Interior Secretary Salazar visits Utah

On a cliff overlooking a potential wilderness area in southern Utah's red rock country, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar emphasized the economic value of outdoor recreation and the need for local input for conservation efforts. It's a message Salazar repeated for about 100 people during an informal town hall at an outdoor outfitter here. While the crowd was relatively quiet, many people left frustrated with the message. "We've heard the same arguments for wilderness before," said Bill Redd, a former San Juan County Commissioner from Blanding. "But he's a Washington politician ... the four C's of the federal government are communication, cooperation, collaboration and capitulation." For Salazar, however, reaching out to local officials is a necessary step if he hopes to get any new wilderness areas approved by Congress. That's why he came to Utah on Wednesday and why he will visit New Mexico on Thursday. Salazar also plans to join other Interior officials on a Thursday conference call to discuss areas that have been recommended as potential wilderness by local and state officials throughout the West. "We have found a lot of areas where there is significant local support and congressional support," Salazar said...more