OP ED - THE NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPRESS HAS LEFT THE STATION

OP ED

By Don Amador

Date: Oct. 8, 2015

Word Count: 209

*Permission to reprint is hereby granted

THE NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPRESS HAS LEFT THE STATION

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) dueling plans in Southern California to have Congress pass legislation that includes Wilderness designations and statutory protection for 5 OHV areas vs. having the President designate 1 million acres as a National Monument sans the OHV component is a good example of a new land-use paradigm called the National Monument Express.

Having watched the National Monument process in various states over the last few years, it is my observation the environmental movement has created an “either/or” strategy to use the very real threat of a National Monument designation should Congress not act on a proposal.

It appears that in many cases, comprehensive land-use bills that include both Wilderness designations and OHV protections are not moving through Congress.  The reality is that when these collaborative bills get stalled in Congress, the proponents ask the President to designate them as a National Monument. 

Given the historic paradigm where GOP presidents will not rescind prior National Monument designations nor use the Act to designate pro-access National Monuments, the local user groups are left in a very precarious position where they must try and make lemonade out of political lemons.

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Don Amador writes on land-use and environmental policy issues from his office in Oakley, CA.  He is president of Quiet Warrior Racing/Consulting and also works as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition.  He may be reached via email at: damador@cwo.com

History on National Monument Fight Shows Need for Congressional Fix

2000 Protest/Rally Against Clinton's Monument

By now many riders and public land access interests are aware of efforts in Congress to address misuse of presidential executive orders that create National Monuments.

Article on Current Effort in Congress
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/13/2405576/gop-wants-to-give-congress-veto.html

Those of you new to the “monument fight” that question the need for Congress to step and create a legislative fix may want to review some history. Some may remember when President Clinton during his last days in office created a number of new monuments throughout the West including the Sequoia National Monument in California.

Off-roaders and other multiple-use interests fought back in the political and legal arena by organizing protests, filing R.S 2477 claims, and filing a lawsuit.

2000 Protest of the Sequoia National Monument
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?node=142&filter=media

Lawsuit filed against Clinton’s Monuments
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2003/2003-10-06-05.html

The lesson learned is that only elected officials can correct this abuse of executive branch authority when it creates National Monuments as a political favor to environmental groups.

Let’s just hope this effort to address the National Monument issue is successful. We don’t really have any other recourse.

Monuments FOIA Update - Did Green Lobby Influence Treasured Lands Program in 2009?

Designated OHV Trail in Stonyford Monument

As many of you remember, HQ, BRC, Congress, and other access interests had concerns in 2010 about the now infamous leaked DOI documents regarding its “Treasured Landscapes Initiative” that proposed to designate National Monuments throughout the West.

Article on TLI and Monuments
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/50066713-78/salazar-bishop-listening-memo.html.csp?page=1

Based on those concerns that the proposal had been cooked up behind the scenes in smoke-filled backrooms with environmental groups, Don Amador, on behalf of BRC, filed a FOIA in February 2010 to see if those concerns were valid. That initial FOIA saga was filled with FOIA denials and appeals.

2010 FOIA Saga and Shell Game
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/national-monument-shell-game-continues.html

Then in June of 2010, Amador filed another FOIA to again try and ferret out any back door deals. Finally on Friday, May 13, 2011 (almost one year later), the BLM complied in part with the FOIA request. Under provisions of the “Deliberative Process Privilege of Exemption 5 of FOIA,” DOI/BLM redacted portions of the 405 pages of released documents. But, DOI withheld 2,016 pages of documents from the FOIA.


HQ has done an initial review and found that most if not all of the info was NOT relevant to the FOIA request. Our search was for evidence of where the agency had collaborated with environmental groups in 2009 while failing to include other publics and Congress in those discussions. No documents were provided that showed such enviro collaboration. Remember it was the agency’s narrative at the time that assured the public the plan was not unfairly influenced by the green lobby.

However, one email (dated 11/9/09) did reference a letter outlining thoughts from The Wilderness Society related to Salazar’s Treasured Lands Initiative.

