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Bill Putnam wrote:
Why are cavers not more vocal in opposing the permanent closure of this cave?
And what exactly is the NSS doing to address these issues?
\graveleye wrote:I would be more vocal except I don't know who to vocalize to.
David Grimes wrote:I know nothing at all about this cave first of all but is there a possibility that there may be a connection in another cave that might make sealing this cave ineffective? Also is there a possibility that another entrance could open in the future? I do not know much about caves in Utah but here in Indiana, while not extremely common, connections and new openings are found fairly regularly to known caves. If this is even a slight possibilty then sealing the entrance would definately not be the best solution.
Another new possibility is a new sink forming approximately 700 ft S15 degrees E of the entrance of nutty putty with a small amount of air blowing from it. Almost in line with it is another smaller sink approximately 500 ft from the Nutty Putty entrance. This may mean more cave paralleling the northern section, but with no known entrance in Nutty Putty itself. It would have the same sort of drainage as the southern part of Nutty Putty. There remains also the very remote possibility that there is a relationship between Nutty Putty and Rassle Knoll Pit.
David Grimes wrote:I know nothing at all about this cave first of all but is there a possibility that there may be a connection in another cave that might make sealing this cave ineffective? Also is there a possibility that another entrance could open in the future? I do not know much about caves in Utah but here in Indiana, while not extremely common, connections and new openings are found fairly regularly to known caves. If this is even a slight possibilty then sealing the entrance would definately not be the best solution.
ron_miller wrote:Has anyone investigated the possibility that significant microbial life may be present in Nutty Putty Cave?
ron_miller wrote:Also, have any of the cave managers or the land owners considered the potential ramifications to the cave biota (and possibly microbiota) of completely sealing up the natural entrance to this cave?
ron_miller wrote:Is there any requirement for the land owner, SITLA, which appears to be an agency of the State of Utah, to undertake an environmental assessment before undertaking such an environmentally significant act as permanently sealing the cave?
For all interested,
I now have details of what the Sheriff's department are planning to do to the cave. The good part is that it leaves most of the cave intact for the future. Here they are for all of you:
First, as the family has determined to keep the body in the cave and use it as a tomb, the lower section of the slide part of the cave is to be blasted just below the drop where the ladder has been in that first belly crawl. This allows for the sanctity of that small part of the cave and also stops access to those parts of the lower area in the cave where people are likely to get stuck.
Second, To satisfy SITLA and yet comprimise for the cavers and the future, a cement plug will be poured in the belly crawl potion of the entrance. Plywood will be placed against the gate to preserve it intact. Cement will be poured to fill that area and up to the narrow part of the throat. The sinkhole will remain. This will be done to stop access to the cave while the body turns to bones (the smell is really bad already) and so long as SITLA and the political environment remain as they are. This preserves the cave intact and preserves the natural resource for future times when thinks are more favorable. The cement, with a lot of work can be removed and the cave would be back in business as before but without the constant hastle of the nasty tight areas we have had so much trouble with in the past.
Not a perfect solution but not total destruction of the cave which was what SITLA wanted.
This is just for your information.
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