Well, they're at it again. After settling the suit with United Four-Wheel Drive Association, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service is trying to close the forest again! Yes, these busy beavers feel they can change wording and definitions to come up with new "roadless" areas and use these new areas to keep the public out of the Forest. We must fight this lawless group of jackals who try to pull these heinous acts.
Bob Saderup from Big Bear called yesterday (909/585-2888 work, 909/ 584-9786 home; mtndive@aol.com). He said the Forest Service is trying to close 60 miles of non "N" classed roads near Holcomb Valley. They are claiming that even though the roads have been there for years, they are unauthorized. He said we have until June 16th (!) to send written complaints to George Kimline of the Forest Service.
George Kimline
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
P. O. Box 290 Fawnskin, CA 92333
909 866-3437 Ex 3207
Bob also offered this web address for roadless act info: roadless.ss.fed.us (could the "ss" mean something?).
Brad Lark called and spoke with Nan the receptionist at the Forest Office. He casually asked her about the road closures. She knew immediately what he was talking about and confirmed that these were only roads that some "offroader" had made and shouldn't be used, ". . . as they need to save the forest." Brad began to press her a little bit for more info and she went into the, "I'm only a volunteer" mode, and offered no more info.
This is not just happening in southern California, check out this BlueRibbon Coalition Alert, then act, act, ACT! If we don't do something here, we'll lose our forests, just like we've lost most of our B.L.M.-administered public lands.
BLUERIBBON URGENT ALERT
ROADLESS PUBLIC HEARINGS COMING UP IN YOUR AREA
SPEAK OUT OR BE LOCKED OUT
Since the release of the Draft Clinton-Gore Roadless Initiative on May 10, National Forests have been holding informational meetings on the proposal. Another, more important round of meetings is coming up soon!. At this meeting you will be able to speak out. Your comments will be a part of the public record. It is urgent that you attend, speak out, and get your friends and family to do likewise.
To locate the time and place of the meeting nearest you, call your local Forest Service Office and ask about the "Roadless Hearings".
If you attended an informational meeting, you may | have realized that they were sugarcoating the real intent of the Roadless Initiative. After all, motorized recreation, summer and winter, can occur in roadless areas, and the trails maintained. Here's what they didn't tell you:
* Eight of the nine roadless criteria assume that human activity negatively impacts the resource.
* Few or no "ground disturbing activities" will occur in roadless areas.
* As forest plans are revised, "unroaded areas" - those areas without classified roads - will be evaluated according to the roadless criteria. This can be interpreted as nearly every acre of national forest ground.
* Local planning and local decisions will be made by new rules. The new planning process stacks the deck against true public participation. Ecosystem protection to a pre-Columbian condition will be the overarching goal for forest management.
* The new transportation policy can reduce the number of roads by 80%, assuring a lot more unroaded areas. All remaining roads must have minimal impact on the "ecosystem".
At the hearing, state your name and why you care about your access to our National Forests.
Here are some suggested comments:
* Request that the Clinton-Gore Roadless Rule be withdrawn.
* You believe that OHV recreation in both roadless and unroaded areas will be subjected to so many conditions, that few opportunities will remain.
* In your opinion, the informational meetings have not told the whole story.
* The Roadless Rule is only one part of a 3-part rule making process designed to lock the public out of the public land.
* The Transportation Rule can close 80% of the roads in our national forests.
* The Forest Planning rules place ecosystem protection above all other uses, and rig the process in favor of special interest groups and top-down meddling. * We need to protect our national forests for the future - YOUR FUTURE - that depends on your continued access that you can pass down to your children and grandchildren.
Show up! Speak out! Pass this on! Protect your access to 60 million acres of National Forest!
If you can't attend a hearing, mail your comments to: USDA Forest Service - CAET; Roadless Area Proposed Rule; P.O. Box 221090; Salt Lake City, UT 84122. Comment deadline is July 17.
Questions? Check our web page at www.sharetrails.org. Call or e-mail Adena Cook, Public Lands Director at 208-524-3062 or bradena@sharetrails.org, OR Don Amador, Western States Representative at 925-625-6287 or brdon@sharetrails.org. |
