Panguitch • Panguitch Lake • Hatch • Bryce • Tropic • Antimony • Henrieville • Cannonville • Escalante • Boulder • Fremont • Loa • Lyman Bicknell • Teasdale • Torrey • Grover • Fruita • Caineville • Hanksville
BLM ISSUES FINAL DECISION FOR ORGANIZED GROUP USE ALONG HOLE-IN-THE-ROCK ROAD The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) signed the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for Organized Group Use along Holein-the-Rock (HITR) Road Decision Record (DR) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) April 5, 2012. The BLM and National Park Service’s Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) began work on a Programmatic EA for Special Recreation Permits for organized use along HITR Road in Southern Utah in October 2010. GSENM and GCNRA foresaw a continuing desire for groups that exceed management prescriptions to travel along the road and visit its associated historic sites for the heritage, recreational, and educational values they provide. GSENM and the GCNRA jointly prepared this EA to analyze the effects of authorizing organized group activities that exceed existing group size limits along the road corridor. The GSENM Management Plan (MMP) prescribes group size limits of 25 in the GSENM Passage Zone along the HITR Road. However, the MMP also allows BLM to authorize permits for groups larger than 25 people with appropriate NEPA analysis. The HITR Road continues through the GCNRA Development Zone, and adjacent areas in the Recreation Area’s Natural Zone. GCNRA environmental analysis allowed for groups of up to 100 people in the Development Zone and 60 people in the Natural Zone.
This DR allows a maximum of 145 people at any one time to conduct both day use organized group activities at Dance Hall Rock and Hole-inthe-Rock Historic sites, as well as camping within the GSENM and GCNRA. The EA established criteria to be required of all permitted parties. The permitted group criteria includes: predetermined camp locations, sanitation facilities to be provided by the permit holder, a maximum of 29
vehicles per group, a length of stay of three days and two nights for large groups and 12 days for re-enactment/equestrian groups, and season of use and site restrictions will be applied to specific sites. The Programmatic EA for Organized Group Use along Hole-in-the-Rock Road and FONSI can be downloaded from the BLM Utah Environmental Notification Bulletin Board website: https://www.blm.gov/ ut/enbb/index.php.
Thursday, April 12, 2012 • Issue # 939
DEVELOPERS PAY $30,000 FOR DAMAGING AND POLLUTING PANGUITCH LAKE
Companies and individual cited for unauthorized construction activities at Panguitch Lake Adventure Resort The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has entered into a Combined Complaint and Consent Agreement (CCCA) and an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with Polidori Corporation, Inc., PoliGold, LLC, and Veronica Polidori (collectively, Polidori) in response to alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at Panguitch Lake in Garfield County, Utah. EPA alleges that Polidori discharged dredged or fill material to the lake and adjacent wetlands, in violation of the Clean Water Act, during the construction of a marina and RV park. The AOC, which replaces an administrative order for compliance issued in September of 2010, addresses discharges of dredged or fill
DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST AND SUU PARTNER TO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY Join Dixie National Forest and Southern Utah University to celebrate Earth Day with free events planned between, April 19th-April 21st, 2012. The Dixie National Forest is a landscape of contrast in color, climate and culture through its geology, world class recreation, scenery and natural and heritage resources. The spectacular landscape of the Dixie National Forest will be presented in a special art exhibition entitled, Into the Woods: A Painted Diary of the Dixie National Forest by Arlene Braithwaite. Southern Utah University’s Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery offers a chance to see over 20 works depicting the landscapes within the Forest, by the well-known regional artist Arlene Braith-
PANGUITCH WEATHER
LOA WEATHER
waite, including work commissioned by the Dixie National Forest. “The Dixie National Forest is proud to be in partnership with SUU and the gallery opening. Arlene’s paintings provide a glimpse into the natural beauty that connects people to the Dixie National Forest.” said Forest Supervisor, Rob MacWhorter. This special exhibit will be featured in the newly created gallery in SUU’s Hunter Conference Center, second floor. There will be an opening reception Thursday April 19, 2012 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The show continues through Saturday, August 25, 2012. The exhibit’s hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm, except holidays and special events in the Conference Center. Admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend. In conjunction with Arlene Braithwaite’s opening exhibit, the Dixie National Forest and SUU will host a free screening of the film Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time, the first full-length, high definition documentary film ever made about the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold. The film explores Aldo Leopold’s life in the early part of the twentieth century and the
many ways his land ethic idea continues to be applied all over the world today. Green Fire is a production of the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Center for Humans and Nature. The film shares highlights from Leopold’s life and extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation in the twentieth century and still inspires people today. Although probably best known as the author of the conservation classic A Sand County Almanac, Leopold is also renowned for his work as an educator, philosopher, forester, ecologist, and wilderness advocate. Two free showings will be held on April 19th at 4pm and 7:30pm in the Great Hall of the Hunter Conference Center. Learn more about the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Green Fire movie at www. aldoleopold.org. On Friday, April 20th, visit the free Earth Day fair located on SUU’s upper quad from 11-6pm. The fair will feature interactive projects for youth, free giveaways, informational booths, including one from the Forest Service. Visit http://www.suu.edu/pva/ artgallery for additional information.