Link to 11/9/09 Email in FOIA Response
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/FOIA_DOI_Response_May_2011_TWS.Jones0001.pdf

May 2011 DOI Partial Response to BRC FOIA
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/FOIA_BLM_response_May_2011_Stonyford0001.pdf

Did anybody really think the agency developed this plan in a vacuum without direct input from the green lobby? Don’t be ridiculous! It looks like the FOIA shell game continues because another FOIA appeal will have to be filed seeking a copy of the referenced TWS input.

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An NCA or Monument is Coming to a Riding Area Near You

The Recreation HQ has been very busy over the last few days dealing with a number of access issues and wants to share its thoughts with you regarding the ARRA news release on August 6 about the rest of DOI’s “secret documents” related to the creation of National Monuments by the Obama administration.

ARRA link to DOI Documents
http://www.arra-access.com/site/DocServer/Treasured_Landscapes.pdf?docID=281

News Article on Document Find
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11872071

As you know, The General is a veteran of many battles in OHV Wars starting with Clinton’s War on the West in the mid 1990s. Those fights included the Clinton/Gore unholy triad of Forest “Rules.”

Planning Rule – This rule birthed the subsequent Bush-era planning rules that were successfully challenged by environmental groups and the new Obama planning effort that excludes the topic of recreation from the proposal.

Transportation/Roads Rule – This rule spawned the Bush-era TMR that has been perverted on many Forests to close thousands of miles of OHV routes.

Roadless Rule - This rule continues to be litigated. BRC and others are still in court on this issue.

The simple lesson learned from those battles is when the environmental/political industrial complex fronts such proposals that you as a rider will see some manifestation of those plans enacted into law or created by presidential fiat.

What is interesting - albeit very disturbing - about the newly acquired documents is that DOI is recommending to the White House that if local NCA or National Monument proposals are not worked out with the local users that the president should bypass the collaborative process and designate the project area as a National Monument.

While it is commendable and certainly appropriate to object in principle to a NCA designation in areas that are already “protected” by federal land use laws and regulations, The General believes that OHV should be involved in any local stakeholder process regarding proposed NCA or National Monument legislation.

BRC Support of the Collaborative Process in S. 2921
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/BRC_Written_Testimony_on_S.2921_05.25.10_FINAL.pdf

Should riders and clubs continue to object to the misuse of the Antiquities Act by the president to make restrictive land designations? The General believes the answer is a solid yes.

However, when OHV is given the opportunity to participate in a stakeholder group - regarding upcoming legislation - we should. That is the current political paradigm - like it or not.

A big salute to all of you who remain engaged during these very difficult times.

BRC Supports H.R. 5580 - Send Letter to Oppose Obama Monuments

Since the Recreation HQ and Congress found out about the Department of Interior’s National Monument-related “secret documents” that were leaked in February 2010 to the public, The General has been working hard by filing FOIAs to find out just who is pushing this idea. HQ’s good friend Congressman Devin Nunes recently took the bull by the horns and introduced H.R. 5580 to stop presidential abuse - for political gain - of the Antiquities Act.

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PHOTO: BRC's Don Amador on Designated Trail in Proposed Stonyford Obamument or NCA

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H.R. 5580 Introduced by Cong. Devin Nunes
http://www.nunes.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=662fd8c1-19b9-b4b1-1275-60c183990d88&Region_id=&Issue_id=

Yesterday, BRC stated its support for H.R. 5580. HQ applauds this effort and that of other organizations such as the Cattlemen’s Association to support this bill.

BRC Support for H.R. 5580
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=704&filter=media

Cattlemen’s Assn’s Support for H.R. 5580
http://www.northernag.net/AGNews/tabid/171/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/502/Behind-Closed-Doors-Monument-Designation.aspx

Since a number of these monument proposals include popular OHV areas such as Stonyford, HQ urges riders to take advantage of AMA’s action alert and letter generator to let your congressional representative know of your support of H.R. 5580.

AMA Alert and Letter Generator for H.R. 5580
http://www.ama-cycle.org/legisltn/rapidresponse.asp

The General used this AMA alert to send a message and again asks you to do the same.

HQ knows that OHV is getting hit with a barrage of issues lately but urges all riders to stay the course and remain engaged.

Thanks for your service!

