Here is Secretarial Order #3310 from Ken Salazar to the BLM.
Note that it will affect both motorized and MECHANICAL equipment.
While it is true that the Price Field Office dealt with the "lands with
wilderness characteristics" during the most recent RMP covering Carbon
&Emery Counties, this Secretarial Order almost guarantees to open that can
of worms once again.
The battle rages on.
Alan J. Peterson
Note that it will affect both motorized and MECHANICAL equipment.
While it is true that the Price Field Office dealt with the "lands with
wilderness characteristics" during the most recent RMP covering Carbon
&Emery Counties, this Secretarial Order almost guarantees to open that can
of worms once again.
The battle rages on.
Alan J. Peterson
| http___www.doi.gov_news_pressreleases_loader.pdf |
Release Date: 09/20/10
Contacts: Gina Ginouves , (435) 865-3011
BLM Announces Development of the New Cedar City Resource Management Plan
Public is encouraged to participate in the planning process
Cedar City—The Cedar City Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) is seeking public input as it begins to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) on public
lands they manage in Iron and Beaver counties, Utah.
The RMP will be the basic document that will guide management of natural
resources, activities and uses on the public lands during the next 15-20
years. The BLM recognizes the importance and value of the public’s input
during the planning process and encourages citizens who have an interest in
the public lands in Iron and Beaver counties to submit their issues,
concerns, and information.
Public scoping meetings will be scheduled in Cedar City, Beaver and Salt
Lake City in October or November of 2010. Specific dates, times, and places
of the scoping meetings will be announced on the RMP website
www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city.htmland in the local media. The public
may provide information on the issues that should be considered in the EIS
through December 9, 2010.
The new RMP will address issues and concerns identified by the public as
well as other government agencies. Preliminary issues identified for
consideration in the new RMP include the management of air quality, cultural
and paleontological resources, fire, woodland resources, vegetation,
hazardous sites, lands and realty, rangeland, minerals, off-highway vehicle
use, recreation, riparian resources, socio-economics, vegetation, visual
resources, watersheds and water quality, special management areas, wildlife,
livestock grazing, and wild horses and burros. As part of the planning
process, the BLM will also consider nominations for potential Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and nominations of river segments for
potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Using information from the public and BLM resource specialists, a reasonable
range of alternatives will be developed and analyzed in a Draft RMP/EIS that
will be published and made available for public review in the next two
years.
The Cedar City Field Office is responsible for administering about 2.1
million acres of public lands located in Iron and Beaver counties in
southwestern Utah. Geographically, the field office boundary is bordered by
Millard County on the north, the Nevada state line on the west, Washington
County on the south, and Kane County on the east.
Existing land use plans for the Cedar City Field Office are the Pinyon
Management Framework Plan, approved in 1983, and the Cedar/Beaver/Garfield/
Antimony RMP, approved in 1986. Since these plans were implemented,
considerable changes have occurred in the area. There has been substantial
population growth resulting in an increased use of public lands for
recreational activities such as mountain biking, hunting and off-road
vehicle use. There has been an increase in renewable energy proposals, such
as wind and geothermal projects. In addition, there is new information for
many resources of interest to the public, including threatened and
endangered species, wild horses and other resources.
The Federal Register notice formally announcing the BLM’s intention to
prepare an EIS for a new RMP process was published on Friday, September 10,
2010.
For more information about becoming involved with this RMP/EIS or to submit
comments, please use the following contact information: BLM Cedar City
Field Office, 176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT 84721, ATTN: Gina
Ginouves; phone (435) 865-3011; or e-mail utccrmp@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more land - more than 245 million acres - than any other
Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is
primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a
budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of
sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use
mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for
the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau
accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by
conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public
lands.
--BLM--
Utah State Office 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 SLC, UT 84101-1345
Last updated: 09-20-2010
Contacts: Gina Ginouves , (435) 865-3011
BLM Announces Development of the New Cedar City Resource Management Plan
Public is encouraged to participate in the planning process
Cedar City—The Cedar City Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) is seeking public input as it begins to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) on public
lands they manage in Iron and Beaver counties, Utah.
The RMP will be the basic document that will guide management of natural
resources, activities and uses on the public lands during the next 15-20
years. The BLM recognizes the importance and value of the public’s input
during the planning process and encourages citizens who have an interest in
the public lands in Iron and Beaver counties to submit their issues,
concerns, and information.
Public scoping meetings will be scheduled in Cedar City, Beaver and Salt
Lake City in October or November of 2010. Specific dates, times, and places
of the scoping meetings will be announced on the RMP website
www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city.htmland in the local media. The public
may provide information on the issues that should be considered in the EIS
through December 9, 2010.
The new RMP will address issues and concerns identified by the public as
well as other government agencies. Preliminary issues identified for
consideration in the new RMP include the management of air quality, cultural
and paleontological resources, fire, woodland resources, vegetation,
hazardous sites, lands and realty, rangeland, minerals, off-highway vehicle
use, recreation, riparian resources, socio-economics, vegetation, visual
resources, watersheds and water quality, special management areas, wildlife,
livestock grazing, and wild horses and burros. As part of the planning
process, the BLM will also consider nominations for potential Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and nominations of river segments for
potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Using information from the public and BLM resource specialists, a reasonable
range of alternatives will be developed and analyzed in a Draft RMP/EIS that
will be published and made available for public review in the next two
years.
The Cedar City Field Office is responsible for administering about 2.1
million acres of public lands located in Iron and Beaver counties in
southwestern Utah. Geographically, the field office boundary is bordered by
Millard County on the north, the Nevada state line on the west, Washington
County on the south, and Kane County on the east.
Existing land use plans for the Cedar City Field Office are the Pinyon
Management Framework Plan, approved in 1983, and the Cedar/Beaver/Garfield/
Antimony RMP, approved in 1986. Since these plans were implemented,
considerable changes have occurred in the area. There has been substantial
population growth resulting in an increased use of public lands for
recreational activities such as mountain biking, hunting and off-road
vehicle use. There has been an increase in renewable energy proposals, such
as wind and geothermal projects. In addition, there is new information for
many resources of interest to the public, including threatened and
endangered species, wild horses and other resources.
The Federal Register notice formally announcing the BLM’s intention to
prepare an EIS for a new RMP process was published on Friday, September 10,
2010.
For more information about becoming involved with this RMP/EIS or to submit
comments, please use the following contact information: BLM Cedar City
Field Office, 176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, UT 84721, ATTN: Gina
Ginouves; phone (435) 865-3011; or e-mail utccrmp@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more land - more than 245 million acres - than any other
Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is
primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a
budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of
sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use
mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for
the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau
accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by
conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public
lands.
--BLM--
Utah State Office 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 SLC, UT 84101-1345
Last updated: 09-20-2010
Utah and N. Arizona Action Alert
Comments needed on Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ORV Management Plan
At Your Leisure (AYL) http://www.ayltv.com/ is a weekly outdoor recreation show that covers both motorized and non motorized family oriented outdoor recreation around the western United States. AYL covers great rubber tire, track, and sportsmen destinations, product reviews, and many stories including vital news on important land issues. AYL can be seen: Saturday nights at 11 and Sunday mornings at 9 on ABC-4 in Salt Lake.
