Contacts

href="mailto:brdon@sharetrails.org">brdon@sharetrails.org
- Webpage: href="http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#DonA">http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#DonA

Date: 03/17/2010


OAKLEY, CA (March 17)--A national recreation group exercised its appeal rights today by filing a Freedom of Information Appeal to the Department of Interior (DOI). The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) is taking this action because the agency stated they found no records or communications regarding the designation of a national monument in the heart of a popular destination OHV area in the Mendocino National Forest.

BRC is concerned the agency arbitrarily restricted its search to the "Secretary's Immediate Office and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks." The initial FOIA request was for the DOI in general and did not specify the search be limited to the physical space of the Secretary's Office.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "BRC is concerned the DOI's 'no records' response does not comply with President Obama's promise of transparency as articulated in the early days of his presidency."

"Our members who recreate at the Stonyford OHV Area deserve to see any information that pertains to the potential designation of this popular recreation site as a national monument. I hope the agency complies with the spirit and intent of this appeal and searches its relevant departments and agencies for the requested materials," Amador concludes.

A copy of the FOIA Appeal may be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/FOIA-Appeal

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org

Posted at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BlueRibbo...nDzg/media

March 2010 eNews

Posted on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST at http://ufwda.org/pdfs/Mar_10_E-news.pdf

Date: 03/16/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber in Idaho,

Last week I sent you an Action Alert regarding potential changes to the Fairfield Ranger District's Winter Travel Plan.  Sandra Mitchell from the Idaho State Snowmobile Association (ISSA) wanted us to forward some comment suggestions on the project.

We know Idaho's snowmobilers and OHVers are experienced at commenting, but we decided to do one of our INSANELY EASY 3-Step Action Items so that you won't have to take unnecessary time from work and family.

Thanks!
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS:

NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comment letter as personal as you can.

STEP 1:  Open your email program and start a draft email. Address the email to:
                commentsintermtn-sawtooth-fairfield@fs.fed.us
                Put "Winter Travel Plan Revisions" in the Subject Line.

STEP 2:  Use the comments below as a guideline for comments in your email.
                Cut and paste is okay, but try to make your comment letter as personal as possible.

STEP 3: Take just a minute to add a bit about where you live, where you like to ride
               and how much trail-based recreation means to you. Be certain to include your
               name and address. A return email address is NOT sufficient! ("anonymous" emails
               are often discarded).

It's good to begin with a bit of personal info such as how long you have been riding in the area and/or how important the area is to you.  If you have not ridden in the area before you can still say it is important because the Fairfield Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest provides many opportunities for winter recreation.

COMMENT SUGGESTIONS:

Mike Dettori, District Ranger
Fairfield Ranger District
Attn: Winter Travel Plan Revisions
PO Box 189
Fairfield, ID 83327

RE: Winter Travel Plan Revisions

Dear Ranger Dettori,

I would like to offer the following comments on your Winter Travel Plan Revisions for the Fairfield Ranger District.

I strongly support option 3 of your scoping notice, opening a motorized corridor through what is currently a wildlife closure area from Couch Summit to Fleck Summit.

As the wildlife has moved, the open corridor will have little or no impact to elk and it would provide a valuable recreation opportunity for the visiting public. Also, opening a travel corridor is an equitable option between the general public and private land owners.

I support opening the corridor all the way to Featherville. This would open up thousands of acres for snowmobiling and access to many rural communities that are in dire need of additional visitors in the winter months.

Any closures or other measures needed to protect other species such as wolverine, mountain goat and lynx should be based on sound biology and science rather than speculation.  You should be able to demonstrate that any closures are truly necessary for the animal's well being and survival.

I support mitigation instead of closure where significant impacts to wildlife can be substantiated. For example, instead of closing those high elevation areas with potential for natal denning, why not develop an Alternative that considers mitigating potential impacts with education or other methods. The Forest Service should consider snowmobilers to be part of the solution rather than assuming we are the problem.

I support  the opening of areas where past closures have been found unnecessary and hope other units will consider similar actions.  Snowmobiling is a low impact activity enjoyed by thousands of Americans from across the nation.  The national forests are indeed public lands and we/I believe that to the extent possible they should be open to public access.  We find this action by the Fairfield District both refreshing and historic.

Thank you for considering my comments.  We wish to be involved throughout the travel plan modification process.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!

Link to Map of BLM Law Enforcement Management Regions

Posted on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:20:50 -0600 at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroo..._2010.html

Date: 03/12/2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Scott Jones from the Colorado Blizzards Snowmobile Club sent us word that the U.S. Forest Service is being pushed to go back on a promise to build a parking lot and improve a trail head near the Snowy Range Scenic Byway.

Scott tells us, "This area sees significant snowmobile usage, the forest service believes it is the 5th largest trailhead in the country. The original plan was developed approximately 10 years ago and included a 300 place parking lot for motorized rec use."

Isn't it funny how our U.S. Forest Service implements closures immediately after a plan is signed, but wait 10 years or more to do anything positive for recreation??  But I've digressed, sorry.

Snowmobile tourism is a key leg in the economic chair for this area. Considering the recent economic troubles AND the increasing closures by the FS - the feet-dragging must end!

BRC is asking our members and supporters in Wyoming to contact their Congressman and Senator for help. We've put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3-Step action items below.

Please take action today, and please forward this to friends and family who could help.

Thanks in advance,
Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

BRC WYOMING ACTION ALERT
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

SITUATION:
The Snowy Range Scenic Byway corridor borders Wyoming's spectacularly scenic Highway 130 and is one of the most popular winter recreation destinations in the Western U.S. The Byway is managed by the Medicine Bow National Forest. From the very moment the Byway was officially designated, local residents--including county commissioners, tourism staff, adjacent private landowners, and various recreation groups--identified a critical need for the U.S. Forest Service to bring existing recreation facilities up to standard, including developing a snowmobile parking lot at the "Green Rock" overflow parking along Wyoming Hwy 130.

Sadly, agency feet-dragging and opposition from anti-snowmobile hate groups has delayed this much needed trailhead.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
Please ask your Congressman and Senators to help us move the U.S. Forest Service to action.

BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS:

NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comments as personal as you can.

STEP 1:  Click on the following link to go to BRC's Rapid Response Center.
                 http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/  and in the "Contact Lawmakers"
                 box type your zip code and click GO. Click on your representative's name
                 and then click on the Contact tab to locate their phone number.
                 Follow the same steps for each senator.

STEP 2:  When you call, use the talking points below to help make your point. 
               
STEP 3:  Take just a minute to forward this alert to friends and family and ask them to do the same.

Talking points:
Remember - be polite.

From the moment the Snowy Range Scenic Byway was designated, local residents in Saratoga and Laramie, including county commissioners, tourism staff, adjacent private landowners and others, identified a critical need to bring existing recreation facilities up to standard, including developing a snowmobile parking lot at the "Green Rock" overflow parking along Wyoming Hwy 130.

Responding to those concerns, the USFS specifically included direction to develop an off-highway snowmobile parking lot/trailhead at the current Green Rock overflow parking area. The Plan also says the USFS should construct a new snowmobile parking lot off the highway to relieve parking congestion on the highway.

The Forest Service should not be allowed to put off this needed snowmobile trailhead any longer. While our economy stagnates, federal land managers are placing more restrictions on oil and gas and recreation uses. The failure of the Forest Service to provide this trail head is creating a perfect storm of economic hardship. Closures and limits on Yellowstone National Park are hurting Wyoming's share of Snowmobile tourism.

Please contact the Forest Service and express your concern that these important parts of the Snow Range Scenic Byway plan be implemented as soon as possible.

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________

As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!