High Noon Rally in Eureka

When somebody from a corrupt government/non-governmental agency hybrid tells fishermen in Northern California that they are there to “help you” – don’t buy it.

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PHOTO: New Ocean Wilderness Area?
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Well that is exactly what happened at High Noon yesterday when Karen Brooks and about 100 fishermen and local ocean access supporters gathered at a marina in Humboldt Bay to tell MLPA representatives to stop trying to kill the fishing economy on the North Coast.

Times-Standard Article on MLPA Protest
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_15315756

The General remembers when he was a kid working at Cal-Pacific Lumber Company (circa early 1970s) when another government program (Redwood National Park) put a lot of the timber industry out of business including Cal-Pac.

Some riders may ask why the Recreation HQ is focusing on the MLPA fight? Well it just so happens that many BRC members on the North Coast belong to organizations like the Far West Motorcycle Club, Lost Coast 4x4, and Cliffhangers 4x4. Those folks either fish recreationally or commercially. With no job how can you pay for gas, car insurance, etc., to go OHVing?

Sunday’s rare weekend blog points out it is no coincidence that you have many of the same eco-groups and their willing accomplices in elected office who are championing Ocean Wilderness Areas are also supporting land-based Wilderness Areas, National Monuments, or National Conservation Areas in regions where there are developed and dispersed OHV recreational opportunities.

Sunday’s blog regarding NCA’s, MLPA, and the Land Use Stinkometer
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/ocean-wilderness-stonyford-nca-and.html

The General gives a hardy salute to those fishermen – from Shelter Cove, Eureka, and Crescent City - who attended the rally. They clearly understand that if those of us who believe in the multiple-use of public lands and waterways don’t – as Benjamin Franklin said – hang together we will surly hang separately.

Thanks for your service!

The General's Memorial Day Tribute 2010

On this special weekend, I want to express my gratitude to our fallen heroes who fought for our freedom. It is a precious gift that we must treasure, respect, defend, and pass on to future generations.
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PHOTO: Don Amador at 60th Anniversary of D-Day Wreath above Omaha Beach
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Some of you know, I grew up on the outskirts of Eureka, California in a small community called Cutten. The General was born in 1954 and was too young to have served in Vietnam even though I had registered for the draft, but had gotten high draft numbers in 1972 and later until the draft ended so I was not called. One of my older childhood friends, Gary Wilson, had been shot down and killed in a helicopter. Another older friend was Terry Foster who got shot through the neck while on patrol and thankfully he survived.

I sometimes feel guilty that I did not serve in the military. I have shared those regrets with some of my military friends in the ongoing fight to protect access to public lands.

One of those persons was Frank Price (he was a Korean War vet and access advocate in the Bakersfield area). He told me not to worry about not serving in the military because I was now working in another cause for freedom – protecting the public’s (and returning service men and women) right to use and enjoy the people’s land.

It was after my co-facilitation, including help from the SAMs Coalition, of the 2000 Protest of the Clinton National Monument in the Sequoia National Forest that Frank Price bestowed on me the title of The General.

Article on 2000 Rally/Protest of Clinton National Monument (with rally photos)
https://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?filter=media&story=140

I don’t wear the title of The General as some sort of military-oriented self-tribute because I did not serve in the military, but rather as a commitment to my Dad, Frank Price and all those (including readers of this blog) who have served and sacrificed for our country that I will never give up the fight and will seek to inspire and lead men and women onto the field of battle for access to public lands.

Again, my deepest appreciation to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to the families left behind. My appreciation also goes out to those who have served and continue to serve. God Bless.

In addition, I wanted to share a couple of songs with you on this Memorial Day Weekend.

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Spiritual Tone - “You are Not Forgotten” - this song is a tribute to our troops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH0YbUnM9-s

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Rock Tone - “If I Die Tomorrow” - this song is a tribute to troops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDh5eoiRJlk&feature=related

On this Memorial Weekend... The Recreation HQ thanks you for your service!

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Green Cabal and IMBA Push or Support Stonyford Designation

The Recreation HQ thanks a local OHV advocate in the San Jose area for the heads-up yesterday regarding IMBA’s support for a National Conservation Area designation for much of the Mendocino National Forest including the Stonyford OHV Area. As many of you know, a NCA designation historically by definition restricts motorized access and at the end of the day (i.e. King Range NCA) usually BANs OHV use via regulations or the eventual “Wilderness” designation.