On today's program, AYL travels to Kanab, Utah, to discuss the release of preliminary alternatives for off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located in northern Arizona and southern Utah.
Sadly, all of the preliminary alternatives released for public review limit motor vehicle use. Only the “no action alternative,” which is never considered a viable alternative by federal land managers, maintains the existing level of OHV use.
BRC has reviewed the GCNRA's alternatives and other materials and is asking its members and supporters to make a few specific comments on this important plan.
The GCNRA is managed by the National Park Service, so comments must be made via webform. We've provided instructions and also some suggested comments below. The comment deadline is November 24, 2010. Please take action today!
Thanks in advance,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
BRC ACTION ALERT
COMMENTS NEEDED ON GLEN CANYON NRA ORV MANAGEMENT PLAN
Situation:
The National Park Service has announced the beginning of the public alternatives scoping period for an Environmental Impact Statement to assess the management of off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located in northern Arizona and southern Utah.
The ORV Vehicle Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate a range of alternatives associated with recreational ORV use at Glen Canyon and their environmental impacts.
Sadly, all of the preliminary alternatives released for public review limit motor vehicle use. Only the “no action alternative,” which is never considered a viable alternative by federal land managers, maintain the existing OHV use.
What you need to to:
BRC has reviewed the GCNRA's alternatives and other materials and is asking its members and supporters to make a few specific comments on this important plan.
Comments can be made electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GLCA, (select ORV Management Plan and Regulation). Comments may also be mailed to, Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Re: ORV Management Plan/EIS, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040.
NOTE: You may have to navigate to the site if the link above doesn't work. Try going to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ and then clicking on "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area" from the list.
Suggested Comments:
While the GCNRA is managed by the National Park Service, it is important for the decision maker to consider that it is a National Recreation Area. The enabling legislation mandates the agency to provide for public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of Lake Powell and lands adjacent thereto, and to preserve scenic, scientific, and historic features contributing to public enjoyment of the area.
Outdoor recreation, including motorized vehicle based recreation, has grown in popularity over the last several decades. Given the legislative mandate to provide for recreation and the administration's desire to facilitate outdoor recreation, I request that the agency develop at least one Alternative that does not limit ORV use, and one Alternative that enhances recreational access to the GCNRA.
As noted in the Scoping Brochure and the Notice of Intent, the agency has just recently completed a management plan and environmental analysis for the Lone Rock Off Road Vehicle Area. To include this area in this planning effort is unneeded and a waste of agency budget and staff resources. In addition, ORV enthusiasts are likely to view including Lone Rock as a “second bite at the apple” designed to impose additional restrictions on motorized recreation. The recently completed planning effort for Lone Rock complies with the agency's mandate to complete the ORV designation, management and monitoring. There is no change in conditions or compelling need to revisit these decisions. The Lone Rock area should be removed from consideration in this planning project.
Just as the agency lacks jurisdiction to plan for Tribal or private lands, its jurisdiction over certain roads on the NRA is similarly limited. As a citizen, valid existing rights of way granted via R.S. 2477 are important to me. The agency must not ignore State and local government authority over roads existing in the NRA.
I request the agency formulate at least one alternative that allows unlicensed ATVs and UTVs on some or all of the unpaved roads in the NRA. There is no provision that bans unlicensed vehicles in the GCNRA's enabling legislation. Also, the settlement of the 2005 lawsuit does not mandate the elimination or restriction of unlicensed ORVs. Where appropriate, and with public involvement and environmental analysis, it allows the agency to designate routes and areas for unlicensed ATV and UTV use.
There are compelling reasons for considering at least one alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs on some or all unpaved roads in the NRA. First and most importantly, the GCNRA is not a National Park, and unlicensed ORVs should be considered a suitable use of the NRA. Unlicensed ORVs are allowed on lands adjacent to the GCNRA, including on roads within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Unlicensed ORVs are allowed on unpaved roads in Kane and San Juan Counties in Utah. Allowing unlicensed ORVs on certain roads is consistent with San Juan and Kane County ordinances.
Allowing unlicensed ORVs provides several benefits. First, doing so will enhance recreational use of the NRA consistent with the enabling legislation. Allowing unlicensed ORVs will also improve the agency's opportunity to leverage funds for management and enforcement that are available via Utah State Parks and Recreation's OHV program. Both Utah counties, as well as user groups, are eager to cooperate with any federal agency that provides for this popular recreational use.
The range of alternatives is too narrow! Of the 4 “action” alternatives, three are proposing significant restrictions on ORV use, including one that virtually eliminates all ORV use. The alternative that is purported to be on the other “range” of options also limits ORV use significantly! To remedy this, I strongly encourage you to formulate an alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs to travel on some or all of the unpaved roads in the NRA.
Of the preliminary alternatives, Alternative “D” best meets the purpose and need and is the most consistent with enabling legislation and existing management plans. Although I believe the agency should develop an alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs to access some or all of the backcountry roads, of the preliminary alternatives presented, Alternative D is the best option.
Comments needed on Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ORV Management Plan
At Your Leisure (AYL) http://www.ayltv.com/ is a weekly outdoor recreation show that covers both motorized and non motorized family oriented outdoor recreation around the western United States. AYL covers great rubber tire, track, and sportsmen destinations, product reviews, and many stories including vital news on important land issues. AYL can be seen: Saturday nights at 11 and Sunday mornings at 9 on ABC-4 in Salt Lake.
On today's program, AYL travels to Kanab, Utah, to discuss the release of preliminary alternatives for off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located in northern Arizona and southern Utah.
Sadly, all of the preliminary alternatives released for public review limit motor vehicle use. Only the “no action alternative,” which is never considered a viable alternative by federal land managers, maintains the existing level of OHV use.
BRC has reviewed the GCNRA's alternatives and other materials and is asking its members and supporters to make a few specific comments on this important plan.
The GCNRA is managed by the National Park Service, so comments must be made via webform. We've provided instructions and also some suggested comments below. The comment deadline is November 24, 2010. Please take action today!
Thanks in advance,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102
BRC ACTION ALERT
COMMENTS NEEDED ON GLEN CANYON NRA ORV MANAGEMENT PLAN
Situation:
The National Park Service has announced the beginning of the public alternatives scoping period for an Environmental Impact Statement to assess the management of off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, located in northern Arizona and southern Utah.
The ORV Vehicle Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will evaluate a range of alternatives associated with recreational ORV use at Glen Canyon and their environmental impacts.
Sadly, all of the preliminary alternatives released for public review limit motor vehicle use. Only the “no action alternative,” which is never considered a viable alternative by federal land managers, maintain the existing OHV use.
What you need to to:
BRC has reviewed the GCNRA's alternatives and other materials and is asking its members and supporters to make a few specific comments on this important plan.
Comments can be made electronically at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/GLCA, (select ORV Management Plan and Regulation). Comments may also be mailed to, Superintendent, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Re: ORV Management Plan/EIS, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040.
NOTE: You may have to navigate to the site if the link above doesn't work. Try going to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ and then clicking on "Glen Canyon National Recreation Area" from the list.
Suggested Comments:
While the GCNRA is managed by the National Park Service, it is important for the decision maker to consider that it is a National Recreation Area. The enabling legislation mandates the agency to provide for public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of Lake Powell and lands adjacent thereto, and to preserve scenic, scientific, and historic features contributing to public enjoyment of the area.
