NYSORVA News for 12/14/00
This
e-mail newsletter is distributed by:
New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Assn., Inc.
PO Box 305
Ravena, NY 12143-0305
Please
copy and distribute to all interested parties. Your participation affects the
quality of this newsletter: Please submit your pertinent material for inclusion
in subsequent issues.
-
Editor: Alex Ernst, Alex@nysorva.org
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SUBJECTS
FOR THIS NEWSLETTER ARE:
1)
Editor’s Notes
2) RECREATION TRAILS PROGRAM GRANT ROUND ANNOUNCED
3) $50,000 TRAIL FUND ESTABLISHED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
4) HATFIELD-MCCOY TRAIL SYSTEM NEWS
5) ATV SAFETY & EDUCATION
6) AMA OHV WATCH:
— EPA To Set New Emissions Standards For
Bikes and ATVs
— PA Trail Development Halted
— United Way Inadvertently Funds
Anti-recreation Groups
7) NCATVA 2001 EVENT ANNOUNCED
8) BLM OHV STRATEGY PUBLISHED
9) Guest Article: OUTDOOR RECREATION AS A MOTIVATIONAL TOOL FOR YOUTH
10) “ROADLESS INTIATIVE” UPDATE
1)
EDITOR’S NOTES
It’s
been a while since we sent out a multi-subject newsletter, last being the June
2000 issue (see http://www.nysorva.org/news/newslist.htm.)
In the interim, we have mainly released single-subject “alerts” once or more
per week.
It’s
another voluminous issue to keep you busy reading for a while.
In
the next issue, we will be highlighting the prospects for Trail Funding
Legislation and tying that in with a 2000 year-in-review. Although we want to
get you revved-up for a new push to get our Trail Funding back, we are
deferring that discussion until a few things have resolved in the Legislature
that will remain unclear until January 2001 is upon us.
Finally,
the volunteers of NYSORVA wish you all a safe, happy Holiday Season, and health
and success in the New Year.
2)
RECREATION TRAILS PROGRAM GRANT ROUND ANNOUNCED
Started in November, and ending February 28, 2001,
Office of Parks is accepting grant applications for grants available under the
state’s TEA-21/RTP block grant program. This year $1.5 million is available and
will be split 30% motorized, 40% multi-use, and 30% non-motorized, with a
maximum of $100,000 per project, 80/20 matching ratio. To date since the
program’s inception in 1993 and reauthorization in 1998, no significant
application have been made for ATV/OHM projects in NY, with most grants going
to snowmobile clubs and typically for grooming equipment. So it’s about time
ATV and trailbike clubs get their fair share! Come up with a project and apply
now!
You can download an application from the Office of
Parks website:
In PDF: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/2001TrailsApplication.pdf
In WinWord: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/2001TrailsApplication.doc
OPRHP grant page: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/
Additional background is available at http://www.istea.org web site.
3)
$50,000 TRAIL FUND ESTABLISHED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
[Editor’s note: This article highlights a shining
example of how grass-roots effort coupled with support of your state
association, can indeed get things done. Take what you learn from this example
and apply it to your pet project!
—Alex]
Submitted by David M. Beyer, Director NYTRO/NNY
The final vote on the New Jefferson County Budget
occurred on 11/14/00. It passed.
In
this budget was a line item of $50,000 dollars for trail development and
Maintenance. This came about as a result of the Proposal that was written by
NYSORVA Regional Coordinator Shelly M. Beyer. The original proposal was to try
to get the County to supply some funding for trails in the region, as many of the
user groups have little or no funding, especially the ATV groups. Although the
Legislature did not adopt the proposal the way it had been written, ie. money
from Bed Tax dollars, NYSORVA was successful. There is now $50,000 in the
budget that user groups can apply for to help fund projects and equipment.
This
measure may well be a first of its kind and an example for other counties to
look to in the future, in that the money has been placed into the budget to
help fund trails for all uses. Funding will be available for not only hiking
and biking trails but also for motorized trails, which the county has realized
are important to the region. This is a result of their being hundreds of miles
of legal trails in the surrounding areas but few located in Jefferson County.