IMBA Blog on Wilderness Conference and Stonyford NCA
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=615893

See HQ Blog on IMBA Drinking Wilderness Kool-Aid with OHV War History Lesson
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/01/imba-drinks-wilderness-kool-aid.html

While researching IMBA’s support for hosing OHV use and other multiple-uses (while naturally promoting mtn. bike use) on the Mendocino National Forest, The General was not surprised to see the green cabal of the usual suspects (The Wilderness Society, California Wilderness Coalition, and the Sierra Club) and a new group called Tuleyome pushing for a NCA (or Monument) designation for the Stonyford OHV Area.

The Wilderness Society Overview of Snow Mountain/Stonyford NCA Proposal
http://wilderness.org/content/california-berryessa-snow-mountain

Tuleyome Overview with Maps and Outline of Stonyford Proposal
http://www.tuleyome.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=27

As DOI continues to stonewall BRC and pro-access congressional representatives on our requests for documents related to national monument designations at Stonyford and elsewhere, The General believes the aforementioned pro-Wilderness groups will be the ones found to be actually driving the Obama National Monument plan vs. Interior bureaucrats concocting this scheme in a vacuum.

Article on Congressional Hearing Yesterday
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700029888/Democrats-thwart-Rep-Rob-Bishops-move-to-obtain-national-monument-documents.html

Yes folks there is bad news, the OHV Wars continue. Battles will continue at Clear Creek, the Eldorado NF, and at Oceano Dunes and Carnegie SVRAs. New battles will be fought at Stonyford, the AZ and CO OHV programs, the OR Dunes, and other OHV areas.

However, the good news is that we have rural counties stepping up to the plate and joining our fight against land closures. Both Glenn and Colusa counties have passed resolutions against the Stonyford Obamument. San Benito County just reopened their county roads and has sent letters of support for historic OHV use at Clear Creek. Shasta County is filing an appeal on the Shasta Trinity travel plan. Others like Del Norte County are fighting back as well. Be strong, we are not alone any longer.

The General, once again, wants to thank all of you who have answered the call to join in the fight and defend our access rights.

To Join BRC or donate to the cause go to:
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1

Feel free to comment on this blog topic today in the comment section or send The General a PM at: damador@cwo.com

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Dark Ages and Large Buffer Zones Return to Congress

As certain congressional representatives voted against giving H.R. 1254 an affirmative recommendation to force the Department of Interior to hand over approximately 2,000 pages of documents that are being withheld from Congress, The General is reminded of the Dark Ages where information was also withheld from the public.

*Photo: The General on a designated OHV trail in the middle of the proposed Stonyford Obamument

May 5 info on the 2,000 pages of info being withheld from Congress
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=184053

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March 17 BRC FOIA Appeal on Stonyford Obamument
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/03/obamuments-april-16-white-house.html

May 5 News Release with links to video clips of House testimony today
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=184379

The General also wants riders to know that he, on behalf of BRC, has contacted DOI’s
Open Government Initiative today reminding them of Obama’s directive to share information with the public and to get a status report of BRC’s FOIA Appeal.

Info on DOI Open Government Initiative
http://www.doi.gov/open/

BRC legal is also watching this issue and may have to file a lawsuit demanding the agency turnover information regarding the Stonyford Obamument as requested in the Feb. 19 FOIA/March 17 FOIA Appeal.

The Recreation HQ will keep you advised regarding DOI’s response to our request for a status update on the BRC FOIA Appeal.

HQ also wants to thank the Members of Congress who fought for our access rights today regarding H.R. 1254. Congressman Rob Bishop should also be commended for his fight today to try and include amendments that would prevent anti-access groups from basing “closure” lawsuits on arbitrary “buffer zones” that extend for 200-300 miles around the boundaries of National Monuments and National Parks.