Outdoor recreation, including motorized vehicle based recreation, has grown in popularity over the last several decades. Given the legislative mandate to provide for recreation and the administration's desire to facilitate outdoor recreation, I request that the agency develop at least one Alternative that does not limit ORV use, and one Alternative that enhances recreational access to the GCNRA.
As noted in the Scoping Brochure and the Notice of Intent, the agency has just recently completed a management plan and environmental analysis for the Lone Rock Off Road Vehicle Area. To include this area in this planning effort is unneeded and a waste of agency budget and staff resources. In addition, ORV enthusiasts are likely to view including Lone Rock as a “second bite at the apple” designed to impose additional restrictions on motorized recreation. The recently completed planning effort for Lone Rock complies with the agency's mandate to complete the ORV designation, management and monitoring. There is no change in conditions or compelling need to revisit these decisions. The Lone Rock area should be removed from consideration in this planning project.
Just as the agency lacks jurisdiction to plan for Tribal or private lands, its jurisdiction over certain roads on the NRA is similarly limited. As a citizen, valid existing rights of way granted via R.S. 2477 are important to me. The agency must not ignore State and local government authority over roads existing in the NRA.
I request the agency formulate at least one alternative that allows unlicensed ATVs and UTVs on some or all of the unpaved roads in the NRA. There is no provision that bans unlicensed vehicles in the GCNRA's enabling legislation. Also, the settlement of the 2005 lawsuit does not mandate the elimination or restriction of unlicensed ORVs. Where appropriate, and with public involvement and environmental analysis, it allows the agency to designate routes and areas for unlicensed ATV and UTV use.
There are compelling reasons for considering at least one alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs on some or all unpaved roads in the NRA. First and most importantly, the GCNRA is not a National Park, and unlicensed ORVs should be considered a suitable use of the NRA. Unlicensed ORVs are allowed on lands adjacent to the GCNRA, including on roads within the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Unlicensed ORVs are allowed on unpaved roads in Kane and San Juan Counties in Utah. Allowing unlicensed ORVs on certain roads is consistent with San Juan and Kane County ordinances.
Allowing unlicensed ORVs provides several benefits. First, doing so will enhance recreational use of the NRA consistent with the enabling legislation. Allowing unlicensed ORVs will also improve the agency's opportunity to leverage funds for management and enforcement that are available via Utah State Parks and Recreation's OHV program. Both Utah counties, as well as user groups, are eager to cooperate with any federal agency that provides for this popular recreational use.
The range of alternatives is too narrow! Of the 4 “action” alternatives, three are proposing significant restrictions on ORV use, including one that virtually eliminates all ORV use. The alternative that is purported to be on the other “range” of options also limits ORV use significantly! To remedy this, I strongly encourage you to formulate an alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs to travel on some or all of the unpaved roads in the NRA.
Of the preliminary alternatives, Alternative “D” best meets the purpose and need and is the most consistent with enabling legislation and existing management plans. Although I believe the agency should develop an alternative that allows unlicensed ORVs to access some or all of the backcountry roads, of the preliminary alternatives presented, Alternative D is the best option.
Release Date:10/14/10
Contacts:Thomas Heinlein, (435) 587-1506
BLM Issues Decision on Arch Canyon Road, Initiates Recreation Management Plan
BLM Monticello Field Office Manager Tom Heinlein issued a decision on October 13 that motorized use of the ArchCanyon road can continue. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) filed a petition with the BLM in 2006 to close the road. Heinlein also announced that the agency would begin developing a recreation management plan for ArchCanyon to help improve visitor’s experience of the area.
The decision was made after months of careful study to determine if motorized use in ArchCanyon was causing serious adverse effects to the fisheries, riparian, and cultural resources. The BLM reviewed the information submitted in the SUWA petition, as well as new information developed through additional studies.
The review found that:
The Decision Record is posted at http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello.html.
The BLM manages more land - more than 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Contacts:Thomas Heinlein, (435) 587-1506
BLM Issues Decision on Arch Canyon Road, Initiates Recreation Management Plan
BLM Monticello Field Office Manager Tom Heinlein issued a decision on October 13 that motorized use of the ArchCanyon road can continue. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) filed a petition with the BLM in 2006 to close the road. Heinlein also announced that the agency would begin developing a recreation management plan for ArchCanyon to help improve visitor’s experience of the area.
The decision was made after months of careful study to determine if motorized use in ArchCanyon was causing serious adverse effects to the fisheries, riparian, and cultural resources. The BLM reviewed the information submitted in the SUWA petition, as well as new information developed through additional studies.
The review found that:
- ArchCanyon supports a perennial stream that is habitat to three species of fish. The BLM and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conducted genetic and sampling studies. The BLM also conducted water quality monitoring, invertebrate sampling and an assessment of the hydrologic system. The studies found that the habitat is supporting successful reproduction and development of all life stages of native fish, and the isolated disturbances to fish habitat as a result of motorized vehicle crossings are minimal compared to the natural alteration from frequent flash floods.
- Riparian (creekside) data show the stream system is functioning properly. The canyon’s response to high floods illustrates the health of the system and shows it to be stable.
- The BLM also conducted new inventory of ArchCanyon’s cultural resources, documented several sites, and reviewed existing data. The archaeologists found that human foot traffic was causing some damage to some sites, but that eliminating motorized access would not resolve these problems.
The Decision Record is posted at http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello.html.
The BLM manages more land - more than 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Uintah County sues over wilderness
By JUDY FAHYS
The Salt Lake Tribune
Published: October 4, 2010 06:26PM
Updated: October 5, 2010 12:28AM
Uintah County has filed suit against federal lands officials, who, the county says, are illegally implementing a pro-wilderness agenda.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for Utah, is another skirmish in the ongoing war over Utah wilderness lands.
It accuses U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey and his agency of violating a variety of laws, policies and a settlement agreement by opting to treat some lands as wilderness even though those lands should be open to energy development.
“That can have a tremendous effect on the rural counties,” said Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee, calling the issue one of national importance. “You take away the multiple-use of our public lands and it immensely affects the local economy.”
A call to the public affairs office of the Interior Department was not returned.
But Steve Bloch, an attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called the suit “entirely without merit.”
“Uintah County’s case is hard to understand,” he said, noting that many of the issues it raises are already part of past court rulings and a pending case in the federal court in Washington, D.C.
In its complaint, Uintah County describes something like a conspiracy within the Obama administration to ignore the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the resource management plan for Vernal area BLM lands and a 2003 settlement agreement struck by former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and then-Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
Instead, the suit says, land managers are illegally using the proposed Red Rock Wilderness Act — a controversial proposal before Congress — as a guide about what lands to treat as wilderness.
The BLM manages nearly 23 million acres in Utah. About 17 million acres are available for oil and gas development, and the agency has leased about 4.3 million acres of it already. But key parcels that are thought to be rich in natural resources cannot be developed because they are in improperly protected areas, the suit said.
“It’s contrary to law,” said McKee, who said the Utah Association of Counties might join the suit.
Millions of dollars are at stake for the county, which shares some of the revenue from energy development within its borders.
