Protecting Washington County, UT Fossil Resources

["Jerry D. Harris" <jharris@dixie.edu>]

Hi All -

   We here in southwestern Utah have only just become aware of the
intentions of the federal government to dispose of some land here in
Washington County for various purposes.  Much of this land has great
potential to produce fossils; of particular interest is a substantial swath
of land that is comprised primarily of unexamined Chinle Group, Moenave
Formation, and Kayenta Formation sediments in the proximity of the Warner
Valley Dinosaur Track Site (an very well preserved site dominated by
_Grallator_ and _Eubrontes_ tracks that has been little studied).  This
swath is set to become a reservoir, and there are no plans in place to
insist that a scientific resource survey of the property be undertaken
before the disposal.

   We hope we can call upon the kindness, concern, and generosity of
members of this list to take a brief moment and send the letter quoted below
(as well as any personal modifications you wish to make to it) to those in
the Utah government who are in a position to ensure that any and all
scientific resources on these lands can be properly assessed before the land
is disposed of!  These people have all been supportive of Utah's
paleontological (and other scientific) resourcs in the past, but may be
unaware of this particular potentiality.  The persons to contact are:

Senator Robert F. Bennett
---------------------------
   Fax: 801-524-5730
   email: http://bennett.senate.gov/contact/email_opinion.cfm

Senator Orrin G. Hatch
-----------------------
   Fax: 801-534-4379
   email: http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Representative Rob Bishop
---------------------------
   Fax: 801-625-0124
   email: rob.bishop@mail.house.gov
   http://www.house.gov/robbishop/contact

Representative James Matheson
--------------------------------
   Fax: 801-486-1417
   email: jim.matheson@mail.house.gov

Representative Christopher B. Cannon
---------------------------------------
   Fax: 801-379-2509
   email: cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov


The letter:

---------------

Comments on the Washington County Growth & Conservation Act of 2006

We do not believe that the disposal of federal lands in many areas of
Washington County is acceptable, since many of these lands contain valuable,
unique, and irreplaceable paleontological resources. Before the discovery in
February of 2000 of the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
within St. George city limits, little was known about the valuable
paleontological resources in the county. This discovery was the catalyst for
many new discoveries on federal, state, and private lands, many of which are
currently being published on and studied. Clearly Washington County
preserves an extensive and unique paleontological record that has proven to
be a significant economic benefit through expanded tourism, educational, and
scientific opportunities. Public lands in the area of St. George, Gunlock,
Leeds, Gooseberry Mesa, and Warner Valley currently slated for disposal are
associated with rocks proven to be richly fossiliferous elsewhere. To
dispose of public lands for which we do not know the paleontological
potential is irresponsible.

Two bills - a Public Lands bill in Clark County, Nevada, and the Lincoln
County (Nevada) Lands Bill - both contained specific statements ear-marking
revenues from the sale of the land for archeological site preservation,
historical resources, and protection and research of other scientific
resources on that land for the benefit of the public. These bills are models
of how to effectively dispose of the federal lands while protecting and
retaining any valuable scientific resources on those lands. An opportunity
to document the educational and scientifically significant resources on
these land parcels needs to be made before they are disposed of. Any other
course of action would be irresponsible to the citizens of Washington
County, Utah, and the United States!

---------------

   Unfortunately, time is of the essence on this issue -- your comments
would be most effective if sent in the next day or two.  Your time and
generosity are most sincerely appreciated!  Thanks to everyone for
participating!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry D. Harris
Director of Paleontology
Dixie State College
Science Building
225 South 700 East
St. George, UT  84770   USA
Phone: (435) 652-7758
Fax: (435) 656-4022
E-mail: jharris@dixie.edu
and     dinogami@gmail.com
http://cactus.dixie.edu/jharris/

"Actually, it's a bacteria-run planet, but
mammals are better at public relations."
                                     -- Dave Unwin