The Funding has been allocated; now it is up to the Jefferson County Planning
Department to determine how the money will be disbursed to user groups
requiring funding.
This
would not have been possible if not for the hard work and dedication of your
NYSORVA representatives and the support of the various groups and businesses,
many of which are listed below. For those who came to meetings and called their
Legislators, thanks!
NYSORVA,
working together for a brighter future, with...
NESCO
of Gouverneur
Waite Polaris
North Country Honda Ducati of Watertown
Rivergate ATV Club
Lodge ATV Club
Black River Valley Riders ATV Club
NYTRO of Northern NY ATV and Dirt Bike Club
Missing Link Snowmobile Club
Tug Hill Wheelers ATV Club
Sportsman's Club
Partridge Berry Inn
If
I have left off anyone, thanks for your help and support as well!
Shelly
M. Beyer, NYSORVA Regional Coordinator (crash@imcnet.net)
David M. Beyer, Director NYTRO of NNY (92vmax@imcnet.net)
4)
HATFIELD-MCCOY TRAIL SYSTEM NEWS
The
following link is to the first commercial site brought to our attention in
response to the now-open 300-mile Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in West Virginia:
http://www.hmtrails.com/hmtrails/
The
site features information on accommodations, ATV rentals and tours, various
maps and local information about the area that hosts the first 300 miles of the
planned 2,000-mile system for ATVs, trailbikes, mt. bikes and hikers (with 4WD
and equestrian to be added as the system expands).
The
official H-M Trail Authority web site is at http://www.trailsheaven.com where trail
passes can be purchased on line and downloadable trail maps are available. With
three trailheads and 300 miles, plan yourself a 3-day riding vacation to WV
in--you deserve it!
http://www.trailsheaven.com/areainfo.htm
includes trailhead info, maps, accommodations/camping, and dealer/repair
facility info.
Also
see http://www.trailscouts.com/ for
information from the group notably responsible for the creation of the H-M
project.
5)
ATV SAFETY & EDUCATION
Here’s reminder that our new safety and education
site is up and running at http://www.nyatvsafety.net, featuring links to safety
training programs and to the state’s comprehensive ATV informational resources.
Of note for club leaders and dealers is information about how to obtain bulk
copies of DMV’s C-29 ATV info pamphlet, a publication we feel no ATV or
motorcycle trail rider in New York should be without.
Watch for your ATV registration renewal in February,
in which a card will be enclosed featuring the above web link. DMV has wisely
recognized its interest in promoting safe and legal use of ATVs and therefore
offered to publicize on the insert card, our web link and some basic
information extracted from their C-29 publication.
6)
AMA OHV WATCH
Here’s a roundup of OHV-related clips from American
Motorcyclist Assn.’s “News & Notes for the Politically Motivated
Motorcyclist.”
EPA To Set New Emissions Standards
For Bikes and ATVs
The
federal Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to clamp down on
emissions from off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and may
set new, stricter standards for streetbikes, the American Motorcyclist
Association (AMA) reports.
On November 17, EPA Administrator Carol Browner signed an official document
declaring that off-road motorcycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles cause air pollution.
That declaration is the first step in a process that will lead to proposed
emission standards for those vehicles. Currently those classes of vehicles
don't need to meet any federal emissions standards.
Besides setting out to propose rules governing emissions from new off-highway
vehicles, the EPA said it will seek comment "on possible emission
reductions from highway motorcycles as part of this rulemaking." The EPA
indicated it will take a close look at California's strict emissions standards
for streetbikes as a possible model for national standards.
The EPA is seeking comment in a variety of areas including:
·
Technologies that may be available to reduce emissions, and
the cost of those technologies
·
The timing and level of new emission standards
·
Test procedures for measuring emissions from vehicles and
engines
·
Compliance programs, including production-line and in-use
testing by manufacturers.
The
EPA directs those interested in commenting to check the Federal Register
notice, which is available from the EPA Air and Radiation Docket by calling
(202) 260-7548 (refer to Docket A-2000-01). Comments also may be made by e-mail
to: nranprm@epa.gov.
Also, you can see the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and related
documents on the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality web site at www.epa.gov/otaq.
The EPA said there will be further opportunities to comment later when it
publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register.