Bloch said a federal judge has pointed out that the current administration is not bound to adhere to the Leavitt-Norton settlement. He also noted that the agreement gave the BLM discretion to add acreage to a wilderness-like portfolio, if it sees fit.
By JUDY FAHYS
The Salt Lake Tribune
Published: October 4, 2010 06:26PM
Updated: October 5, 2010 12:28AM
Uintah County has filed suit against federal lands officials, who, the county says, are illegally implementing a pro-wilderness agenda.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for Utah, is another skirmish in the ongoing war over Utah wilderness lands.
It accuses U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey and his agency of violating a variety of laws, policies and a settlement agreement by opting to treat some lands as wilderness even though those lands should be open to energy development.
“That can have a tremendous effect on the rural counties,” said Uintah County Commissioner Mike McKee, calling the issue one of national importance. “You take away the multiple-use of our public lands and it immensely affects the local economy.”
A call to the public affairs office of the Interior Department was not returned.
But Steve Bloch, an attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, called the suit “entirely without merit.”
“Uintah County’s case is hard to understand,” he said, noting that many of the issues it raises are already part of past court rulings and a pending case in the federal court in Washington, D.C.
In its complaint, Uintah County describes something like a conspiracy within the Obama administration to ignore the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the resource management plan for Vernal area BLM lands and a 2003 settlement agreement struck by former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and then-Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
Instead, the suit says, land managers are illegally using the proposed Red Rock Wilderness Act — a controversial proposal before Congress — as a guide about what lands to treat as wilderness.
The BLM manages nearly 23 million acres in Utah. About 17 million acres are available for oil and gas development, and the agency has leased about 4.3 million acres of it already. But key parcels that are thought to be rich in natural resources cannot be developed because they are in improperly protected areas, the suit said.
“It’s contrary to law,” said McKee, who said the Utah Association of Counties might join the suit.
Millions of dollars are at stake for the county, which shares some of the revenue from energy development within its borders.
Bloch said a federal judge has pointed out that the current administration is not bound to adhere to the Leavitt-Norton settlement. He also noted that the agreement gave the BLM discretion to add acreage to a wilderness-like portfolio, if it sees fit.
ATV plan aimed at protecting wildlands
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Published: October 5, 2010 02:18PM
Updated: October 5, 2010 12:28AM Brandon Loomis | The Salt Lake Tribune
Moab trail rider Dale Parriott is a member of the group Ride With Respect, which is posting signs designating appropriate uses on trails in the La Sal Mountains, where state land managers hope a pilot project demonstrates that cooperation among user groups can keep off-road vehicles on designated trails. La Sal Mountains • State land managers have dedicated 134 miles of off-road routes in the alpine forest here that they hope will halt years of rogue trail busting and provide a model for cooperative use statewide.
All-terrain vehicle riders joined local and state officials in a torrential sleet storm at 11,000 feet to unveil one of 10 information kiosks where riders will see the rules and be able to pick up trail maps. The state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration invites riders to 134 miles of trails on the 27,500 acres it owns in two blocks on the east slope of the mountains southeast of Moab. But the agency also closed 36 miles that riders had pioneered on their own, and will spend the next few years contouring and seeding them to keep them shut.
“Recreational vehicle use is coming at us fast and hard,” said Bob Turri of the off-roading group San Juan Public Entry & Access Rights. It’s equally important to protect the landscape and to offer access, he said. “If you don’t provide for the users, they’ll provide for themselves.”
Over the past 15 years, that’s exactly what happened as motorcyclists and ATV riders randomly expanded by 40 percent the trail network on the two blocks of SITLA land, according to a state analysis of 1990s county trail surveys. Now those riders will encounter “aggressive signage,” SITLA says, along with some barriers and, with the help of several rider groups, a healthy dose of peer pressure.
“There’s always going to be some rogues, I’m sure,” said Larry Sorrell, a Monticello rancher and ATV rider who helped upgrade some of the trails for erosion control. But with proper signage, he expects, people will stick to official routes. No scenery in the area — no yellow fall aspen foliage, deer and elk or alpine ski slopes — will be shielded from the trails.
SITLA doesn’t track ridership on these lands, but officials estimated it’s in the tens of thousands annually. A lot of that occurs during hunting season. Sorrell doesn’t hunt anymore, but comes back for the vistas that stretch out from treeline to the red-rock desert.
“It’s America,” he said. “It’s the ultimate, signature land of America.”
Trail riders themselves are putting up trailhead signs limiting single-track trails to motorcycles, horses, bicycles and the like, instead of four-wheelers. Two-tracks will accommodate larger vehicles. The Moab-based group Ride With Respect is adding stickers that ask motorized riders to keep off of certain trails within three hours of sunrise and sunset during hunting season to minimize conflicts.
“This isn’t a rule. It’s a suggestion,” said Clif Koontz, the group’s program director.
That spirit of cooperation is what the state is banking on to protect natural resources, whether they generate revenues for state schools or not. The La Sal Mountain lands make money largely from aspen logging contracts and grazing leases, but officials say federal off-road restrictions have pushed more use toward state lands. They want to protect the lands for future uses.
“We are seeing more and more resource degradation here,” SITLA assistant director and project coordinator Kim Christy said.
So far SITLA has spent $241,000 on this trails pro-ject, Christy said, and it’s unclear how much the next few years will cost. Most of the money comes from the $1.50 annual registration fee paid by off-road vehicle owners.
“Even though our mandate is to generate revenues,” SITLA director Kevin Carter said, “we also recognize a stewardship responsibility.”
The state owns about 60 blocks of land as large as these, Carter said, and he hopes lessons learned here will lead to management plans statewide.
“All of them need this kind of care,” he said.
Greg Miller, chief executive of the Larry H. Miller Group, appeared at the kiosk unveiling and showed off a family photograph from a 1978 off-road camping trip into Canyonlands National Park. His father, the late car dealer and Utah Jazz owner, was cooking hot dogs. “This is one of my cherished memories.”
Greg Miller said he supports a cooperative approach to land management and hopes it promotes responsible use that enables future generations to enjoy what he has.
“It’s important to me to keep these lands open,” he said.
SITLA won’t police its trail system, which leaves riders free to keep breaking trail if they ignore the signs. But Ted Wilson, environmental adviser to Gov. Gary Herbert, said the honor system is appropriate on many state lands.
“We couldn’t have enough people to [patrol the trails],” Wilson said, “and we don’t want to make people criminals.”
By Brandon Loomis
The Salt Lake Tribune
Published: October 5, 2010 02:18PM
Updated: October 5, 2010 12:28AM Brandon Loomis | The Salt Lake Tribune
Moab trail rider Dale Parriott is a member of the group Ride With Respect, which is posting signs designating appropriate uses on trails in the La Sal Mountains, where state land managers hope a pilot project demonstrates that cooperation among user groups can keep off-road vehicles on designated trails. La Sal Mountains • State land managers have dedicated 134 miles of off-road routes in the alpine forest here that they hope will halt years of rogue trail busting and provide a model for cooperative use statewide.
