Yesterday, HQ posted an overview on the issue of “minimization”
as addressed (or not addressed) in the recent court decision on the Stanislaus
NF travel plan. This rather new and
apparent successful legal argument being used by environmental law firms should
be a clarion wake-up call to federal agencies who are in the middle (or just
getting started) of travel planning efforts.
For example, there is
a federal unit on the west coast that recently released a DEIS where there is
only one or two sentences that loosely address the issue of minimizing
motorized use impacts to the environment.
In light of the many “minimization” lawsuits that have or
will be filed, HQ believes that the Forest Service (and BLM for that matter)
should devote an entire chapter to analysis of minimizing OHV impacts.
That analysis should include any post Nixon-era land
management decisions that already minimized OHV use or user conflicts per directives in
his executive order 11644. Other efforts such as signing that directs non-motorized users to non-motorized areas, etc. should be considered as well.
Nixon Executive Order 11644
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11644.html
If OHV and the agency does not get a handle on the
minimization issue… HQ believes that OHV recreation could become so minimalized
over the next 10-20 years that it could functionally cease to exist -- as we
know it today -- on federal lands.
Stay tuned on this issue as the fight for OHV recreation
continues in 2013.
Posts
Simply amazing what these anti access a&#hole groups come up with. Have to give them credit for their creativity and resourcefulness. Just think what they could create if they put their energy and huge dollars to a really signification cause like a truly green renewable energy resource, or world overpopulation.
ReplyDeleteThank you Don and all others for continuing the good fight in the face of constant frustration.