More information may be obtained by contacting Margaret Borushko at: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 2000
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; or by e-mailing borushko.margaret@epa.gov.
Telephone: (734) 214-4334.
*
* * * *
PA
Trail Development Halted
[Editor’s note: Riders should make ready to write a
letter in this matter. The contact info is at the bottom of the article.]
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary John Oliver has announced a moratorium
on construction of new ATV trails in Pennsylvania. Governor Ridge's office has
informed DCNR that they have received more comments, both pro and con, on the
issue of ATV access than any other issue since the governor took office in
1994.
Sierra Club volunteer Richard
Martin has undertaken a survey of state forest managers and solicited comments
and photographs to not only keep this moratorium but to permanently ban ATVs
from all public land in Pennsylvania. Comments like "ATVs are probably the
most intrusive problem that we face in managing our state forest lands"
from the Kittanning State Forest manager and "Illegal ATV entry onto the
State Forest is evident on almost every block of lands" from the Delaware
State Forest manager aren't helping the OHV access issue.
Sierra Club volunteers are being
encouraged to document, with descriptions, times, dates and photographs, all
damage and illegal ATV activities throughout this period to encourage DCNR to
close public land to OHV access.
If you observe anyone trying to
gain illegal access or riding irresponsibly, you should remind them that they
are jeopardizing access for all OHV recreation.
Meanwhile you need to provide
brief, polite and concise comments, both written and oral, to the DCNR and
Governor Ridge's office. Let them know
that there is a specific need for responsible motorized recreation in the
state. This is your chance to be proactive in protecting your right to
ride! If they do not hear from riders
then they will not know of your feelings on motorized recreation until the
gates go up, then it is to late.
Send your correspondense to
Secretary John C. Oliver
DCNR Executive Office
7th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building
P.O. Box 8767
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767
Or via Fax: (717) 772-9106
and
Governor Tom Ridge
225 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Telephone: (717) 787-2500
Or use the on-site e-mail contact form (copy and paste your message as needed):
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html
* * * * *
United Way Inadvertently Funds
Anti-recreation Groups
The United Way through its support of
Earth Share is directly and indirectly funding environmental extremist
organizations like the Sierra Club, EarthIsland (BlueWater Network) and other
extremist groups trying to close down our motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, OHV
trails and waterways. Contact your local United Way office to see if they are
contributing to keeping you off of public land.
[News & Notes for the Politically Motivated Motorcyclists is a monthly
service compiled and edited by the AMA Government Relations Staff to keep
motorcyclists informed of happenings around the world. We welcome your news
& views. Please submit all material to Terry Lee Cook, Government Relations
Specialist, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147; fax 614-856-1920 or
e-mail to tcook@ama-cycle.org. AMA is
now 270,000-member-strong! On the web: http://www.amaDirectLink.org.]
7) NCATVA 2001 EVENT ANNOUNCED
NCATVA
Pres. Moak DeTraglia (mailto:ncatva@earthlink.net)
writes: “NCATVA/NYTRO-East is going to do it again. Where going to bring back
all that fun with our 3rd annual Rodeo Expo. I know it’s not even 2001 yet, but
hey, when something is this much fun why wait to the last minute to plan it. So
mark your calendar for September 15 2001 at The Glad Rang Sand drags in Corinth
NY. If you’ve never been to any of our events, please take the time to stop by
ATV Connection [http://www.atving.com] and see what they had to say about this
year’s event, or stop by our web page and see what you missed.”
North
Country ATV Association
NYTRO of Eastern NY a division of NYTRO Inc.
http://NCATVANYTROEAST.homestead.com/welcomepage.html
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/ncatvaonlineclub
8) BLM OHV STRATEGY PUBLISHED
With
the following statement released 12/14/00, the Bureau of Land Management
published its final draft of the National OHV Management Strategy document,
located at http://www.blm.gov/ohv/Draft_OHV_FNL.pdf
“The
Bureau of Land Management today published a final rule that revises and updates
management regulations relating to congressionally designated Wilderness Areas
under BLM management. The final rule, which appears in today's Federal
Register, applies to 5.5 million acres of BLM-managed Wilderness Areas in the
continental United States. The rule does not govern activities in Wilderness
Study Areas.”