All-terrain vehicle riders joined local and state officials in a torrential sleet storm at 11,000 feet to unveil one of 10 information kiosks where riders will see the rules and be able to pick up trail maps. The state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration invites riders to 134 miles of trails on the 27,500 acres it owns in two blocks on the east slope of the mountains southeast of Moab. But the agency also closed 36 miles that riders had pioneered on their own, and will spend the next few years contouring and seeding them to keep them shut.
“Recreational vehicle use is coming at us fast and hard,” said Bob Turri of the off-roading group San Juan Public Entry & Access Rights. It’s equally important to protect the landscape and to offer access, he said. “If you don’t provide for the users, they’ll provide for themselves.”
Over the past 15 years, that’s exactly what happened as motorcyclists and ATV riders randomly expanded by 40 percent the trail network on the two blocks of SITLA land, according to a state analysis of 1990s county trail surveys. Now those riders will encounter “aggressive signage,” SITLA says, along with some barriers and, with the help of several rider groups, a healthy dose of peer pressure.
“There’s always going to be some rogues, I’m sure,” said Larry Sorrell, a Monticello rancher and ATV rider who helped upgrade some of the trails for erosion control. But with proper signage, he expects, people will stick to official routes. No scenery in the area — no yellow fall aspen foliage, deer and elk or alpine ski slopes — will be shielded from the trails.
SITLA doesn’t track ridership on these lands, but officials estimated it’s in the tens of thousands annually. A lot of that occurs during hunting season. Sorrell doesn’t hunt anymore, but comes back for the vistas that stretch out from treeline to the red-rock desert.
“It’s America,” he said. “It’s the ultimate, signature land of America.”
Trail riders themselves are putting up trailhead signs limiting single-track trails to motorcycles, horses, bicycles and the like, instead of four-wheelers. Two-tracks will accommodate larger vehicles. The Moab-based group Ride With Respect is adding stickers that ask motorized riders to keep off of certain trails within three hours of sunrise and sunset during hunting season to minimize conflicts.
“This isn’t a rule. It’s a suggestion,” said Clif Koontz, the group’s program director.
That spirit of cooperation is what the state is banking on to protect natural resources, whether they generate revenues for state schools or not. The La Sal Mountain lands make money largely from aspen logging contracts and grazing leases, but officials say federal off-road restrictions have pushed more use toward state lands. They want to protect the lands for future uses.
“We are seeing more and more resource degradation here,” SITLA assistant director and project coordinator Kim Christy said.
So far SITLA has spent $241,000 on this trails pro-ject, Christy said, and it’s unclear how much the next few years will cost. Most of the money comes from the $1.50 annual registration fee paid by off-road vehicle owners.
“Even though our mandate is to generate revenues,” SITLA director Kevin Carter said, “we also recognize a stewardship responsibility.”
The state owns about 60 blocks of land as large as these, Carter said, and he hopes lessons learned here will lead to management plans statewide.
“All of them need this kind of care,” he said.
Greg Miller, chief executive of the Larry H. Miller Group, appeared at the kiosk unveiling and showed off a family photograph from a 1978 off-road camping trip into Canyonlands National Park. His father, the late car dealer and Utah Jazz owner, was cooking hot dogs. “This is one of my cherished memories.”
Greg Miller said he supports a cooperative approach to land management and hopes it promotes responsible use that enables future generations to enjoy what he has.
“It’s important to me to keep these lands open,” he said.
SITLA won’t police its trail system, which leaves riders free to keep breaking trail if they ignore the signs. But Ted Wilson, environmental adviser to Gov. Gary Herbert, said the honor system is appropriate on many state lands.
“We couldn’t have enough people to [patrol the trails],” Wilson said, “and we don’t want to make people criminals.”
September 14, 2010 – BLM has published a notice of intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Cedar City Field Office in Utah. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues for analysis. The planning area encompasses approximately 2.1 million acres of public lands in Beaver, Iron and Washington Counties. Preliminary issues that BLM has identified for analysis include OHV area designations, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and consideration of non-Wilderness Study Area lands for wilderness characteristics.
Comments on the scope of the analysis will be accepted until December 9, 2010. It is important that OHV enthusiasts get involved in the designation process by contacting BLM staff. Comments may be submitted online: www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city.html; by email: utccrmp@blm.gov; by fax: 435-865-3058; or by mail:
Bureau of Land Management
Cedar City Field Office
176 East DL Sargent Drive
Cedar City, Utah 84721
Additional information found online:
View Cedar City Field Office Website
View Original Federal Register Notice
For further information, please contact Keith Rigtrup, Project Manager, at 435-586-2401 or at utccrmp@blm.gov.
Comments on the scope of the analysis will be accepted until December 9, 2010. It is important that OHV enthusiasts get involved in the designation process by contacting BLM staff. Comments may be submitted online: www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/cedar_city.html; by email: utccrmp@blm.gov; by fax: 435-865-3058; or by mail:
Bureau of Land Management
Cedar City Field Office
176 East DL Sargent Drive
Cedar City, Utah 84721
Additional information found online:
View Cedar City Field Office Website
View Original Federal Register Notice
For further information, please contact Keith Rigtrup, Project Manager, at 435-586-2401 or at utccrmp@blm.gov.
America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO) by President Obama and his Administration has all the makings of severely needing OHV input. You can make a difference, and get your ideas out there for more pro-OHV access and opportunities by visiting this site and giving your input. Please jump in with your thoughts on saving our trails, giving OHV more access, providing more motorized opportunities and whatever else is important to you.
Click here to speak your piece: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf
Click here to speak your piece: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf
ARRA alerted you to a leaked Department of Interior memo earlier this year that outlined that the Administration is considering restricting access to public lands by declaring as many as 17 areas in 11 western states as National Monuments. The leaked pages were part of a bigger “Treasured Landscapes” document. Since the leak, the House Natural Resources Committee passed a Resolution of Inquiry (H.Res. 1406) directing DOI to turn over the full document. The full House has yet to act on the inquiry; however, ARRA has obtained a copy of the full document, which can be found here.
In addition to the pages we knew about addressing National Monuments there is an attachment that highlights wilderness bills that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) believes “may be appropriate for Wilderness or National Conservation Area designation,” including potential designations in NM, NV, OR, CO, CA and UT. Particularly troubling is the inclusion of the Hidden Gems proposal in CO, which has yet to be formally introduced and has faced significant opposition from motorized and other organizations in Colorado.
The document also lays out BLM’s intention to “…transition from the current land management system, which is based on jurisdictional boundaries, to a modern landscape-level management system…” Part of this transition includes supporting Congressional efforts to designate Wilderness, National Conservation areas and other special designations, and the designation of new National Monuments, which are outlined in the attachments. The document also makes it clear that BLM intends to use its own “land-use planning process to manage for conservation values” in areas where legislative or Monument protection is unlikely.
All of this is likely to have a negative impact on motorized recreation on BLM lands. All OHV use is forever banned in wilderness areas, and will almost certainly be banned in areas that receive other special designations. Further, the document lays out a clear desire to elevate managing for conservation over BLM’s mandate to manage for multiple uses. While conservation is certainly important, there is no reason that lands managed for all forms of recreation, including motorized, cannot be conserved.
ARRA has also alerted you about the Administration’s “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO),” and has notified many of you about AGO listening sessions in your area. DOI Secretary Ken Salazar has made it clear that he envisions implementing the Treasured Landscapes agenda laid out in the leaked documents as part of the AGO recommendations.
