Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry National Monument?

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Rep. Jason Chaffetz was in the county on Aug. 17 to attend a special public meeting of the Emery County public lands council.
The lands council is proposing the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur quarry become a National Monument, designated by Congress.
The lands council has met for several field trips to the quarry to discuss possible boundaries and to gather feedback from the local grazers with grazing permits for the area.
One premise behind the concept is to draw more people to the quarry and to have the funding to make the trip to the quarry worthwhile.
Vice-chairman of the lands council Rod Player welcomed everyone to the meeting. “The purpose of this meeting is to identify concerns and come up with a recommendation to present to the county commissioners.”
Player encouraged everyone to look at the maps and the proposed boundaries.
State Senator David Hinkins said there is a difference between a Congressionally designated monument and a Presidential decree. Possible benefits include: the attraction could create more tourism; road improvements and passable roads year-round. Sen Hinkins pointed out grazing is still allowed at Dinosaur National Monument.
Emery County doesn’t want a large monument which encompasses the San Rafael Swell and the lands council thinks this smaller national monument might help appease those who wish to designate large blocks of the county.
Traditional and historic resource uses of the land would continue, mainly livestock grazing and recreational uses. Less than 1,000 acres would be designated. The monument would be a Bureau of Land Management national monument and under their jurisdiction with a resource advisory council which represents local stakeholders.
Monument status could elevate public interest and promote destination tourism.
Rep. Chaffetz said he will champion the cause if that’s what the county wants him to do. National Monument status means a spot is a special place, if its worthy of designation. The quarry would be eligible for increased funding if it were designated. Rep. Chaffetz even suggested the name Jurassic National Monument. Rep. Chaffetz said he is excited about the possibilities and the draw to get more people down here to see the beautiful scenery of Emery County. “It’s unique in all the world and worthy of designation,” said Rep. Chaffetz.
Bones from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry have been shipped worldwide.
During the discussion period the question was asked of how to hide the power plants. “Nobody wants to see the last revenue generator in the county go down. This monument would be within eye shot of the power plant. Is it (monument) a revenue generator or a tax burner. I say let sleeping dogs lie, With five power units somebody’s going to notice,” said Elvin Stokes.
Randy Johnson, public lands advisor, said air quality is always an issue. The county deals with the air quality issue with all the acres tied up in wilderness study areas. “It’s a legitimate issue,” said Johnson.
The air quality standards for a National Park are different than for a National Monument. Regional haze is an issue for areas surrounding National Parks.
Sen. Hinkins said Bonanza power plant was built in Eastern Utah and that was after the Dinosaur National Monument was created.
Stokes said many people are leaving the county, those that can get out are leaving and those left behind will see increased tax burdens. The county needs to see some economic development take place. What happens to the county when the power plants and coal mines are gone? Will the increased tourists coming in to see the quarry just go through Price and not leave any money in Emery County?
Johnson said that’s one of the reasons the idea of a dinosaur quarry monument has been brought up; to get the tourists to come here and stay and spend some money. Get some new infrastructure here and increase our tax base. As the power plants age and the county loses the tax base more burden will fall upon the tax payers. The scenery here is remarkable. A monument created by Congress will have drawing power. If more people are brought here they will camp and stay awhile.
The question of will the monument cost the taxpayers of Emery County any money was brought up. Federal dollars would come into the county for the national monument. The BLM could access more funds if the quarry had a national designation.
Stokes said of all the vistas in Emery County that’s not the prettiest area of the county? Travelers come to the quarry and ask? is that all there is? People are disappointed with what’s there, especially after traveling a dirt road and some tourists have never been on a dirt road before.
Johnson said the resources at the quarry are underground. If a monument was designated monies could be used to develop a campground, dino digs and kiosks which describe the other areas of the county to visit. People need to be educated as to what’s at the quarry. A designation could take what’s there and add to it.
Commissioner Keith Brady said the travel bureau is working hard to get people here to spend money. The county doesn’t have anything on a national level. With additional monies more bones could be exposed for viewing. The paleo value is there at the site, the bones are world famous among paleontologists throughout the world. The quarry holds the world’s largest concentration of dinosaurs from the Jurassic period.
If the designation is incorporated into the public lands initiative being prepared by Cong. Chaffetz office and Cong. Rob Bishop’s office that bill will be enhanced and have a better chance of passing.
Johnson said, “Nearly every museum in the world has a bone from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.”
Rep. Chaffetz said, “The concept of a monument in the area is so valuable for this site. It’s been there for millions of years. If it can highlight the rich diversity of the county and drive some economic development then why not? It’s a great attraction for students and colleges. The Jurassic Park movies have created a lot of interest. It requires vision, it has potential, this is just the first step. The National Monument Designation will work if locals get behind it and support it. This was an important meeting to get public input and I see overwhelming support for it.”
At the current time the public lands initiative bill is being drafted by legislative council staff mainly lawyers who are non-partisan they are dealing with language and mapping for the bill. There are eight counties involved in the public lands initiative process.
“It takes time,” said Rep. Chaffetz, “But, we’re getting close. Timing is imperative on the monument designation. It must be addressed sooner than later.”
Rep. Chaffetz will be back in Congress on Sept. 8 after the summer break. “We must let this public lands initiative process play out. We are educating others not from Utah. There are 535 members of Congress. We are laying a foundation. There’s a better chance of it passing with a regional approach.”
Rep. Chaffetz didn’t seem to think the creation of a Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry national monument would bother the environmental groups who have a lot of interest in Emery County and might even be supportive of the concept.