Maybe
this does not impact us at all in NY since there are no BLM lands here, but
this does impact the big-picture of the future of OHV recreation, folding into
other matters such as “Wilderness Lite” (Roadless Initiative) discussed further
in this newsletter. Don’t think for a minute that the national assault on our
pastime is not well-orchestrated. We are hoping that efforts by the OHV
community to impact BLM’s proposed policy will result in balance rather than
over-reaction based on the anti-OHV hysteria that started this whole thing.
The
following is a copy of a BLM press release from before the final draft was
conceived. It gives the reader some background as to the scope of the matter:
Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Tom Gorey (Tom_Gorey@blm.gov), 202-452-5031
For release: Thursday, November 16, 2000
BLM Announces New Date for Publication
of Draft National
Off-Highway Vehicle Strategy
The Bureau
of Land Management announced today that it plans to publish its Draft National
Off-Highway Vehicle Strategy on November 30 rather than this week [11/17/00],
as originally scheduled. The Draft
Strategy, which the Bureau is still developing, is aimed at ensuring
environmentally sound Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on BLM-managed public
lands.
The BLM is
postponing publication of the Draft Strategy because it has not yet completed
its work on the document, which will be available for a 30-day public comment
period that will run from November 30 to January 2, 2001. The Draft Strategy, which will reflect
extensive public input, is intended to recognize the interests of OHV users
while protecting environmentally sensitive areas on the public lands. The strategy is also aimed at enabling the
BLM to spend scarce funding resources on managing OHV use rather than on OHV-related
litigation, protests, appeals, and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Henri
Bisson, the BLM's Assistant Director for Planning and Renewable Resources,
said, "The strategy under development will reflect substantial input from
OHV user groups, environmental organizations, State and local agencies, and the
general public." Bisson noted that
the BLM received comments at 49 "listening" meetings that the Bureau
held last summer on the OHV management issue; the agency also received an
additional 4,904 written (both paper and electronic) comments.
The BLM
will initially publish the Draft Strategy on the Internet (at www.blm.gov) and
will then make printed copies available through its State and Field Offices in
the West, as well as in Washington, D.C.
After the conclusion of the 30-day public comment period, the Bureau
plans to issue its final National OHV Strategy on the Internet on January 19,
2001, then mail out printed copies on January 24.
The BLM,
an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land — 264
million surface acres — than any other Federal agency. Most of this public land
is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of
about $1.8 billion and a workforce of some 9,000 full-time, permanent employees,
also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the
nation. The BLM preserves open space by
managing the public lands for multiple uses, including outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, and mining, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural,
and other resources found on the public lands.
9) Guest Article: OUTDOOR
RECREATION AS A MOTIVATIONAL TOOL FOR YOUTH
By
Dana Bell, Project Coordinator
National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (www.nohvcc.org)
[Editor’s
Note: This article was reprinted with permission and may be reproduced in your
newsletter with credit to Dana Bell/NOHVCC.]
Just
how many “at-risk” young teenagers can walk into a group of adult strangers at
a national symposium and, with poise, participate in their discussions as an
equal? Thirteen year-old Mike Pool did
just this at the 2000 National Trails Symposium held in Redding,
California. Mike is a youth member of
Off-Road PALs, a partnership program of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation Division of California State Parks and the California Police
Activities League.
Off-Road PALs provides young people primarily
from inner-city areas with a hands-on experience of how to safely ride off-road
motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
The two-day program begins with a full day of training in rider safety,
environmental awareness, and trail ethics.
The program concludes with a trail ride to practice their skills and
enjoy the outdoors. The off-highway
vehicles (OHVs) are used as a tool to develop and instill personal values,
civic and personal responsibility, and environmental awareness.
Mike,
in his oversized but very neat t-shirt and jeans and kind of shy but ready
smile, is a great example of a young person participating in and benefiting
from an OHV youth program. Throughout
the United States such programs have proven that off-highway motorcycles and
ATVs are powerful motivational tools that help young people discover a more
positive future. These vehicles are a
magnet for young people and provide an exciting opportunity for kids, cops, and
adults to work together.