This makes it especially important for all OHV users to get involved and participate in any local AGO listening sessions and/or submit comments on the America’s Great Outdoors website here: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/
In addition to the pages we knew about addressing National Monuments there is an attachment that highlights wilderness bills that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) believes “may be appropriate for Wilderness or National Conservation Area designation,” including potential designations in NM, NV, OR, CO, CA and UT. Particularly troubling is the inclusion of the Hidden Gems proposal in CO, which has yet to be formally introduced and has faced significant opposition from motorized and other organizations in Colorado.
The document also lays out BLM’s intention to “…transition from the current land management system, which is based on jurisdictional boundaries, to a modern landscape-level management system…” Part of this transition includes supporting Congressional efforts to designate Wilderness, National Conservation areas and other special designations, and the designation of new National Monuments, which are outlined in the attachments. The document also makes it clear that BLM intends to use its own “land-use planning process to manage for conservation values” in areas where legislative or Monument protection is unlikely.
All of this is likely to have a negative impact on motorized recreation on BLM lands. All OHV use is forever banned in wilderness areas, and will almost certainly be banned in areas that receive other special designations. Further, the document lays out a clear desire to elevate managing for conservation over BLM’s mandate to manage for multiple uses. While conservation is certainly important, there is no reason that lands managed for all forms of recreation, including motorized, cannot be conserved.
ARRA has also alerted you about the Administration’s “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO),” and has notified many of you about AGO listening sessions in your area. DOI Secretary Ken Salazar has made it clear that he envisions implementing the Treasured Landscapes agenda laid out in the leaked documents as part of the AGO recommendations.
This makes it especially important for all OHV users to get involved and participate in any local AGO listening sessions and/or submit comments on the America’s Great Outdoors website here: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/
Keep Riding Areas Open Preserve Your Rights
June 15, 2010 By Jimmy Lewis
I get asked all the time, "What can I do to help?"
Well, right now I know two things: You can do something this instant. And you are sitting in front of the tool, your computes, to get it started.
So don't make an excuse, DO THIS NOW!
We all know how OHV is a silent majority, but if we don't speak out in numbers, we will be left out of future plans. If there is a good place to make an impact, this is it. And if you don't get all of your friends to do it too, you are helping to lose the battle.
This is an alert from ARRA, Americans for Responsible Recreation Access:
Provide Positive Comments About Motorized Recreation
Earlier this year President Obama held a conference on America’s Great Outdoors and established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to be led by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality. The initiative is tasked with reconnecting Americans, especially children, to the outdoors and they have asked for public input and ideas.
It is vitally important that the Administration hear from you about how you recreate on and enjoy public lands. We can be sure that they are hearing from those who would support limiting or ending access for motorized recreation, but we have an opportunity to tell our side of the story as well. Please visit http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/, sign-up and weigh in.
Now is the time to make it clear that OHV recreation is a family oriented activity that allows for father and son and mother and daughter to spend quality time outdoors. Too often OHV recreation is defined by the renegade few who behave irresponsibly. Please take this opportunity make it clear that millions of Americans responsibly enjoy motorized recreation on public lands.
Talking Points:
- OHV use is a legitimate, sustainable use of appropriate public lands, particularly on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management Units.
- Motorized recreation is a healthy family activity and provides a great opportunity for families to “get away from it all,” and to experience the great outdoors.
- OHVers, like other recreationists, seek opportunities to not only enjoy the riding experience, but also opportunities to learn more about cultural and historical context, take in scenic views, observe wildlife, camp, hunt, fish and other activities.
- The overwhelming majority of OHVers are conservationists, who seek to preserve the same outdoor experiences they enjoy for children and grandchildren.
- OHVers are volunteers. OHV clubs and organizations groom and maintain trails, trailheads and other facilities as well as adopt trails and provide the tools and experience needed for constructing and maintaining all sorts of recreational trails; not just OHV opportunities.
- ATV and off-highway motorcycle riding encourages and promotes physical fitness OHVs provide the opportunity for Americans of all ages and physical capabilities to enjoy the outdoors.
Please take a few minutes to visit http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/ and have your voice heard.
Please do this and pass it along.
Respect,
JIMMY
June 15, 2010 By Jimmy Lewis
I get asked all the time, "What can I do to help?"
Well, right now I know two things: You can do something this instant. And you are sitting in front of the tool, your computes, to get it started.
So don't make an excuse, DO THIS NOW!
We all know how OHV is a silent majority, but if we don't speak out in numbers, we will be left out of future plans. If there is a good place to make an impact, this is it. And if you don't get all of your friends to do it too, you are helping to lose the battle.
This is an alert from ARRA, Americans for Responsible Recreation Access:
Provide Positive Comments About Motorized Recreation
Earlier this year President Obama held a conference on America’s Great Outdoors and established the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to be led by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chair of the Council of Environmental Quality. The initiative is tasked with reconnecting Americans, especially children, to the outdoors and they have asked for public input and ideas.
It is vitally important that the Administration hear from you about how you recreate on and enjoy public lands. We can be sure that they are hearing from those who would support limiting or ending access for motorized recreation, but we have an opportunity to tell our side of the story as well. Please visit http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/, sign-up and weigh in.
Now is the time to make it clear that OHV recreation is a family oriented activity that allows for father and son and mother and daughter to spend quality time outdoors. Too often OHV recreation is defined by the renegade few who behave irresponsibly. Please take this opportunity make it clear that millions of Americans responsibly enjoy motorized recreation on public lands.
Talking Points:
- OHV use is a legitimate, sustainable use of appropriate public lands, particularly on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management Units.
- Motorized recreation is a healthy family activity and provides a great opportunity for families to “get away from it all,” and to experience the great outdoors.
- OHVers, like other recreationists, seek opportunities to not only enjoy the riding experience, but also opportunities to learn more about cultural and historical context, take in scenic views, observe wildlife, camp, hunt, fish and other activities.
- The overwhelming majority of OHVers are conservationists, who seek to preserve the same outdoor experiences they enjoy for children and grandchildren.
- OHVers are volunteers. OHV clubs and organizations groom and maintain trails, trailheads and other facilities as well as adopt trails and provide the tools and experience needed for constructing and maintaining all sorts of recreational trails; not just OHV opportunities.
- ATV and off-highway motorcycle riding encourages and promotes physical fitness OHVs provide the opportunity for Americans of all ages and physical capabilities to enjoy the outdoors.
Please take a few minutes to visit http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/ and have your voice heard.
Please do this and pass it along.
Respect,
JIMMY
ALERT!!!!!
SUWA is trying to up the anti in their pursuit of the Red Wilderness Act. They are courting Colorado Rep Mark Udall like crazy at the moment. They are spending huge amounts of Money on a PR campaign in Colorado to gain his support.
His support will be key in getting the bill passed (which is why SUWA is spending so much money and time there). And we need to reach out to him.
As we know, SUWA doesn't tell the whole story. They focus their efforts on the scenic landscapes, seldom-if ever-mentioning the true size of the bill, and aren't even remotely honest in the danger oil/gas companies pose to the land and OHV's.
We need to let Rep Udall know the truth, and how we feel about it.