DAVCO BUILDING THE SNUGGLE INN......................................................836-2898 55 South Main, Loa ( www.thesnuggleinn.com ) Conference Rooms - meetings, socials, business, reunions, shower rooms, etc. TOSCONOS PIZZERIA.................................................836-2500 Hours: Open: Mon - Sat: 11-8pm ~ Closed Sundays. Sandwiches, Paninnis, Pizzas,Wraps, Salads, Pastas, Breadsticks, Cin-A-Stick w/Frosting, Smoothies and Specialty Coffees CREATIVE SPIRIT GALLERY & GIFTS..................836-2898 www.giftscreativespirit.com MANE-E-ACS HAIR SALON .....................................836-2602 Kimber Wood (Walk-ins, Hair Cuts, Perms, Colors, Pedicures, and Hair Extensions & Jewelry.) PACE TAX SERVICE.....................................................836-2218 Tax Preparations, Refund Loans, IRS E-Filing, and Tax Planning. THE WAYNE & GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER is owned and operated by Snapshot Multimedia and is distributed weekly to all of Garfield County. Its purpose is to inform residents about local issues and events. Articles submitted from independent writers are not necessarily the opinion of Snapshot Multimedia. We sincerely hope you enjoy the paper and encourage input on ideas and/or suggestions for the paper. Thank you for your support.
material by Polidori, or persons acting on their behalf, to approximately 7.5 acres of Panguitch Lake and adjacent wetlands during the construction of a marina and RV park during 2007 and 2008. The unauthorized work included construction of a coffer dam in the lake, dredging and filling a large portion of an existing marina, and placement of large rocks along the perimeter of the new marina. Additional activities associated with the development of the RV park included construction of a rock wall, the discharge of large amounts of earthen fill, and placement of large rocks along a portion of the lake’s southern shoreline. “The construction at the Panguitch Lake Adventure Resort degraded more than seven acres of the lake and nearby wetlands,” said Mike Gaydosh, EPA’s enforcement director in Denver. “It is critical that those wishing to take actions that impact surface waters and wetlands contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first to see if their planned activities can be permitted.” Polidori has paid a penalty of $30,000 and will remove and/or miti-
gate discharged material. Where material is removed, impacted areas must be restored to pre-impact conditions and grade. Prior to undertaking this work, Polidori must submit a plan for EPA approval that details how restoration and mitigation will be accomplished. Panguitch Lake and its adjacent wetlands provide numerous functions and values, including aquatic and wildlife habitat, groundwater recharge, flood attenuation, recreation and aesthetics. Placement of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. can have adverse impacts on wildlife habitat and on communities of fish, plants and insects. A permit is required before performing any work that results in discharges of material into rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. Any person planning to do such work in southern Utah should contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ St. George Regulatory Office (321 North Mall Drive, Suite L-101, St. George, UT 84790; telephone, 435986-3979) before beginning work to determine if a permit is needed.
ATTENTION GARKANE MEMBERS
PLANNED POWER OUTAGES FOR GARKANE’S SOUTHERN SYSTEM April 15th & May 20th Garkane Energy will be having two pre-arranged outages in our Southern System on April 15th and May 20th. Each outage will be from 12:00 a.m. Saturday night (Midnight) until approximately 6:00 a.m Sunday Morning. These outages are necessary for the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), at Glen Canyon to do the necessary work to install a backup transformer to feed Garkane’s transmission line out of the dam. After the work has been completed, in association with these two outages, Garkane will have much better reliability out of Glen Canyon in case of a transformer malfunction or failure. This installation will provide Garkane a redundant transformer for backup at Glen Canyon. All of Kane and Garfield counties (except Antimony and Panguitch), and Northern Arizona, (except Colorado City and Hildale) will be affected. We urge all law enforcement, hospitals, telephone entities, and Churches to be aware, as these outages will run from midnight, Saturday Night (12:00 a.m.) to approximately 6:00 a.m Sunday Morning (6 hours total). During these outages Garkane crews will be out working on various projects throughout the system, that need to be accomplished, which can only be done when the power is out. We thank all of our customers for their patience and understanding during these two critical outages. Garkane reminds its members to be prepared for power outages by choosing an easily accessible closet or cupboard for an emergency supply of flashlights, batteries, and other needed items.
A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel. Robert Frost
Wayne Phone: 435-836-2622 Garfield Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 472, Loa, Utah 84747 snapshot@live.com ALL content for THE WAYNE &GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER must be submitted on FRIDAY BEFORE 5:00 PM to be included in the following Thursday edition of the paper.
BOXHOLDER
PRE-SORT STANDARD PAID LOA, UTAH PERMIT No. 5