Let’s all hope that the Dark Ages are relegated to our history books and are not part of our present day politics.
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Chamber of Commerce Joins Obamument Fight

The Recreation HQ thanks all of you who have sent letters to Congress asking them to support H.R 1254 – the bill to order the Dept. of Interior to hand over secret documents about their 3rd party discussions with pro-Wilderness groups to designate a number of National Monuments including one at the Stonyford OHV Area.
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PHOTO: Designated Motorcycle Trail in Stonyford OHV Area.

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Besides Members of Congress joining the fight, it looks like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has weighed in with its letter today of support for H.R. 1254.

May 3, 2010 Chamber of Commerce Letter of Support for H.R. 1254
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Chamber-of-Comm_HouseResolution1254.pdf

The hearing on H.R. 1254 is on May 5 and I know that your continued support on this issue is still needed. If you have not sent a letter to your Member of Congress, please do so now at the link below and ask your friends to do the same.

BRC Alert with Link to ARRA Letter Generator
http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1168

Blog with Alert Info and Info on Stonyford Obamument
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/04/action-order-send-letter-today-on.html

Thanks for your continued efforts on this and other fights.
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ACTION ORDER - Send Letter Today on National Monument Issue

The Recreation HQ knows that a lot of you have been following the Obama “National Monuments” issue and that The General filed a FOIA appeal on March 17 because the Department of Interior basically denied BRC’s February 19 FOIA request.

History of BRC’s FOIA on Obamuments
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/04/obamuments-saga-continues-congress.html

As some of you know, a number of western legislators have been trying to obtain those secret documents since February but are getting stonewalled as well. Recently, House Resolution 1254 was drafted to force the Obama Administration to comply with their own promise of transparency.

H.R. 1254
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/UploadedFiles/HastingsMonumentResolution.pdf

The Recreation HQ has already sent a letter today and the General wants you to do the same and take a minute and use the letter generator that has been provided by our good friends at ARRA. This letter will be sent to key Members of Congress asking them to support H.R. 1254. There will be an important vote regarding this issue on April 28.

ARRA Action Alert and Letter Generator
https://secure3.convio.net/arra/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=223&autologin=true

Feel free to insert a personal message in the above letter about how this might impact Stonyford or some other riding areas in the West.

Thanks for doing this today!

The Obamuments Saga Continues - Congress Takes Action

The Recreation HQ continues to object to the Department of Interior’s continued stonewalling of The General’s March 17 FOIA Appeal to obtain documents about the 3rd party dealings the DOI had with pro-Wilderness groups regarding the designation of Obamuments throughout the country including the Stonyford OHV Area in Northern California. This stonewalling is in conflict with DOI’s “Promise of Transparency” on April 7.

April 7 DOI Promise of Transparency
http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/2010_04_07_news.cfm

BRC March 17, 2010 FOIA Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=689&filter=media

Based on the following action by Congress today, it appears that Western Legislators are also frustrated with DOI’s refusal to be forthcoming with requested information related to Obamuments.

April 13 Western GOP Resolution and Info on Obamument Issue
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=180575

The General asks you to remain vigilant on this and other land use issues and thanks you in advance for your support.

Obama "Outdoors" Interview and Access

As western lawmakers including Congressman Rob Bishop and BRC wait for requested information from the Department of Interior regarding the suspected monument discussions between preservation groups and federal land agencies, The Recreation HQ remembers that candidate Obama gave an interview on natural resource issues to Field and Stream in 2008.

PHOTO: BRC's Don Amador on a designated trail at the Stonyford OHV Area - smack dab in the middle of the Snow/Goat Mtn. National Monument proposal

Cong. Bishop News Article on Wait for Info
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700020430/Bishop-blasts-Obama-administration.html

BRC FOIA Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=689&filter=media

Colusa County Opposes Stonyford OHV Monument Plan
http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/news/county-4445-national-president.html

Often times political junkies like The General look through these interviews for hints at what a candidate’s views are on any given issue. Since ACCESS to public lands is a key tenet of the HQ, The General remembered that Obama mentioned “access” in the 2008 interview when he said, “…if you talk to sportsmen in my home state of Illinois, they will tell you that I've always been a forceful advocate on behalf of the rights of sportsmen, on behalf of access for sportsmen…”

Link to that 2008 Field and Stream Interview
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2008/09/exclusive-interview-senator-barack-obama

I think the off-road community will know more after the April 16 White House Great Outdoors Summit (the fact that the WH released that info late Friday afternoon – which is the proverbial dumping grounds for bad news – could be a harbinger of things to come) when the stakeholder names are revealed and the tone and direction of the summit are known.

