So the western states would start selling off the land and destroy its natural beauty and resources? The eastern states didn't and neither would the western states. They would reign in, using their own government, higher education, enlightened business strategies, and other methods, for excellent environmental stewardship. They would be far more nimble and protective and stick to true multi-use principles than the federal government has done starting in the 1970's.
States are suppose to be "laboratories of democracy." Let them be so. Each state would contribute to identifying and sharing with other states the most effective "best management practices," as they endeavor to understand and care for their beloved lands - its features and resources. The federal environmental agencies are a violation of the Tenth Amendment. Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution also clearly describes the attitude, beliefs, and the way the federal government owns land within states. They pay for it. The Tenth Amendment takes control once a territory becomes a state. Environmental protection was unknown to the Founders, as were many other elements of their future. But the principle should still stand.
All federal environmental agencies are hogwash. They are relics of the TR, Wilson, and FDR eras. They got where they are by way of "ownership" and "control" by using the various Congressional Acts described in your article above. They assisted the states and then stayed. The states appreciated the favors and allowed for the violation of the Constitution. It is that simple.
Lake Tahoe would have been a National Park, but the NPS and other judges of its merits decided it had been too heavily logged for the timbers required to shore up the silver mines of Virginia City in Nevada. Lake Tahoe was my home until I was fifty-three. I was the Water Operations Manager for the South Tahoe Public Utility District and dealt with most of the environmental agencies mentioned above, including the EPA and others as well, for all manner and matters of environmental protection. Our agency built the world's first advanced wastewater treatment plant in 1965 - a brain child of local government, foresight, grit, and money, augmented by federal grants and a more collegial federal government at the time. We were under a microscope for good and bad, and STPUD still is.
Congress created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in the late 60's. It oversees everything two states, five counties, and one city do with regard to development and environmental protection within the Tahoe Basin. It is the first and may be the only regional, multi-state government Congress ever created. The word "Planning" is a feint. The agency calls all the shots, well beyond "planning." The wealthy, part-time owners have taken over the basin and easily pay the huge mitigation fees to do with their land largely what they want. TRPA has been one of the most influential pioneers of environmental management - for good and bad - in the world.
The key to these type of agencies' ruination of state and local rule and opportunities to show their stuff? Federal government grants. Just another Homestead Act "sell your soul" get comfortable with federal largesse ploy. It may have been needed in days of old when the science of environmental management was in its infancy and the brain trust was headquartered in the eastern states, Europe, and the British Isles. But no more. The University of Idaho, ISU, and Boise State have the brain power to help provide custom solutions, just as all other states have. The states stood up strong for the Tenth Amendment in 1791, then atrophied. The states and localities have the mental and environmental resources and energy to do their own thing and take back their birthright as found in our federal constitution. Such action could also trim the federal deficit. Wow, what a thought. Collegiality could flourish again, instead of the arrogant, combative traits within today's federal agencies.
Rick Hydrick, author of "The Genesis of National Park Management: John Roberts White and Sequoia National Park, 1920-1947," Journal of Forest History, April 1984; and "Definitions of Blue: The History of the South Tahoe Public Utility District," 1987, an unpublished manuscript housed at Duke University.
BA, University of California and MA, University of Oregon in History
Notice the low percentage of federal land in Texas. Before the Lone Star Republic would agree to be a state they made sure the feds would not control the land. Good example!
I wanted to buy a piece of 500 acres of land until I discovered it was surrounded by BLM with no guaranteed access. We're talking about a 450 foot section. I could cross by foot whenever, but not guaranteed by motorized or even bicycle.
This lack of guaranteed access means getting permits for the county to build anything likely impossible as they require permanent access to the parcel.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I lived in Island Park and the rich out of staters bought up all the land leading to our forest. You guessed it, no access for the locals. Only took about 10 years to lock all of us out. Sold moved to Swan Valley but it could happen here on a much smaller scale on a quicker pace. Careful what we wish for.
