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August 3, 2002 Dear Governor 0'Callahan, The Red Rock Conservation Area really needs your help. We are facing the possible widespread development of the Blue Diamond Hill by a British Company that plans to build so many houses, apartments, store and schools that Nevada's jewel in the desert, Red Rock Canyon, will be forever changed. And, the changes will be irreversible. There is, however, one way to guarantee that the area stay unmolested. The company needs a land swap with the BLM in order to implement their plan. Besides being presumptious, this is so blatantly unfair. What they (James Hardie Gypsum and John Laing Homes) want to do is this: get 1,000 acres of BLM land in exchange for 500 acres of private land. According to Evan Blythin, Chairman of the Red Rock Citizens Advisory Council, relative to property values of the area, the proposal gives the developer 70 million dollars of public property!! We need to stop the land swap. Without it, they cannot do their proposed development, because the BLM land is right smack in the middle of their plan. This goes far beyond the fact that developers believe that they always get the gold ring. It goes to the very essence of preserving the natural gems that make America beautiful. I went back to the wonderful column that you wrote (March 15, 2001) called "Hellbent on Destruction" about the Artie National Wildlife Refuge. I think it is one of your best. You wrote, "Alaskans have no more right to claim the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that Nevadans and Californians have to claim ownership of beautiful Lake Tahoe. Both are gems that belong to all Americans, and the nearby states have the honor and responsibility to jointhe federal government in protecting them." The same is true for the Red Rock Conservation Area. We, who live closest by, are leading the fight to protect it by working against the land swap. But- our efforts are driven by the need to preserve Red Rock Canyon for its visitors from all over the country and all over the world, for generations to come. We cannot allow its sweeping vistas, its peaceful retreats, its desert treasures or its majesty be marred by short-sighted commercial greed. We understand that the British company plans to push this through both the planning commission and county commission in September. They seem to think that will be a piece of cake. Then they will go to the BLM and essentially say, "Look here. Everybody thinks its a good idea. Just give us the land." Is there no end to British arrogance? Sincerely, Pat van Betten |
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| Roger Scimé, President. |