Will the White House live up to its hint of support for access or will it issue National Monument proclamations that have little or no local support?

The Obamument saga continues….

Obamuments, April 16 White House Conservation Summit, and You

The Recreation HQ has been following the “National Monuments” issue with a keen interest. A lot OHVers and mostly legislators from Western States have sounded the alarm based on secret documents uncovered which showed a plan for the designation of what The General now calls “Obamuments.”

PHOTO: FWMC's Dale (L) and Randy (C) and CERA's Clark (R) on the Ladybug Trail a designated OHV trail in the proposed Stonyford Obamument

BRC Submitted a Letter to Congress regarding Obamuments on Feb. 19
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=685&filter=media

On that same day, The General (on behalf of BRC) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to see who was driving this plan. When he got a letter back from the Department of Interior that they could not find any information because they only looked on the Secretary’s desk – The General filed a FOIA Appeal and is still waiting for a response.

FOIA Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=689&filter=media

The Recreation HQ appreciates the phone calls that many of you have made to your Congressman regarding your concerns about the Stonyford OHV Area being named as a potential Obamument. Riders are lucky that Stonyford happens to be in the congressional district of Congressman Wally Herger – a champion of public land access.

Article on Cong. Herger’s Fight Against Obamuments
http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/articles/acres-2049-tcnsyndication-federal-lands.html

Glenn County Joins Fight Against Stonyford Obamument
http://www.orland-press-register.com/news/county-5186-glenn-land.html

This story now gets even more complex with the unofficial announcement today in the LA Times of an April 16 White House Summit on the Great Outdoors to address national monuments, conservation, recreation, and other issues.

LA Times Article on Conservation/Outdoor Summit
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-outdoors28-2010mar28,0,371471.story

As The General awaits a response from DOI on his FOIA appeal this week, it will be interesting to see just who from the recreation community will be invited to the April 16 Summit. If it is anything like the Obamacare summits, you will see “recreation” groups like Trout Unlimited, IMBA, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, PEER/Rangers for Responsible Recreation and other pro-Wilderness organizations sitting at the table speaking for motorized groups like BRC, ISMA, ARRA, AMA, and United 4WD.

At this moment, the Recreation HQ is willing to give the Obama administration a chance to dispel our concerns about how the President will treat the legitimate voices for continued access to public lands. The HQ will know soon who is invited and that list will tell the story.

Stay tuned this week as Congress and the Recreation HQ continues to press the administration for Obamument documents that were obviously the product of many roundtable discussions between government agencies and preservation groups.

Thanks for your service and support!

Stonyford Monument/NCA Gains Traction

The Recreation HQ was not surprised when it read today’s article on a proposed National Monument or National Conservation Area designation in Northern California that includes the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest.

March 22 LA Times Article
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-berryessa22-2010mar22,0,7702234.story?track=rss

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PHOTO: BRC's Don Amador on Designated Trail on Goat Mountain that is in Monument/NCA Proposal

After reading that article, I emailed the Times Reporter and reminded her of the FOIA appeal that was filed last week by BRC’s Don Amador.

BRC News Release on FOIA Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=689&filter=media

The General made sure Ms. Cart was aware that the largest destination OHV area in Northern California was smack dab in the center of that proposal and that it is also host to a correctional facility.

Info on Correctional Facility and impending legislation – S. 1571
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/10/s-1571-oppose-correctional-facility-at.html





In the Recreation HQ’s Feb. 19 blog on the Obama Monument scheme you will see how this appears to be another battle in OHV Wars.

Feb 19 blog with OHV War history and BRC letter on the Monument issue
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/02/obama-administration-launches-new.html




The General has been telling the troops that now is not the time to relax. Rather, it is time to gear up and prepare to aggressively defend your sport and favorite family activity.

Stay tuned and engaged. Also, if you have not joined or donated lately to BRC or your favorite OHV group do so today and ask your friends to do the same.

Join BRC or Donate:
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1




Thanks for your service!

