New Wilderness Proposal (July 8, 1998)
Wilderness advocates are upping the ante in the long-running battle over Utah's public land. They're adding millions of acres to their protection proposal, and they say a startling new public opinion poll supports their position. Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst has the story.
Wilderness supporters have been running slick TV spots featuring spectacular Utah scenery. Behind the scenes, 350 volunteers have been combing the rugged landscape for two years, documenting what's out there.
TOM PRICE/SO. UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: "IF THERE'S A PLACE IN UTAH THAT MIGHT HAVE WILDERNESS CHARACTERISITICS, WE'VE BEEN THERE AND TAKEN PICTURES."
40,000 pictures. 3 truckloads of documentation.
TOM PRICE/SO. UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: "IT'S THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY EVER CONDUCTED."
They say it proves Utah has several million more acres of true wilderness than anyone thought.
TOM PRICE/SO. UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: "WE REALLY DIDN'T EXPECT THE NUMBER TO GO UP MUCH, IF AT ALL. BUT CERTAINLY WE DIDN'T EXPECT THE RESUILTS THAT WE FOUND."
The old environtalist battle-cry was 5.7 million acres. The new proposal is for roughly 9 million acres. They also commissioneed a public opinion poll which shows 74 percent of Utahns want all that wilderness protected.
TOM PRICE/SO. UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: "PEOPLE IN UTAH UNDERSTAND WE'RE LOSING OUR OPEN SPACES. AND THEY WANT WHATEVER IS LEFT, SET ASIDE."
The opposition says the proposal would lock out motorized recreation and put a heavy damper on jobs by restricting grazing, logging, mining and drilling.
RANDY JOHNSON/EMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "NINE MILLION ACRES PLUS OF WILDERNESS DOWN THERE, OR EVEN 6 MILLION, WOULD GREATLY JEOPARDIZE THE LIFESTYLE OF THE SOUTHERN UTAHNS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS."
Critics say the opinion poll may have been skewed by questions that were as favorable as possible to wilderness.
RANDY JOHNSON/EMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "THE MESSAGE WE'RE GETTING IS NOT THE SAME MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE GETTING."
TOM PRICE/SO. UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: "WE USED THE MOST RESPECTABLE POLLSTER WE COULD FIND. RICHARD WIRTHLIN WAS RONALD REAGAN'S PERSONAL POLLSTER."
JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "THE ISSUE HAS BEEN FROZEN IN A DEADLOCK FOR YEARS. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE NEW MORE AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL WILL GET THE DEBATE OFF DEAD CENTER, OR SIMPLY DIG BOTH SIDES IN EVEN DEEPER."
RANDY JOHNSON/EMERY COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "AND I'VE HAD MANY CALLS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, 'IT'S TIME TO MOVE BACK TO OUR ZERO STANCE. IT'S TIME TO DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND'. AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO."
Two lines in the sand, getting further apart all the time. John Hollenhorst, KSL News, Salt Lake City.
What is Wilderness?
Wilderness Links
Wilderness Act of 1964