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Contents of Land, Energy and Paleontology:
Ninety-Eight (98%) percent of the land in Walla Walla County is private and that is the land which comprises the County tax base which must support all County services. Land tenure adjustments for any government agency must provide for no net loss of private land, private property rights and interests including investment backed expectations or loss of property tax revenue to Walla Walla County. Exchanges of government lands with private land owners to adjust property lines for improvement of management of either or both will be sought. Isolated tracts of federally managed lands which could be better and more efficiently managed by the private sector will be identified and recommended for sale.
The advantage of private ownership to the economy as well to maintaining and revitalizing the productive value of the federally managed lands is summarized by Gary Libecap in Locking Up the Range (1981) at Page 102 as follows:
“Well-defined private rights capture individual incentive and initiative for using rangeland efficiently. Further, they insure response by profit-maximizing land owners to changing market demands for range use. Finally, they allow the U.S. to avoid socially costly scientific management programs advocated by the BLM. Private property rights are the necessary conditions for restoring and maintaining the productive value of land.”
Energy and mineral resources provide the base for an important contribution to the economy of Walla Walla County. All lands not currently withdrawn from energy and mineral exploration will remain available for such use.
Proposed revisions to the General Mining Law of 1872 will be carefully evaluated as to any undue adverse impact on the mining industry in the County. Recommendations regarding such proposed amendments will be sent to Congress. The mining industry makes up an important part of the property tax base of the County, and its payroll and expenditures for supplies are important to the economic stability of the County. Mining is one of the historic multiple uses on federally managed land and maintenance of the use is compatible with the multiple use principle.
As Management Action is considered regarding mining interests in the County, the restraints upon free market development imposed by statute or by agency rule will be evaluated. Any unjust or unreasonable restraints which are not specifically based upon statutory authority may be challenged. As to any such unjust or unreasonable restraints which appear to be based upon statutory authority, a recommendation may be made to Congress.
CULTURAL, GEOLOGICAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES
GOAL; In coordination with state and local government planning agencies, and in cooperation with interested members of the public develop and implement a Management Action Plan by which to determine the significance of cultural resource sites according to condition, content and relevance and increase the opportunity for educational, recreational, socio-cultural, and scientific uses of cultural and paleontological resources.
GUIDANCE; The Federal Land Policy and Management Act directs that the Agency administered lands be managed so as to protect archeological values. The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 require protection of paleontological resources and require permits for excavation or appropriation of such resources.
The National Environmental Protection Act directs preservation of important natural aspects of the national heritage. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 describes federal agencies' responsibility to preserve prehistoric and historic cultural resources.
OBJECTIVES:
1) Select cultural resource and paleontological sites for evaluation annually to track any changes in site characteristics such as deterioration or vandalism.
2) Where sufficient data indicates adverse impacts of multiple uses occurring on a site, establish mitigation measures to reduce impacts and protect and conserve unique cultural and paleontological resources.
3) Protect the integrity of those portions of the Oregon Trail and associated cultural resource sites on Federal Agency administered lands.
4) Manage the existing historic district designations in accordance with Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
5) Nominate appropriate site/areas to the national register of historic places only in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined in NEPA.
Monitoring:
· Document, record and make available to the Coordinating Committee, all data that details conditions found at specific cultural and paleontological sites during all site visits.
· Maintain, review and make available to the public for analysis the data collected during annual monitoring site visits.
· Periodically review changes in historical, cultural and paleontological site designations.
Evaluation:
· Analyze the site visit data to determine the degree of impact of multiple uses occurring on the site and develop mitigation measures.
· Track the progress of recommendations for additions to the National Register of Historic Places.
· Analyze the degree to which cultural resource management restrictions are affecting or limiting multiple uses of the public lands in Walla Walla County.
· Review the data provided to and on file with Walla Walla County Coordinating Committee..
Where an imminent threat to these special features is specifically identified, mitigation efforts necessary to protect significant scientific, educational, and recreational value will be identified.
Many other special features are not self protected and are susceptible to damage by recreation seekers. Among such features are “Pictographs.”
Any permits granted for recreational use of any type in the areas in which these ancient Pictographs are located should be issued only after careful consideration of the adverse impact which might result from the recreational event and shall be issued only with conditions designed to prevent damage to the Pictographs and other cultural and historical characteristics of the County.