To
share an example of OHV youth programs the National Off-Highway Vehicle
Conservation Council coordinated a session, “Outdoor Recreation as a
Motivational Tool for Youth”, at the Trails Symposium. The Symposium, held only once every two
years attracts land managers and trail organization leaders from all over the
country. To broaden the session
audience and effectively convey common needs of outdoor youth programs the session
included a backpacking and mountain bicycling program, in addition to Off-Road
PALs.
Big City Mountaineers, a nonprofit organization,
offers dramatic learning experiences to disadvantaged urban teenagers. The program uses eight-day wilderness backpacking
and canoeing programs with trained adult volunteer mentors to teach outdoor
skills, teamwork, and goal achievement.
Youth Adventures, created by the Concerned
Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA) coordinates mountain bike excursions to
the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area for inner-city kids from
Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The
commonality of these programs is that they get the kids out of the city, change
the image of adults and cops from adversaries to mentors, and provide them with
a more positive vision of what their lives can be. These programs and programs similar to them scattered around the
country are in great demand yet limited by basic needs.
A
critical component of the session was for the presenters to provide information
on program challenges, needs, and what land managers or interested
organizations can do to enhance existing programs or to develop new ones.
These
programs utilize a common variety of funding means including corporate and
government grants, private contributions, and fundraising activities. A challenge is time. The time to identify, apply for, and receive
grants and to organize and conduct fundraising activities must be recognized
and allowed for. Waived entrance or
special-use permit fees, assistance with grant applications, volunteers with
grant-writing or fundraising experience, and contacts with potential sponsors
or partners are needed
Youth
programs always need more volunteers.
The featured programs tap into trail enthusiast organizations, police
and government staff, interested adults, and parents for their volunteers. Untapped or under-tapped sources that can be
explored include the American Association of Retired Persons, company volunteer
programs, special interest community organizations, and diverse recreation
groups.
A
huge barrier for inner-city programs is transportation. Many of the participants come from singe
parent families or multi-tasking families who cannot provide rides or cannot
afford to send their children by public transportation. And often there is no public system that
even provides transportation to activity sites. Youth programs must be able to provide transportation. Potential support resources could be car
dealership and company shuttle vehicles, and again, diverse recreation
groups. Partnerships between motorized
and non-motorized recreation groups can greatly expand a volunteer base,
transportation opportunity, and other program needs. An important side benefit
may be increased understanding and respect between the adults participating in
the partnership.
Program
needs always include equipment for the young people, volunteers, and
staff. Not surprisingly equipment
maintenance from wear and tear and kids being kids is also a basic need. Corporations and small companies not able
to provide direct cash donations may be very willing to provide equipment. Some companies, including Walmart, K-Mart,
and Home Depot have established recreation or youth-oriented support
programs. Grant programs, community
organizations, and again, other recreation interest groups are all potential
sources of equipment and maintenance assistance.
The
most commonly asked question by kids in these programs is, “When can we come
back?” The question we should ask
ourselves in return is, “How can we make it possible for these kids to come
back?” Then we should make it
happen! The benefits to young people,
to our recreation, and to society are certainly worth the effort.
For
further information on these outstanding programs contact:
Off-Road
PALs
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division
1725 23rd Street, Suite 220
Sacramento, CA 95816-7100
Phone: 916-324-4442
Web: WWW.calohv.ca.gov
California
Police Activities League
305 Washington Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-645-1875
Big
City Mountaineers
210 Beaver Brook Canyon Road
Evergreen, CO 80439
Phone: 303-670-3202
Web: WWW.bigcitymountaineers.org
Youth
Adventures
Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association
Phone: 818-882-2839
10) “ROADLESS INTIATIVE” UPDATE
From AMA press release: “OHV Enthusiasts Influence Roadless Lands Issue”
PICKERINGTON,
Ohio -- Thousands of motorcyclists, ATV enthusiasts and others interested in
motorized recreation mobilized this year in response to President Clinton's
plan to manage so-called roadless areas within the national forest system. And
the results of their efforts can be seen in the final draftof the roadless
plan, released in mid-November, reports the American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA).
