Dear HCN,
I am
writing to express the Public Lands Foundation’s (PLF) opposition
to the transfer of 1,640 acres of public land to the LDS Church
(HCN, 9/30/02).
The Public Lands Foundation is a
nonprofit national conservation organization whose members are from
the general public and retired BLM employees, all who are
interested in the proper multiple-use management of BLM lands. Many
of our members are residents of Wyoming and Utah.
Martin’s Cove is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places and is managed adequately by the Bureau of Land
Management along with the Historic Oregon Trail, which the site is
a part of. There is no justification to support the transfer of
this site to private ownership.
The Bureau of
Land Management has proven that they can manage this site and other
such sites for all Americans to enjoy. The BLM has made a
substantial investment of public funds at the site and has an
adequate budget to properly protect and manage it.
In addition, the BLM and the LDS have a close
relationship, working with the development of a trails system at
the site under the helpful eye of John Greer, who is the property
management person for the church. To our knowledge, he has been
happy with BLM’s cooperation and abilities.
We
also note that the entire Wyoming delegation supports continued
management by BLM.
George Lea,
president, Public Lands Foundation
Arlington,
Virginia
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Cove should stay with BLM.
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