In case you haven't heard, there ARE groups who are committed to fighting for access to our public lands. One organization, The Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC), does more, I feel, than any others to ensure that the Public can continue to enjoy legal access to the lands they own. Don't worry - the BRC is NOT like Tread Lightly! The organization that accepts money from vehicular groups and then actively uses those funds to fight multiple use of public lands. Remember, Tread Lightly! Is the originator of the "travel on designated roads (NOT existing roads) only" nonsense. Who does Tread Lightly! think should do the designating? The very Government agencies that are trying to restrict our access now!
Anyway, the following is from the BRC. Please read it, then write a letter.
Thank you all for your efforts in fighting for continued land access . . .
BLM DRAFT OHV STRATEGY NEEDS YOUR COMMENTS! By Adena Cook, BlueRibbon Coalition Public Lands Director
Ph. (208)524-3062,
e-mail bradena@sharetrails.org
On December 4, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Draft National Off-Highway Vehicle Strategy. The Draft Strategy is intended to provide recreation opportunity for OHVers on public land while protecting environmentally sensitive areas. The agency has set a January 4 deadline for public comment.
The Draft Strategy reflects extensive public input gathered during 49 "listening" meetings held across the country last summer. They received 2,627 e-mails, 877 returned mailers, and 1,400 letters.
The BLM had characterized the process as a means to gather management techniques in a "toolbox" that local managers could draw upon in managing OHV recreation. However, they received so many good suggestions that the "toolbox" will be compiled in an "OHV Management Field Guide", which is an action item in the Draft Strategy. The Draft Strategy makes no changes in existing regulations, but identifies certain regulations that could be changed in a separate process.
The BLM suggests expanding the types of vehicles covered by the strategy to reflect new equipment, changing technology, and broadened recreation interests. It will cover vehicles all the way from trucks to ultra-lights in the motorized category and bicycles to roller blades and land sailing yachts in the mechanized/human powered conveyance category. The agency has recognized that these diverse forms of outdoor enjoyment need both individual attention and integration into recreation management as a whole.
The Draft Strategy establishes goals and action items that elevate the importance of OHV recreation within the agency. For example:
- They propose national level coordination with other land managing agencies and interest groups will be improved through the establishment of a national level "Stakeholders Group" and a BLM National OHV Advisory Board
chartered under the Federal Advisory Committees Act (FACA).l
- There will be a BLM OHV "Strategy Action Team" that works on improving the strategy in a continuing process. Each BLM State Office will identify an OHV coordinator. In most states, this will be a full time
position.
- The BLM will pursue legal access to isolated parcels of public land where appropriate to improve access to public land.
- More money will be spent on educating recreationists in user ethics and responsible use, as well as scientific research on OHV issues. There will be special OHV training for managers and staff.
- The agency will carefully plan and gather factual data to support requests for funding from Congress. It will improve its capability to get funds from outside sources like challenge cost-share, state OHV grants, the Recreational Trails Program, donated equipment, and, in some cases, user fees.
- The agency will improve its inventory of roads and trails, improve monitoring, and better coordinate with other resource management.
- The agency will establish a more consistent policy for requests for special access, such as big game retrieval for people with disabilities.
- There will be better road and trail design, maintenance, signing, maps and public information.
| Some of the goals and action items could cause OHVers some problems. For example:
- It appears that their goal addressing Endangered Species Act compliance is overly enthusiastic. It proposes that all BLM lands containing either proposed or designated species and habitat be either closed or limited. Many, many species are proposed for listing. There are thousands more acres habitat acres proposed for one species or another. OHV impacts to species should be scientifically established before restrictions are considered.
- The Draft Strategy proposes a change in regulations for management of all Wilderness Study Areas. It would restrict OHVs to roads and trails that were on the BLM inventory before the WSAs were designated. These inventories were likely incomplete. A more complete inventory for each WSA needs to be accomplished before restrictions are imposed.
- The Draft Strategy suggests that the BLM could administer a registration or licensing system for selected areas. This is a bad idea. The states have always maintained authority over licensing, registering, and permitting, covering everything from highway vehicles to hunting. Federal licensing would not only duplicate current state programs, but would usurp state authority.
- The 30-day comment period is far too short. It needs to be extended to at least 60 days.
In general, the Draft Strategy lays the groundwork for positive OHV management. The agency, in directing implementation of the strategy, should acknowledge that positive OHV management must consider expansion of
opportunity as recreation increases. This is as equally important as restrictions. Additionally, while WSAs and other sensitive areas need special attention, the agency should also pay attention to the rest of the public lands to accommodate increased needs.
Radical environmental groups are strongly opposed to the Draft Strategy. They believe it does not impose enough restrictions and gives too much latitude to local managers. They will be flooding the BLM with negative comments. Some mountain bicyclists are not happy about their group's inclusion in the Strategy. Our positive comments are needed, as well as our criticism.
Please write a brief comment letter on this BLM's Draft Recreation Strategy. Tell about your sport, and comment on a couple of the strategy items described above that apply to how you enjoy the outdoors. Don't delay. Although we hope for a comment period extension, this is far from certain. If you want more assistance in writing your letter, see our web site at: http://www.sharetrails.org
Send your letter by January 4 to: OHV Comment Manager; Bureau of Land Management; Room 204 LS; 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. You can comment online by following the links from the BLM Homepage at http://www.blm.gov, or directly by e-mail at hov_comment_manager@blm.gov Send your online or e-mail comments in a text file and include Attn: OHV Comment Manager and your return address in your message. |