The U.S. Forest Service reportedly received more than 1.6 million comments on
the controversial proposal, which threatened to shut off access by many
Americans to nearly 60 million acres of public land, an area nearly equal in
size to the state of Wyoming. And thousands of those comments came from
off-highway motorcyclists and ATV riders, who attended public hearings and sent
in letters, faxes and e-mails.
Although the lands involved are designated as roadless, the AMA pointed out
from the beginning that they contain thousands of miles of trails now open to
motorcycles and ATVs, along with a network of dirt roads that serve as feeders
and connectors for those trails. Those roads also provide access to locations
and trails used by hunters, fishermen, campers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts,
mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers.
Clinton's initial proposal for management of these lands included options that
would have shut out nearly all types of recreation, and a draft plan released
in the spring still appeared likely to choke off access to these lands over a
period of years. But comments from recreation groups clearly had an impact on
the final draft, notes the AMA.
Although the final draft, which is expected to be approved by Agriculture
Secretary Dan Glickman in mid-December, still calls for a ban on construction
of new roads on these lands, it specifically allows for maintenance and even
reconstruction of existing roads under some circumstances. And it also allows
for reconstruction of existing trails and construction of new trails for a
variety of purposes, including motorized recreation.
"Nothing in this rule is intended to prohibit the authorized construction
or maintenance of motorized or non-motorized trails," the final draft
states.
"Getting recognition of motorized recreation as a legitimate use of these
lands is a vital step for motorcycle and ATV riders," said Ed Moreland,
Washington representative for the AMA. "When this proposal was first
introduced, it looked as though we could be left out entirely. Now, we have a
clear place in the plan to manage these lands."
The AMA cautioned, however, that the full impact of the roadless plan won't be
known until two other initiatives being developed by the Forest Service are
finalized. The agency recently released its Planning Regulations for managing
federal lands, and it is expected to release a Forest Road Management plan
soon. Together, those proposals will determine the future of motorized
recreation, as well as other recreational activities, on national forest land.
In addition, the roadless plan remains highly controversial, particularly
because of restrictions placed on timber harvests in the affected areas and the
Forest Service's last-minute decision to apply the rules to the Tongass
National Forest in Alaska beginning in April 2004. Those provisions could
result in legal and legislative challenges to the plan.
But when it comes to recreation interests, involvement in the public-comment
process clearly had an impact. "Without the input of recreation
groups," said Moreland, "the regulations imposed on vast roadless
areas of our national forests could have been much more restrictive.
"We know that thousands of motorcyclists participated in the
process," he said, "and they were joined by snowmobile riders,
mountain bikers, hikers, four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, rock climbers,
equestrians, people who enjoy public waterways, and others. "Together, we
all made a difference."
And
this from BRC…
11/14/00:
OHV CONCERNS GET ATTENTION IN MEDIA'S REPORTING ON ROADLESS ANNOUNCEMENT
BlueRibbon Coalition spokesmen were quoted in a variety of national and local
newspapers as they reported on the release of the Forest Service's Roadless
FEIS. In addition, BRC received the
following contacts:
*I was contacted by Chris Wood, from the Chief's office, thanking us for the
position we've taken as indicated in the media release. Although the roadless
plan does not address -- in my view -- management for wildfires in a
substantial way, I feel that the agency did hear our concerns about access and
did allow for responsible OHV use and trail maintenance.-- Don Amador, BRC
** I received a note from the U.S. Senate Wilderness Caucus (Senator Russ
Fiengold D-WI) thanking BRC for our media release on the Roadless announcement
as they prepare to review the documents. (We sent the release to congressional
contacts as well as media.)
--Clark L. Collins, BRC
USA
TODAY FOR PUBLICATION ON 11/14/2000
FOREST PLAN TO BAN LOGGING, MORE ROADS
By Traci Watson, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/ncsmon08.htm
Forest Service officials said the proposal wouldn't diminish access to off-road
vehicles such as dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles. Off-road vehicle groups
applauded the continued access. "We're glad to see (ORVs) will be allowed
in inventoried roadless areas," said Don Amador of the BlueRibbon Coalition,
a group representing off-road enthusiasts. [end of excerpt]
http://www.denverpost.com/news/news1114h.htm
DENVER POST
CLINTON PLAN FOR FORESTS PLEASES OFF-ROAD GROUPS
By Mike Soraghan
Denver Post Washington Bureau
Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck said the latest draft of the plan moves
"in a direction that brings greater balance." Off-road groups had
been fuming for months that the Clinton administration was going to lock them
out of public lands. When the plan was released Monday, they found that they
will keep the access they currently have.
