Tellico Lawsuit Filed by OHV Groups

Tellico is a huge issue for access advocates and OHV folks.  We are filing suit and taking the issue to court.  We want Tellico BACK!  Spread the word.
Del


BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Roger Theurer, Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

(931) 841-0672

Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Coalition

(208) 244-2112

Date: May 18, 2010

TELLICO LAWSUIT FILED

POCATELLO, ID (May 18)--The next chapter in the Save Tellico saga began today as suit was filed to stop agency efforts to eliminate long-existing routes at the Upper Tellico OHV System. The suit was filed by Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and BlueRibbon Coalition in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

"This is a logical and necessary action in our effort to restore some form of meaningful OHV access to the System," said Roger Theurer, President of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. "The entire premise behind this closure- that water quality is uniquely flawed in the Tellico River- is simply untrue. We hope through this suit for an opportunity to present the full story," Theurer concluded.

On April 19, 2010, the Forest Service posted a solicitation for bids, seeking contractors to perform various tasks to rehabilitate, obliterate, or otherwise decommission the bulk of existing roads on the OHV System. According to the complaint, routes historically used for vehicle travel may be fundamental to other forms of recreation, and possible impacts on non-motorized recreation activities have not been analyzed by the Forest.

"We prefer to work collaboratively with the Forest to provide appropriate vehicle-based recreation opportunities in the area," observed Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Executive Director. "We remain committed to such prospects, but faced little option short of filing suit to preserve reasonable alternatives involving the System. These roads are literally on the verge of being removed from the landscape," Mumm concluded.

A copy of the complaint may be viewed at: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Complaint_FILED_05-18-10.pdf


# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

CA -- Clear Creek OHV Area County Roads Back Open

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.


MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Don Amador

Phone: 925.625.6287

Email: brdon@sharetrails.org

Date: April 7, 2010

CALIFORNIA COUNTY MAKES HISTORIC ACCESS VOTE TO REOPEN ROADS

ON FEDERAL LANDS

HOLLISTER, CA (April 7)--A rural county in Central California made access history when it voted 4-0 to reassert its jurisdiction on 25 miles of county roads in an area currently closed by the federal government. The April 6 vote by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors to open roads currently closed to the public is a watershed moment for Californians who are fighting an avalanche of proposed closures on federal lands in the state.

The County also voted to have staff prepare public comments in support of Alternative A in the BLM's Draft Resource Management Plan for the Clear Creek Management Area Environmental Impact Statement. The BLM's preferred Alternative E functionally closes the area to meaningful vehicular access. Alternative A supports public use of all roads and trails that were open for motorized recreation and access before the 2008 interim closure.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "The San Benito County Board of Supervisors earned a place in the history books for taking a stand against a federal bureaucracy that has proposed a closure of historic proportions in their county. It was clear the Supervisors take seriously their constitutional role as a champion of the people and seek to protect the citizenry and the local economy from agenda-driven policies developed by unelected officials."

"When the federal government ignores the will of the people, local voters and users that visit the area have little choice but to look elsewhere for relief. Up and down the state, I see a growing number of counties who are joining with the people in defense of historic access to federal lands. Today's vote to reopen the roads for street-legal vehicles should be a clear signal to the BLM that their effort to make the Hollister Field Office a 'Human Free Zone' is going to be challenged," Amador concluded.

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

NRA, BlueRibbon Coalition, and Access to Lands

National Rifle Association Fully Involved in Public Land Access Issues

The NRA has gotten heavily involved in helping to keep lands open to motorized and non-motorized access for hunters, very much like the BlueRibbon Coalition and other motorized recreation groups.

While this is certainly helpful, in my estimation, more NRA members need to join up with BlueRibbon Coalition because the myth that hunters are not OHVers has come to an end. If you use a quad, dirt bike, tote goat, jeep or 4x4 to get around in the back country, retrieve game and get to your favorite hunting spot, you ARE in fact an OHVer in the eyes of many.

We need to combine forces and build a bigger Army. See my write up here: http://www.delalbright.com/Access/nra_access.html

Del

(hunting photo by Stacie Albright, www.staciealbright.com)

Stop the Ban on Kids on OHV’s

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Attention BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

HELP STOP THE FEBRUARY 10TH BAN ON YOUTH OHVS

On February 10, 2009, a new law regulating lead content in certain products will go into effect. This could adversely affect companies that manufacture or distribute youth model all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles. Dealers that sell and service those products would be impacted as well.

The Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) have urgently requested the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and federal legislators to take a common sense approach to implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act's lead provisions.

SVIA and MIC have announced their intention to join several of their member companies in filing petitions with the CPSC for emergency relief from the provisions. They are also seeking a temporary final rule to exempt ATV and motorcycle parts in order to avoid major disruptions to enthusiasts, to the member companies' businesses, and to the companies' dealer network of thousands of small, independent businesses, which employ tens of thousands of Americans.

Go here for more and a sample letter: http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=934

Thanks for your help on this important issue,

Del

Johnson Valley (and Hammers) Letters Needed

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

SEND A LETTER TO HELP SAVE JOHNSON VALLEY

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Marine Base at Twentynine Palms is considering expanding because they claim to need more room for training purposes. The proposed expansion could functionally close most, if not all, of the Johnson Valley OHV Area. In order for the Marines to expand the base they need to go through a public process called the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In NEPA, it is very important that the OHV community submit letters during this scoping process requesting the Department of the Navy analyze impacts they feel would be made by the proposed project and to offer alternatives. Now is the time when we can have an impact on the proposed project. The deadline for submitting these comments is January 31, 2009.

Get the whole story and letter details here (download/read the BRC Alert in WORD)

http://www.delalbright.com/Access/jv_hammers-letter.doc

Thanks for your help in continuing to save the Hammers and Johnson Valley,

Del

Street 2 Dirt Website and Forums

There's a fairly new off-road website out there offering all kinds of OHV chat and tech talk. Street 2 Dirt has tons of good stuff to offer you no matter what you ride or drive (quad, 4x4, buggy, rail, bike, etc.). Stac and I have started posting up some land use info there as well. So trail-saving is on their list. Cool.

Check them out and let me know what you think: http://www.street2dirt.com/

Del

Clear Creek (CA) Management Area Open Letter

BlueRibbon Coalition Open Letter to OHV Community (about Clear Creek Management Area)

From Don Amador, BRC Western Rep

BlueRibbon Coalition is engaged in many access issues around the country. Being the only grassroots national multiple-use organization in our OHV community, BRC is fully involved in nearly every state with a full plate of jobs. Their accomplishments are many.

Read more about Clear Creek (in CA) here: http://www.delalbright.com/Access/ccma_open_letter_brc.html

Del

Help Save Johnson Valley and the “Hammers”

Help Save Johnson Valley!

Attend Public Scoping Meeting on

Proposed Marine Base Expansion

Working together everyone can help save Johnson Valley. However, your participation in the public decision making process is critical. You can help save Johnson Valley by attending one of the three Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base expansion scoping meetings. Just walking through the door of one of the meetings to ask questions and gather information sends a loud and powerful message that the future use of Johnson Valley by the public is important to you!

Meeting Dates

December 3, 2008, 5 p.m to 9 p.m., Twentynine Palms, CA (Twentynine Palms Junior High, Hay's Gym, 5798 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA)
December 4, 2008, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Victorville, CA (Hilton Garden Inn Victorville, 12603 Mariposa Road, Victorville, CA)
December 5, 2008, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ontario, CA (Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA)

Read more about the Marines wanting to take over Johnson Valley (including "the Hammers") here:

http://www.delalbright.com/Access/hammers_meeting_08.html

Thanks, Del

Support Our Off-road Businesses as Best You Can this Season!

Do Your Christmas and Holiday Shopping "Off-Road"

Times are tough all over and some of our off-road businesses are going under -- or about to. Some are just keeping the lights on. We still have stuff that needs work; and we still have a Christmas list (of off-road goodies). PLEASE try to help keep our supporting businesses going. You can HELP.

Please buy from, and patronize those businesses that are helping us keep our lands and riding areas open. It's our way of helping them continue to help us.

Great Christmas and Holiday shopping deals are going on right now. We can help our partners.
Read more from me about this right here on my website:
http://www.delalbright.com/Access/holiday_shopping.html

thanks, Del