Points to mention in your letter:
-That you are against the bill and all the reasons why.
-How LARGE it is. Larger than the entire state of Maryland.
-How there is virtually ZERO Utah support for the bill (despite what a biased, worthless and SUWA commission Polls says).
-The extremely small amount of oil/gas reserves (6 days of oil, 27 days of gas), and how with so few reserves the oil/gas companies aren't a risk to these areas (they have no interest in land with no reserves).
-How OHV access to these areas is already being erroded away WITHOUT a wilderness Designation. (2003 San Rafael Swell Travel Plan revision that closed 40% of the OHV trails/roads in the swell; The transition from "Open unless designated Closed" to "Closed unless designated Open" policy which closed thousands and thousands of miles of trails).
-It's wrong to designate nearly 50% of BLM land in any one State as wilderness. And it's wrong to designate nearly 50% of an entire county as wilderness
Please, please, please take 3 minutes and contact Rep Udall.
Here is a link to his "contact me" page:
http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=contact_us
Again, please take a few moments and participate! It's very important!
Here is some additional info from the BRC:
UTAH:
Meanwhile, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is seeking to up the anti in the Utah wilderness debate by convincing Colorado's Senator Mark Udall to become the Western Champion of their unfathomably massive 10 million acre BLM Wilderness bill.
They've been spending some of their $$ millions on a major pr campaign in Colorado. They even have a “road show” with video's and PowerPoint presentations.
Presentation features Utah red rocks country
http://www.gjsentinel.com/entertainment/articles/presentation_features_utah_red/
And... Southern Utah: Grand Junction's backyard
http://tinyurl.com/2vgbfjm
We're of mixed feelings about this. If Udall does champion SUWA's bill, that will bring some influential Western lawmakers in active support, potentially forcing the bill down Utah's throat (none of Utah's Congressional Delegation supports the bill). However, the increased public attention Udall could bring to the bill may result in more of the general public actually looking at SUWA's proposal.
SUWA's professionally produced media is all about scenic landscapes and how they are threatened with devastation and destruction by Big Oil and Big ORV. They seldom mention the restrictions Wilderness brings, or the actual acreage figures, and I've noticed their maps focus on specific areas, not the total statewide proposal. That's smart because SUWA's bill would close nearly 50% of BLM land in Utah, and place virtually all of the spectacularly scenic areas off limits to all who are not healthy and hardy enough to hike long distances. Once the general public understands what Wilderness really means, and learns just how much SUWA wants closed, support for this bill drops precipitously.
Udall may want to think twice. There are a lot of Colorado voters who visit and enjoy Utah's scenic backcountry!
Udall may lead regional wilderness issue
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/udall_may_lead_regional_wilder/
Please participate!
SUWA is trying to up the anti in their pursuit of the Red Wilderness Act. They are courting Colorado Rep Mark Udall like crazy at the moment. They are spending huge amounts of Money on a PR campaign in Colorado to gain his support.
His support will be key in getting the bill passed (which is why SUWA is spending so much money and time there). And we need to reach out to him.
As we know, SUWA doesn't tell the whole story. They focus their efforts on the scenic landscapes, seldom-if ever-mentioning the true size of the bill, and aren't even remotely honest in the danger oil/gas companies pose to the land and OHV's.
We need to let Rep Udall know the truth, and how we feel about it.
Points to mention in your letter:
-That you are against the bill and all the reasons why.
-How LARGE it is. Larger than the entire state of Maryland.
-How there is virtually ZERO Utah support for the bill (despite what a biased, worthless and SUWA commission Polls says).
-The extremely small amount of oil/gas reserves (6 days of oil, 27 days of gas), and how with so few reserves the oil/gas companies aren't a risk to these areas (they have no interest in land with no reserves).
-How OHV access to these areas is already being erroded away WITHOUT a wilderness Designation. (2003 San Rafael Swell Travel Plan revision that closed 40% of the OHV trails/roads in the swell; The transition from "Open unless designated Closed" to "Closed unless designated Open" policy which closed thousands and thousands of miles of trails).
-It's wrong to designate nearly 50% of BLM land in any one State as wilderness. And it's wrong to designate nearly 50% of an entire county as wilderness
Please, please, please take 3 minutes and contact Rep Udall.
Here is a link to his "contact me" page:
http://markudall.senate.gov/?p=contact_us
Again, please take a few moments and participate! It's very important!
Here is some additional info from the BRC:
UTAH:
Meanwhile, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is seeking to up the anti in the Utah wilderness debate by convincing Colorado's Senator Mark Udall to become the Western Champion of their unfathomably massive 10 million acre BLM Wilderness bill.
They've been spending some of their $$ millions on a major pr campaign in Colorado. They even have a “road show” with video's and PowerPoint presentations.
Presentation features Utah red rocks country
http://www.gjsentinel.com/entertainment/articles/presentation_features_utah_red/
And... Southern Utah: Grand Junction's backyard
http://tinyurl.com/2vgbfjm
We're of mixed feelings about this. If Udall does champion SUWA's bill, that will bring some influential Western lawmakers in active support, potentially forcing the bill down Utah's throat (none of Utah's Congressional Delegation supports the bill). However, the increased public attention Udall could bring to the bill may result in more of the general public actually looking at SUWA's proposal.
SUWA's professionally produced media is all about scenic landscapes and how they are threatened with devastation and destruction by Big Oil and Big ORV. They seldom mention the restrictions Wilderness brings, or the actual acreage figures, and I've noticed their maps focus on specific areas, not the total statewide proposal. That's smart because SUWA's bill would close nearly 50% of BLM land in Utah, and place virtually all of the spectacularly scenic areas off limits to all who are not healthy and hardy enough to hike long distances. Once the general public understands what Wilderness really means, and learns just how much SUWA wants closed, support for this bill drops precipitously.
Udall may want to think twice. There are a lot of Colorado voters who visit and enjoy Utah's scenic backcountry!
Udall may lead regional wilderness issue
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/udall_may_lead_regional_wilder/
Please participate!
Washington Newsletter
June 2010
Forest Service Planning Rule
The Forest Service held its third national roundtable discussion in Rockville, Maryland on May 11 and 12. During that session, a fourth national roundtable to be held towards the end of July somewhere in the Washington metropolitan area was announced. The stated purpose of this July roundtable is to provide a "sneak preview" of the thinking of the Forest Service's Rule Writing Team as it works to get the proposed rule to the Chief by August, with a public release date slated for September, 2010.
One theme that came across loud and clear during the third National Roundtable is that "recreation" should and will be a core value when managing the National Forests. Forest Service personnel worked hard to reassure participants that any new planning rule must address upfront the importance of recreation on Forest Service land. So, for all of you who filed comments on this very point, you should take some satisfaction that your concerns have been heard by the Forest Service. Of course, real proof of this will be in the actual rule. Therefore, we will hold off celebrating, though we remain hopeful.
Monumental Problems for the Department of the Interior
While the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has diverted a lot of press attention away from the Monument designation controversy, the issue remains alive and will continue to dog the Secretary of the Interior until all documents surrounding these "brainstorming sessions" are released to the Congress. Last month, we sent out a special ARRA news bulletin on this very issue and we included some of the documents released by the department. We also asked some pointed questions about what has not been disclosed.
