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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Buffers, Filters, Camels, and Travel Management

As more National Forest’s enter into the DEIS or FEIS phase of the Travel Management Rule, there is a disturbing trend that has appeared. Some Units appear to have developed
a “decision filter” through which the designation of OHV roads and trails must pass.

*Photo: Don Amador at 2004 Black Dog DS Ride on Mt. Hood National Forest

Yesterday, the public comment period ended for the Mount Hood National Forest’s DEIS. On behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition, I filed a comment letter on the proposal.

BRC Oct. 28, 2009 Comment Letter on the Mount Hood DEIS
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Mount_Hood_DEIS_BRC_Comment_Letter_10.28.090001.pdf

One of the DEIS’s procedural flaws was that it “created” new OHV policies based on public input and developed a “new” purpose and need/proposed action that was starkly different than the original purposed and need/proposed action. Also, the need to buffer out OHV recreation that was near Wilderness areas or other non-motorized land-use classifications was now an implicit or explicit part of the agency’s decision matrix.

The General wants riders to watch for the “buffer” issue to be used on other Forests.
As some of you know, in most Wilderness Bills (including the recent 130,000 acre Lewis and Clark Wilderness Bill for the Mount Hood) there is very strong language that prohibits the agency from creating buffer zones (including buffers for “quiet recreation”) around Wilderness areas.

See Sec. 105, page 73, for Buffer Language in the 2007 Lewis and Clark Wilderness Act
http://www.oregonwild.org/wilderness/new-wilderness/mount_hood_wilderness_campaign/Lewis%20and%20Clark%20Mount%20Hood%20Wilderness%20Bill%202-14-07.pdf

It is important for OHV advocates to know about this very specific buffer language because you will often find local “quiet recreation” advocates cheering for more OHV routes to be closed next to Wilderness or other non-motorized land classifications

Oct. 25 “Quiet Recreation” Guest Column
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/10/off-road_vehicles_wilderness_d.html

The General urges OHV advocates and local recreationists to be on the lookout for Forest Service units that have created a highly restrictive “closure filter” through which TMR must pass. From what I have seen on some Forests – it may be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for an OHV route to be designated.

Thank in advance for your continued efforts on TMR. It has, and continues to be, an extremely difficult process. Hang in there!