SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands (FFSL) is developing the first comprehensive management plans (CMPs) for the state-owned, sovereign land sections of the Green and Colorado Rivers, which flow through Uintah, Grand, Emery, Wayne, Garfield, Kane, and San Juan Counties, and updating the existing Mineral Leasing Plan (MLP) for these sovereign lands. Utah Admin Code R652-2-100 authorizes FFSL to prescribe land management objectives for sovereign lands. The beds of navigable waters within the state, including portions of the Green and Colorado Rivers, are owned by the state but held in trust for the public. FFSL is required to ensure that all uses on, beneath or above the bed of the Green and Colorado Rivers are regulated to protect navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic beauty, public recreation and water quality. The development of the comprehensive management plans and update of the mineral leasing plan will ensure that FFSL maintains clear and consistent guidance on the management of the Green and Colorado River resources.
During the months of March and April, FFSL, with assistance from its contractors (SWCA Environmental Consultants, CRSA, & Hansen, Allen & Luce), will present information regarding the CMP and MLP process and seek public participation at open house meetings in each county that contains state-owned sovereign land sections of the rivers. The meetings will be held in:
· Uintah County on March 27th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Uintah County Library in Vernal;
· Kane County on April 10th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kanab City Library in Kanab;
· Garfield County on April 11th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Escalante Senior Center in Escalante;
· Wayne County on April 12th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hanksville EMS Building in Hanksville;
· San Juan County on April 17th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the San Juan County Administration Building in Monticello;
· Grand County on April 18th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grand County High School Auditorium in Moab; and
· Emery County on April 19th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River
All residents are encouraged to attend the public open house meeting in their county. “Public involvement is an important part of the Green and Colorado River planning process” stated FFSL's Project Manager Laura Vernon, adding "suggestions and concerns about the rivers can help us identify issues and develop management plan objectives.”
Resource management issues identified during the public involvement process will be used to craft a Draft CMP for each river and update the MLP. Each Draft CMP and the MLP will include a range of management actions and alternatives based on the public trust and sustainable uses of the Green and Colorado Rivers. Management actions and alternatives as well as a preliminary assessment of each of the Rivers’ resources will be available for review during a second round of public meetings scheduled for spring 2019. A formal 45-day comment period on the Draft CMPs and MLP will occur in the summer of 2019. It is anticipated that the Final CMP and Decision Documents will be completed in December 2019.
For more information about the project and/or to be added to our mailing list, contact Gretchen Semerad at 801-322-4307 or gsemerad@swca.com or Laura Vernon at 801-538-5530 or lauravernon@utah.gov. Project information and additional public meeting information can also be obtained on the project website at http://bit.ly/gcrcmp.
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Email: press@oc.usda.gov
ADVISORY: Vice President Pence to Keynote National Ag Day Celebration at USDA on TUESDAY
(Washington, D.C., March 16, 2018) – Vice President of the United States Mike Pence will deliver remarks commemorating President Donald J. Trump’s National Agriculture Day Proclamation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. on TUESDAY, March 20th. Following an introduction by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, the Vice President will speak to youth agriculture leaders, as well as members of Congress, USDA officials, and prominent members of the agriculture community.
Vice President Pence to Keynote National Ag Day Celebration at USDA
WHAT: Vice President Pence will deliver remarks commemorating President Trump’s National Agriculture Day Proclamation after being introduced by Secretary Perdue.
WHEN: TUESDAY, March 20th at 10:00 a.m. ET.
WHERE: Whitten Patio of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Jefferson Dr. SW, Washington, DC 20250.
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The United Utah Party Fields Large Slate of Candidates for 2018 Elections
March 15, 2018
Provo, Utah - The newest political party in Utah has fielded the largest number of candidates besides the Republican and Democratic parties. Nineteen candidates filed with the United Utah Party during the filing period that ended at 5 pm today. That number is large by third party standards in Utah. This year, the four other non-major parties (Libertarian, Constitution, Green, and Independent American) combined fielded 28 candidates. In the 2016 campaign, the largest number of candidates filed by a single non-major party was 11.
“We are pleased that so many candidates want to run on our ticket,” said United Utah Party Chair Richard Davis. “Clearly, there is a strong interest in public service on the part of these candidates. We are going to do our best to get them in office so they can bring practical, not partisan government to the people of Utah and the nation.”
The party fielded three Congressional candidates – Eric Eliason in the 1st District, Jan Garbett in the 2nd, and Melanie McCoard in the 3rd. It also had one county commission candidate – Teri McCabe in Utah County. Four candidates are running for the Utah State Senate, while eleven are Utah House candidates. The party’s candidates come from several counties – Salt Lake, Summit, Cache, and Utah.
The vast majority of United Utah Party candidates are first-time candidates. However, one of the United Utah Party candidates is a current officeholder – Draper City Council member Michele Weeks in House District 51. Another is a former city council member in Provo – Harold Miller, who is running in House District 64. They range from an outdoor advertising manager (Lee Houghton in Senate 15), to an accomplished educator (Amy Martz in HD 42), to a stay-at-home mom (Hillary Stirling in HD 57).
“The party promised a fresh, new approach to politics and that is what our candidates represent,” said Davis. “They bring a new set of eyes to the problems of government, as well as a practical rather than an ideological approach that characterizes the Republicans and Democrats. We hope voters will take a close look at them.”
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Nils Bergeson
Executive Director
United Utah Party
(435) 890-5125 (cell)
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Email: press@oc.usda.gov
ADVISORY: Secretary Perdue in Arizona MONDAY
(Washington, D.C., March 16, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Arizona MONDAY, March 19th to deliver remarks at the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) Grand Opening Breakfast and to participate in a roundtable discussion on rural infrastructure with Arizona Director of Agriculture Mark Killian and Arizona state legislators.
Secretary Perdue Delivers Remarks and Holds Media Availability at NGFA
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will deliver remarks at the NGFA Grand Opening Breakfast before holding a media availability.
WHEN: MONDAY, March 19th at 9:20 a.m. MST
WHERE: Trailblazers Ballroom of the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, 6902 E. Greenway Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
*NOTE: The media availability will occur in Lowell A immediately following Secretary Perdue’s remarks.
Secretary Perdue Participates in Rural Infrastructure Roundtable
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will participate in a roundtable discussion on rural infrastructure with Director Killian and Arizona state legislators.
WHEN: MONDAY, March 19th at 10:50 a.m. MST
WHERE: Arizona Department of Agriculture, 1688 West Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
