GLEN CANYON SIERRAN
Volume 2 Newsletter of the Sierra Club Glen Canyon Group Issue 2 return to the condi- The Glen Canyon Campaign tions that prevailed Building Momentum during the first half of the twentieth century would sig- hile nature is giving the public a taste of nificantly accelerate Wlife without Lake Powell–currently down sedimentation in nearly 45% from its normal level–the Glen Lake Powell and Canyon Group (GCG) has been active on would significantly several fronts to realize the Club’s objective affect future use and that Glen Canyon and the Colorado River be operation of this fully restored. From fighting new infrastructure reservoir, “ says Dr. projects proposed for the reservoir, to demand- Dohrenwend. As sediment will ultimately ren- ing federal action to address the environmental der Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell reser- impacts of the dam’s operations, the Club’s voir inoperable, as early as 2063 according to campaign to revive Glen Canyon rolls on. one BuRec study, it seems prudent that the In January the GCG joined forces with eight government undertake a complete sediment other groups in demanding that the National management plan so that the public under- Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation stands the potential life span of any future (BuRec) prepare a sediment management plan investments before such financial commit- for Lake Powell Reservoir. This intervention ments are made. was prompted by a Glen Canyon National Also in March, the GCG worked with the Recreation Area (GCNRA) proposal to expand Chapter on releasing a statement opposing the Hite Marina. Located 30 miles from the head of proposed $250 million municipal water pipeline the reservoir, Hite Marina is the first facility that from Lake Powell reservoir to St. George. must be decommissioned due to sedimenta- Currently, “Washington County wastes more tion. Despite a 2001 GCNRA funded analysis, water per capita than practically any other which concluded that sediment will begin to community in the country,” says GCG Vice impact Hite by next year, the Park Service still Chair Patrick Diehl. Indeed, at 355 gallons per planned to move forward with a $2 million person per day, Washington County’s con- expansion. sumption is 25 percent above Utah’s average, In March, GCG Chair John Weisheit accom- and Utah ranks among the most water-wasteful panied Dr. John Dohrenwend, a geomorpholo- of states in the nation–and, by extension, one gist formerly with the US Geological Survey, on of the most water consumptive regions of the a survey of the upper Colorado River arm of planet. The GCG hopes to incorporate efforts the reservoir. They concluded that Hite Marina to oppose this pipeline into a larger statewide will likely require closure by the end of this year effort to implement much more stringent water due to sediment build-up impeding access. Dr. conservation measures to avoid the construc- Dohrenwend also observed that similar to how tion of any infrastructure that would facilitate the BuRec misjudged the amount of water in diverting more water from Utah’s rivers. the Colorado watershed, giving away 22% In April, the GCG joined seventeen other more water on paper than the river actually organizations in demanding suspension of the delivers, they may have misjudged the sedi- planning process for the proposed Antelope mentation rates too. Point Marina project on Lake Powell reservoir. “Sedimentation in Lake Powell, from its In an eleven-page letter sent to GCNRA offi- creation to the present, occurred during a time cials, the groups expressed concern regarding of relatively slow landscape change that is not violations of environmental laws, utilization of fully representative of historic times. Indeed, a outdated planning guidelines, a bias toward servicing motorized flatwater recreation and 80% since BuRec and others began tinkering failure to consult with Navajo interests. with Glen Canyon Dam operations in an effort The proposal involves building a 410-slip to “increase” its populations. In a letter sent to marina, 225-room hotel complex, 150-site the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management campground, fuel dock, convenience store, Working Group the GCG, the Plateau Group restaurant and related infrastructure over a from Flagstaff and others demanded that 950-acre site, 710 of which are owned by the BuRec start following the laws that require Navajo Nations. The Diné Medicinemen’s mitigation of the Glen Canyon Dam’s adverse Association is opposed to the project, as it impacts to the Colorado River ecosystem in would impact ceremonial and sacred sites, and Grand Canyon National Park. Since then, GCG promote inappropriate development on the members have been successfully working to Navajo Reservation. Since visitation is down 11 grow a national network of groups to support percent since 2000 and 35 percent since 1992, the Sierra Club in demanding action to restore there clearly is no need for additional marina the natural river corridor through Grand Can- facilities on the reservoir. yon. On June 17, the GCG, the Club’s Colorado For more details on GCG’s efforts to de- River Task Force and 75 other groups released commission Glen Canyon, contact Owen a statement atop Hoover Dam, site of BuRec’s Lammers, Colorado River Committee Chair, centennial celebration, calling for immediate Glen Canyon Group (435) 259-1063, action to reverse the impacts of Glen Canyon
