archaeological site. A couple of us were also told that when the study was completed we would be able to get a copy of the
report to see what the BLM had found and that their findings would be made public.
When the study was complete we asked for a copy and were told that the study would not be released. The BLM archaeologist stated that there could be legal action taken, so they wouldn't release it. So, I filled a freedom of information act request on April 6th. I then received a response to my request May 5th from Selma Sierra State Director in Salt Lake City stating that they were refusing to release the study because it was part of an investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes. That statement is interesting since during the public meetings no one mentioned that the purpose of this study was an investigation for law enforcement purposes.
The above behavior clearly confirms that the BLM has no intention of working with the public on any issue, at least not openly and honestly. It is clear that they are controlled by special interest groups like SUWA and the Great Old Broads for Wilderness out of Durango Colorado because they continually promote these groups agenda. It also appears that our own county commissioner supports these special interest groups as well, since he supported the closure of Recapture.
The scary thing about these environmental groups influencing and controlling our land agencies and government officials is that they are striping us of our right to use public lands, they are discriminating against thousands of citizens and destroying the very foundation of this country and its history.
To simplify things I will say there are two different methods that are used to destroy our historical history and strip us of the right to enjoy are
public lands.
. One is done by our federal agencies cowering to the pressures of the environmental groups, which in turn allow these agencies to pass stricter
RMPS, create Wild and Scenic River Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, etc.
. The other method is done behind closed doors where only a few people will be aware of what is going on. We saw this during the Clinton
administration when Clinton stole thousands of acres of land from the public by Presidential Proclamation with the dedication of Grand Staircase National Monument, and the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. We also see this in the federal land use agencies policy to eradicate the majority of historical mining, homesteads, logging sites, and the closure of backcountry
roads.
The eradication policy first came to my attention as a young man in Idaho where the forest service was burning and destroying the majority of all the old homesteads on the Salmon River. They were also forcing some old timers to leave their lands, closing roads, and shutting down all placer mining on the tributaries of the Salmon River.
As a result of these actions a major part of the history in Idaho was lost.
By closing the roads, burning the mines and homesteads they have erased that part of our history. Since, the public can't use the roads, or visit the old mines, this part of history will soon be forgotten. Eventually the public will never know what they have lost.
Now it is happening here in San Juan County, Utah. Over the last few years the Manti La Sal National Forest has removed, buried, destroyed, and caved in the majority of the old mines and miners cabins, tank trapped old roads and trails, and destroyed old mining equipment that was left over from the big mining boom.
Most of these sites clearly fall within the fifty year historical classification, yet the government is erasing this valuable history forever
with the support of the environmental movement.
It's not just the Forest Service, but it is also the BLM. They have stretched the 1964 Wilderness Act beyond its borders and have created new
doctrine to close public lands that have historical value. By closing these old mining and logging roads they have effectively destroyed that part of
our history.
These old roads and trails are as much a part of the historical record as an old cabin, mine, steam engine, etc. Once these trails and roads are closed they will soon be forgotten and reclaimed by the environment that they are located in and lost to future generations.
The reality of it all is that we would not be enjoying the backcountry if it weren't for the miners, ranchers, and loggers that pushed these roads in and made it possible for us to access these remote areas. There would be no one going into Canyonlands National Park to drive Elephant Hill, hike to Druid Arch, or hike Recapture Canyon if it wasn't for the cowboys, jeepers, ATVers, and frontier men like Kent Frost.
When you look at the whole picture of what the environmental movement is doing to our lands you will realize the valuable historical history that is
being lost because of this movement. Not only are we losing our history, the rights of thousands of United States Citizens has been taken away through strict RMP's, and through road and trail closures. The citizens that I'm referring to are the elderly, disabled, and the handicap. These road and trail closures affect a large percent of the US population and discriminate against this population of people.
How many elderly people are we talking about?
In 2000, 42.3% of the population was between the age of 40 and 95.
How many people have disabilities?
According to a report titled "Americans With Disabilities: 1997," based on the Survey of Income and Program Participation, among people 15 and over in 1997:
. 25 million had difficulty walking a quarter mile or climbing a flight of 10 stairs, or used an ambulatory aid, such as a wheelchair (2.2
million) or a cane, crutches or a walker (6.4 million).
. About 18 million had difficulty lifting and carrying a 10-pound bag of groceries or grasping small objects.
. About 14.3 million had a mental disability, including 1.9 million with Alzheimer's disease, senility or dementia; and 3.5 million with
learning disabilities.
. About 8.0 million had difficulty hearing what was said in a normal conversation with another person (even when wearing a hearing aid); of
these, 800,000 were unable to hear what was said in a normal conversation.
. About 7.7 million had difficulty seeing the words and letters in ordinary newspaper print (even with glasses); of these, 1.8 million were
unable to see words and letters in ordinary newspaper print.
How many of the above citizens could access their public lands under their own power? How many would need help via jeep, ATV, or other vehicle? I dare say with the disabled and elderly statistics that over 50% of our citizens are being locked out of their public lands and denied the right to enjoy the history of this great nation.
Along with millions of people being discriminated against by the federal land agencies and all the environmental groups in our nations, these same
groups are prohibiting the exploration for oil and gas in the United States. This affects every person in the United States through higher oil and gas
prices, which in turn affects everything in our economy.
All transportation cost increases which are passed on to the consumer through rising consumer prices on all goods and services. These higher
prices really have devastating affects on the lower and middle class citizens in this country. It also ensures the US involvement in protecting
our foreign resources with our military. Anyway that you look at it this policy to prohibit oil and gas exploration is detrimental to the welfare and
security of this country.
Conclusion
It is my opinion that these environmental groups, government agencies, and anyone else that would lock up our public lands, prohibit citizen use,
prohibit oil and gas exploration are truly enemies to freedom and the United States. These entities are clearly destroying the very foundation of this country and what it was founded on. It is amazing to me that all it took was taxation with out representation to insight a tea party in Boston back in the early days of this great country. Yet today our freedoms and rights are being trampled upon and very little is being done to prevent it because it isn't politically correct. What will it take for us to stand up and be counted? What will it take for us to send a clear message to these
environmental groups and our government officials that we are not going to take it any more and enough is enough?
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