US Chamber of Commerce Joins Monument Battle

The Recreation HQ has received scores of PMs from riders who remain in a state of shock regarding the recently day-lighted secret effort by the Obama administration to draft a plan to designate a series of National Monuments throughout the West.

As The General pointed out, some of these proposals are popular OHV recreation sites including the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest.

It is encouraging to see bipartisan support in Utah to defeat theses ad hoc designations without Congressional approval and public input.

See SLT Article on Utah Effort
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14450119

The Recreation HQ is also pleased to see the US Chamber of Commerce echoing BRC’s call for legislation to address our concerns.

See Feb. 22 US Chamber of Commerce Letter to Obama Administration
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/National_Monuments_US_Chamber_of_Comm.pdf

Just as The General protested the CA Route Inventory and Designation process because it was crafted behind closed doors without a formal public process, The Recreation HQ believes it is important for riders to stand up and voice their strong opposition to any attempt by the administration to misuse the Antiquities Act to give political favors to anti-OHV groups.

Thanks for your service!

Obama Administration Launches New Version of Clinton's War on the West?

As the Recreation HQ continues to review the breaking news on the Obama administration’s apparent effort to covertly plan for a massive land grab of historic proportions, The General believes this could signal a new and potentially more devastating version of Clinton’s War on the West.
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Photo: BRC's Don Amador (The General) on Trail 4 in the Stonyford OHV Area. This designated trail is in the pathway of a proposed national monument.

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See June 25, 1994 Article on Clinton’s War on the West
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19940625&id=zgkkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uuwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6437,4772418

As a soldier in that battle, The General remembers how Clinton’s agency leaders, including Mike Dombeck and Bruce Babbitt, proposed massive land closures or attacks on private property rights. Some of those onerous plans included Dombeck’s unholy triad (the Roadless Rule, The Transportation Rule, and The Planning Rule) and Babbitt’s infamous “National Biological Survey” where his office sought to empower an army of agency biologists to roam free over private property looking for endangered species.

Now it looks like Obama is planning to launch his version of the War on the West. However, unlike Clinton who attacked OHVers, loggers, miners, and ranchers in the open with Dombeck and Babbitt, Obama appears to be planning a sneak attack.

Just as Clinton’s War on the West was met with a loud and effective outcry from public land interests, The General believes that access advocates are in a better position politically to oppose Obama’s ill-advised monument plans

See Today’s BRC News Release including BRC letter to Congress on this issue
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=685&filter=media

2010 will sure be busy on the access front.

Obama Administration to Attack OHV Areas?

I know many of you are already tired of the “good news” related to being an OHVer. Our SVRA’s are under attack. Our federal riding areas are being sued by anti-OHV groups asking for dirt-bikes and other motorized forms of recreation to be banned or severely restricted. The Forest Service is proposing to close almost 100% of all single-track and ATV trails on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Other Forests are closing thousands of miles of forest roads to green-sticker vehicles.

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Photo: See the description of the "Berryessa Snow Mountains" National Monument in the internal document below
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Just when you think you have seen it all. This alert comes. Thanks to some pro-access legislators, The Recreation HQ has learned that the Obama administration is planning to use the Antiquities Act to bypass Congress and designate millions of acres as “National Monuments.” The General remembers all too well what the Clinton/Gore team did a decade ago when they designated a number of national monuments including the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

See WND Story about that fight in 2000
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=18055

See internal DOI document day-lighted to the public by Congressmen Doc Hastings and Rob Bishop (see page one for ref. to Stonyford OHV Area)
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/UploadedFiles/AntiquitiesDocument.pdf

See Congressional letter objecting to misuse of the Antiquities Act to lock up public lands and to acquire more private property
http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Ltr_to_Obama_Re_AntiquitiesAct_021810.pdf

Per chance any of you discount the potential impact to OHV in Northern California, look on page one of the internal document. You will see that a majority of the Stonyford OHV area would be designated as a national monument… effectively closing the area to historic OHV use. Other riding areas would be impacted as well.

I know the AMA and BRC are working on this. Just as in the Cinton/Gore fight, The General will be engaged in this battle as well.

If you have not joined BRC please do so NOW! Send this blog to your riding buddies.

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