So the western states would start selling off the land and destroy its natural beauty and resources? The eastern states didn't and neither would the western states. They would reign in, using their own government, higher education, enlightened business strategies, and other methods, for excellent environmental stewardship. They would be far more nimble and protective and stick to true multi-use principles than the federal government has done starting in the 1970's.
States are suppose to be "laboratories of democracy." Let them be so. Each state would contribute to identifying and sharing with other states the most effective "best management practices," as they endeavor to understand and care for their beloved lands - its features and resources. The federal environmental agencies are a violation of the Tenth Amendment. Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution also clearly describes the attitude, beliefs, and the way the federal government owns land within states. They pay for it. The Tenth Amendment takes control once a territory becomes a state. Environmental protection was unknown to the Founders, as were many other elements of their future. But the principle should still stand.
All federal environmental agencies are hogwash. They are relics of the TR, Wilson, and FDR eras. They got where they are by way of "ownership" and "control" by using the various Congressional Acts described in your article above. They assisted the states and then stayed. The states appreciated the favors and allowed for the violation of the Constitution. It is that simple.
Lake Tahoe would have been a National Park, but the NPS and other judges of its merits decided it had been too heavily logged for the timbers required to shore up the silver mines of Virginia City in Nevada. Lake Tahoe was my home until I was fifty-three. I was the Water Operations Manager for the South Tahoe Public Utility District and dealt with most of the environmental agencies mentioned above, including the EPA and others as well, for all manner and matters of environmental protection. Our agency built the world's first advanced wastewater treatment plant in 1965 - a brain child of local government, foresight, grit, and money, augmented by federal grants and a more collegial federal government at the time. We were under a microscope for good and bad, and STPUD still is.
Congress created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in the late 60's. It oversees everything two states, five counties, and one city do with regard to development and environmental protection within the Tahoe Basin. It is the first and may be the only regional, multi-state government Congress ever created. The word "Planning" is a feint. The agency calls all the shots, well beyond "planning." The wealthy, part-time owners have taken over the basin and easily pay the huge mitigation fees to do with their land largely what they want. TRPA has been one of the most influential pioneers of environmental management - for good and bad - in the world.
The key to these type of agencies' ruination of state and local rule and opportunities to show their stuff? Federal government grants. Just another Homestead Act "sell your soul" get comfortable with federal largesse ploy. It may have been needed in days of old when the science of environmental management was in its infancy and the brain trust was headquartered in the eastern states, Europe, and the British Isles. But no more. The University of Idaho, ISU, and Boise State have the brain power to help provide custom solutions, just as all other states have. The states stood up strong for the Tenth Amendment in 1791, then atrophied. The states and localities have the mental and environmental resources and energy to do their own thing and take back their birthright as found in our federal constitution. Such action could also trim the federal deficit. Wow, what a thought. Collegiality could flourish again, instead of the arrogant, combative traits within today's federal agencies.
Rick Hydrick, author of "The Genesis of National Park Management: John Roberts White and Sequoia National Park, 1920-1947," Journal of Forest History, April 1984; and "Definitions of Blue: The History of the South Tahoe Public Utility District," 1987, an unpublished manuscript housed at Duke University.
BA, University of California and MA, University of Oregon in History
Notice the low percentage of federal land in Texas. Before the Lone Star Republic would agree to be a state they made sure the feds would not control the land. Good example!
I wanted to buy a piece of 500 acres of land until I discovered it was surrounded by BLM with no guaranteed access. We're talking about a 450 foot section. I could cross by foot whenever, but not guaranteed by motorized or even bicycle.
This lack of guaranteed access means getting permits for the county to build anything likely impossible as they require permanent access to the parcel.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I lived in Island Park and the rich out of staters bought up all the land leading to our forest. You guessed it, no access for the locals. Only took about 10 years to lock all of us out. Sold moved to Swan Valley but it could happen here on a much smaller scale on a quicker pace. Careful what we wish for.