On August 28, 2002, Judge Alan Rosenthal This is the second election announcement with ruled against the Sierra Club in a Nuclear the first being a postcard sent to the members Regulatory Commission hearing regarding of the Glen Canyon Group on September 3rd. International Uranium Corporation’s (IUC’s) application to bring 17,000 tons of radioactive Two positions on the GCG Executive Commit- lead sludge to the White Mesa Uranium Mill tee (ExCom) are up for election this year. The from Molycorp’s bastnasite mine at Mountain winners will serve for calendar years 2003- Pass, California. 2004. This year’s ExCom sent a postcard to all The ruling unfairly cites IUC’s expert testi- GCG members notifying you about this oppor- mony that the mill’s tailings ponds won’t leak tunity to run for election. and the leak detection system is adequate, The postmark deadline to apply to be a while never once mentioning — much less candidate for next year’s ExCom was October considering — the volumes of expert testimony 1, 2002. If you missed the deadline, you can and evidence that GCG presented showing still run for election if you get 15 GCG mem- that the ponds will and probably already do bers to sign a petition nominating you. Write a leak, and that the leak detection system cannot 300-word description of your experience in the detect problems until contamination is already Sierra Club or your activist background and in the groundwater. why you would like to serve on the GCG The campaign to stop the Molycorp sludge ExCom. Mail the petition and the self-descrip- has been a real community effort. The battle tion on or before October 25, 2002, to Nomina- was launched in Spring 2001 by Ken Sleight tion Committee, Sierra Club Glen Canyon and Herb McHarg, with help from Rosalie Group, P.O. Box 622, Moab UT 84532. Reilly. The Utah Chapter Sierra Club pitched in Below are the deadlines for this year’s GCG with financial assistance and expertise from election: veteran activists Ivan Weber and Cindy King. • October 1: Postmark deadline to apply to This year the campaign was spearheaded by be a candidate for next year’s ExCom. Tori Woodard, Sarah Fields, and Bill Love from • October 25: Postmark deadline to submit the Glen Canyon Group, with help from John candidate petitions and ballot issue petitions. Weisheit, Karen Robinson, Jean Binyon, David • November 1: Eligible voter list will be Orr, Owen Lammers, experts Paul Grossl, produced. If you want to vote in this year’s Roger Coulombe, and Tim Chervick, and GCG ExCom election, be sure you are a GCG others who wish to remain anonymous. member and your dues are paid up before this Thanks, team, for the great work! date. GCG’s Nuclear Waste Committee decided •November 15: Ballots will be mailed to all not to appeal Judge Rosenthal’s decision. eligible GCG members. Instead, we are adopting a whole new strategy •December 14: Postmark deadline to return to fight the White Mesa Mill. Stay tuned! your ballot to the Election Committee. •December 19: The Election Committee will count the ballots on this day at 1 p.m. at the Creamery/Ice Cream Shop/Living Rivers office, 21 North Main Street, Moab, Utah. Candidates or their authorized representatives may ob- serve the ballot counting. The winners will be announced elec- tronically on the Southern Utah Environmental List (SUEL) listserv, and in the Utah Sierran
newsletter and the GCG newsletter. Protesting at White Mesa in 2001 Sierra Club Glen Canyon Group P.O. Box 622 Moab, UT 84532
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MARK YOUR POLITICAL CALENDAR Two GCG ExCom members are running for political office on the Green Party ticket. GCG Election Day is approaching, so it’s time to start Chair John Weisheit is running for the State thinking about our representation in Congress, House of Representatives in District 55. GCG in the State Legislature, and in our respective Vice Chair Patrick Diehl is running for US County offices, including Commission or Coun- Congress in District 2. cil seats. Be sure you are registered to vote at All registered voters in the Glen Canyon your current residence. Find out where candi- Group’s area will have the opportunity to vote dates stand on issues and problems that con- for U.S. Congress in the newly redistricted cern you. Vote on November 5. If you will be Second District. The huge new District 2 in- out of town that day, find out how to vote in cludes the following counties: Daggett, advance or by absentee ballot. Your County Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Clerk can answer any questions you have Piute, San Juan, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Wash- about these procedures. Here are the County ington, Wayne, and part of Salt Lake City. Clerk phone numbers: There will also be elections for the State House of Representatives, state and local Carbon - 636-3224 • Emery - 381-5106 School Boards, Judicial and County offices. Garfield - 676-8826 • Grand - 259-1322 Grand County will be electing Council mem- Kane - 644-2458 • San Juan - 587-3223 bers in Districts 1 and 3 and one at-large. Wayne - 836-2731 Other County officers to be elected are: Asses- sor, Sheriff, Attorney, Clerk/Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer and Surveyer.