Conservationists in north-central Washington worked
hard and fast to raise over $13.1 million to keep chain saws out of
the 25,000 acre Loomis Forest (HCN, 5/24/99). Now, the state’s
Board of Natural Resources says they’re millions of dollars short.
After wrestling over the value of the forest’s timber for more than
a year, the board voted 5-1 to set the price at $16.5 million, $3.4
million more than environmentalists originally expected. The
board’s decision was influenced by local school officials; proceeds
from timber sales and other activities on the state-owned forest go
to schools.
Colorado politicians and residents
living near the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument are
celebrating the passage of a bill in Congress last week that will
make the monument into the 55th National Park (HCN, 8/2/99). The
new park will combine the monument’s 21,000 acres with 10,000 acres
from the Bureau of Land Management and 3,000 acres of private
holdings. The government plans to buy or put conservation easements
on the private property to protect the canyon rim from development.
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in
Utah is more than just 1.9 million acres of rugged canyon country
(HCN, 9/30/96). Underneath are nearly 35,000 acres of federal coal
leases, owned by the mining company Andalex Resources. Disposition
of the leases has been in question since the monument was
established by President Clinton in 1996. This month, Andalex
agreed to abandon its right to the leases in exchange for $14
million from the federal government. Interior Department Secretary
Bruce Babbitt says the agreement makes good on Clinton’s promise to
mitigate mining concerns while protecting the land “for all time.”
Interior Secretary Babbitt can breathe another
sigh of relief. A special prosecutor said there was insufficient
evidence to indict him in connection with investigations of a
proposed Wisconsin Indian casino (HCN, 2/2/98). The investigation
was launched after allegations that Babbitt perjured himself when
he explained to Congress the Interior Department’s reasons for
rejecting a permit for the casino.
* Ali
Macalady
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline The Wayward West.
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