Special ARRA News Bulletin on H. Res. 1254.
On May 25th, Reps. Hastings and Bishop wrote Secretary Salazar a letter requesting that he bring the missing documents when he testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the very next day. The Secretary chose not to do so. This led the two congressmen to introduce on May 27 a second Resolution of Inquiry that, if passed by the full House of Representatives, would require the Department of the Interior to turn over to the House the documents in question. We anticipate the House Natural Resources Committee will vote on H. Res. 1406 sometime in June. We will soon be asking ARRA members to contact their Representatives to seek support for the Resolution.
Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R., Montana, posted all of the 383 pages of DOI documents released on the Monument issue on his website. If you are really into this issue, go to Rep. Rehberg's website and you will have some interesting reading. It's clear from the paper trail that the Administration was busy soliciting designation ideas from various environmental groups, despite earlier representations that this effort was strictly an internal departmental review process. Here's the link to the Rehberg website (rehberg.house.gov/uploads/DeptofInterior.zip). One can't help but wonder what other information is contained in the more than 2,000 pages being withheld by the Department.
S. 2921, the California Desert Protection Act of 2010
Senator Dianne Feinstein, D. California, introduced a remarkable piece of legislation called the California Desert Protection Act of 2010. The bill is the product of more than three years of intensive work by the Senator's staff, with a wide variety of user interests, ranging from environmentalists to energy producers, the OHV recreation community, various local and state government officials, and the U. S. Department of Defense. The scope of the legislation is far reaching in that it facilitates solar energy projects in the California desert, authorizes new monument and wilderness areas, sets aside federal land for Defense Department activities, and from our standpoint, designates specific areas as federally recognized OHV recreation areas.
The negotiations among the various interest groups, as facilitated by the Feinstein staff, were lengthy and difficult. No one group got all it wanted and everyone had to compromise on their own specific agenda. But, in the end, an agreement was reached that specifies how the California desert will be managed for the benefit of all Americans.
There are many more legislative miles to travel before this bill can become law. Already, one hearing has been held on S. 2921 in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It is clear from that hearing that questions remain about the solar energy aspects of the legislation, so it is difficult to provide any prediction of passage this year. One thing is clear, however, and that is that Senator Feinstein and her staff has been tenacious in their work on this legislation. They have been instrumental in bringing opposing sides to the negotiating table and they have been advocates for OHV recreation. We hope the Feinstein model of inclusiveness will become a model that others in Congress will use when developing legislation on federal lands issues.
Summer, 2010
Summer is upon us and that means that it is time to send out our annual appeal for responsible behavior. As adults, it's extremely important that we set an example for the younger folks by wearing the appropriate safety gear for whatever form of recreation we are enjoying. If we are in boat, that means wearing a life preserver at all times. On an ATV, motorcycle or a horse, that means wearing a helmet and other appropriate protective gear. Simple things to us, but lessons to be taught that will remain with them for a lifetime.
Enjoy the summer with your family and friends but do so safely.
Sincerely,
Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
June 2010
Forest Service Planning Rule
The Forest Service held its third national roundtable discussion in Rockville, Maryland on May 11 and 12. During that session, a fourth national roundtable to be held towards the end of July somewhere in the Washington metropolitan area was announced. The stated purpose of this July roundtable is to provide a "sneak preview" of the thinking of the Forest Service's Rule Writing Team as it works to get the proposed rule to the Chief by August, with a public release date slated for September, 2010.
One theme that came across loud and clear during the third National Roundtable is that "recreation" should and will be a core value when managing the National Forests. Forest Service personnel worked hard to reassure participants that any new planning rule must address upfront the importance of recreation on Forest Service land. So, for all of you who filed comments on this very point, you should take some satisfaction that your concerns have been heard by the Forest Service. Of course, real proof of this will be in the actual rule. Therefore, we will hold off celebrating, though we remain hopeful.
Monumental Problems for the Department of the Interior
While the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has diverted a lot of press attention away from the Monument designation controversy, the issue remains alive and will continue to dog the Secretary of the Interior until all documents surrounding these "brainstorming sessions" are released to the Congress. Last month, we sent out a special ARRA news bulletin on this very issue and we included some of the documents released by the department. We also asked some pointed questions about what has not been disclosed.
Special ARRA News Bulletin on H. Res. 1254.
On May 25th, Reps. Hastings and Bishop wrote Secretary Salazar a letter requesting that he bring the missing documents when he testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the very next day. The Secretary chose not to do so. This led the two congressmen to introduce on May 27 a second Resolution of Inquiry that, if passed by the full House of Representatives, would require the Department of the Interior to turn over to the House the documents in question. We anticipate the House Natural Resources Committee will vote on H. Res. 1406 sometime in June. We will soon be asking ARRA members to contact their Representatives to seek support for the Resolution.
Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R., Montana, posted all of the 383 pages of DOI documents released on the Monument issue on his website. If you are really into this issue, go to Rep. Rehberg's website and you will have some interesting reading. It's clear from the paper trail that the Administration was busy soliciting designation ideas from various environmental groups, despite earlier representations that this effort was strictly an internal departmental review process. Here's the link to the Rehberg website (rehberg.house.gov/uploads/DeptofInterior.zip). One can't help but wonder what other information is contained in the more than 2,000 pages being withheld by the Department.
S. 2921, the California Desert Protection Act of 2010
Senator Dianne Feinstein, D. California, introduced a remarkable piece of legislation called the California Desert Protection Act of 2010. The bill is the product of more than three years of intensive work by the Senator's staff, with a wide variety of user interests, ranging from environmentalists to energy producers, the OHV recreation community, various local and state government officials, and the U. S. Department of Defense. The scope of the legislation is far reaching in that it facilitates solar energy projects in the California desert, authorizes new monument and wilderness areas, sets aside federal land for Defense Department activities, and from our standpoint, designates specific areas as federally recognized OHV recreation areas.
The negotiations among the various interest groups, as facilitated by the Feinstein staff, were lengthy and difficult. No one group got all it wanted and everyone had to compromise on their own specific agenda. But, in the end, an agreement was reached that specifies how the California desert will be managed for the benefit of all Americans.
There are many more legislative miles to travel before this bill can become law. Already, one hearing has been held on S. 2921 in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It is clear from that hearing that questions remain about the solar energy aspects of the legislation, so it is difficult to provide any prediction of passage this year. One thing is clear, however, and that is that Senator Feinstein and her staff has been tenacious in their work on this legislation. They have been instrumental in bringing opposing sides to the negotiating table and they have been advocates for OHV recreation. We hope the Feinstein model of inclusiveness will become a model that others in Congress will use when developing legislation on federal lands issues.
Summer, 2010
Summer is upon us and that means that it is time to send out our annual appeal for responsible behavior. As adults, it's extremely important that we set an example for the younger folks by wearing the appropriate safety gear for whatever form of recreation we are enjoying. If we are in boat, that means wearing a life preserver at all times. On an ATV, motorcycle or a horse, that means wearing a helmet and other appropriate protective gear. Simple things to us, but lessons to be taught that will remain with them for a lifetime.
Enjoy the summer with your family and friends but do so safely.
Sincerely,
Larry E. Smith
Executive Director
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access