"The existing (off-highway vehicle) use will apparently be allowed to
continue," said Don Amador, who handles Western issues for Blue Ribbon
Coalition, an off-roader group. "All things considered, it sounds like
they have heard our concerns about trail use." The Forest Service says
that ending road building in the forests will allow it to concentrate on a
large backlog in maintenance of existing roads. [end of excerpt]
SOME IDAHOANS PRAISE, OTHERS BLAST LATEST PLAN TO PROTECT ROADLESS AREAS
Foes contend fires likely to get worse if proposal succeeds
By Gene Fadness
The Idaho Statesman
(sorry no website info on this one)
One organization that has been a vocal opponent of Clinton administration
federal land policy, the Blue Ribbon Coalition, was not as critical of the
roadless plan as other resource groups. That's because the plan allows for
managed use of dirt bikes, motorcycles and other off-highway vehicles on existing
trails in roadless areas. The coalition is a primary advocate for motorized
recreation and multiple use of public lands.
"We're happy that they acknowledge off-highway vehicle recreation in
wilderness areas and also that trail maintenance is allowed," coalition
spokeswoman Adena Cook said.
But, like other groups, the coalition said the plan does not adequately address
the potential for catastrophic wildfire. "We'd like to see more active
management of federal forestland than what they have in mind," Cook said.
[The
Blue Ribbon Coalition (www.sharetrails.org) is a national recreation group that
advocates responsible multiple-use of public lands. It represents over 750
businesses and organizations with 600,000 members.]
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And
this take on the matter from the AP, which basically ignores the OHV flap…
Forest
Service to unveil roads plan
Monday, November 13, 2000
By Associated Press
Included
in the roadless area inventory is a portion of the Copper River Delta in
Alaska'a Chugach National Forest.
The
Forest Service is unveiling a new version of President Clinton's plan to ban
roads in at least 43 million acres of roadless national forests — an area the
size of Washington state.
Agency
officials altered the plan for protecting some of the nation's most remote and
pristine lands after receiving more than 1 million public comments last spring
and summer.
Environmentalists
believe the changes, being announced today, will offer more protection,
including a possible increase in the number of roadless acres covered by the
plan and more restrictions on logging and mining in roadless areas.
"They've
got every reason to make it greener, especially since so many people asked for
it to be stronger," said Ken Rait, director of the Heritage Forests Campaign
in Portland, Oregon.
The
vast majority of public comments came from environmentalists advocating more
protection. Industry officials said many people who want the option of building
roads in the remote forests did not comment because they felt Forest Service
officials had already made up their minds.
"I
can't imagine they're going to somehow reduce the impact on the forest industry
in the new plan," said Barry Polsky, a spokesman for the American Forest
and Paper Association. He contended that the no-road plan will increase the
risk of fire and bug infestation in forests.
Environmentalists
have been pressing for years for a road ban because they believe the pathways
increase erosion, sever wildlife habitat and make it easier for logging trucks
and mining operators to reach remote public lands.
Clinton
proposed in May to ban road building in more than one-fifth of the 192 million
acres of national forests. He left it to local forest managers to decide
whether to restrict logging, mining, recreation and other activities in the 43
million acres of roadless forests.
Environmentalists
hope the new version will include an outright ban on logging in roadless areas.
The
original plan exempted 8.5 million acres of roadless areas in Alaska's Tongass
National Forest in Alaska — the nation's largest national forest — because
Tongass already is covered under a separate forest plan completed in 1999.
Monday's
announcement is the next-to-last step in the process for crafting a roadless
rule without the involvement of Congress. Agency officials will decide whether
to make still more changes before they publish a final rule in mid-December —
just a month before Clinton leaves office.