Update - Eldorado NF SEIS Comments Due Nov. 7

The Recreation HQ wants to remind riders that the comment period for the Eldorado NF's
SEIS -- that addresses the "42 meadow routes" that were ordered closed this last summer by a federal court -- are due on Nov. 7.  Many of those routes are popular "high country" trails used by OHVers after the winter snow melts.

BRC has issued an updated alert today on this issue.  The alert below contains some key bullet points for you to consider when making your comments.  Also, it is important for users to talk about the importance of specific routes referenced in the SEIS/Proposed Action.

Nov. 2 BRC Alert (with talking points)
www.sharetrails.org



Here is the snail mail address for your comments:

Be sure and put: Eldorado NF SEIS in the subject line.

Kathryn D. Hardy
Forest Supervisor
Eldorado National Forest
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667

Email to: comments-pacificsouthwest-eldorado@fs.fed.us

Thanks for your efforts on this subject.

Don

OR Forest Withdraws Travel Plan

For those of us who have been following the Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule planning process for the last 7-8 years, there appears to be a growing bipartisan effort in Congress to address what amounts to landscape level closures on some units.

The most recent example of local and congressional pushback is where Monica Schwalback, Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, recently withdrew her travel plan that closed 3,900 miles of routes used by the public for various activities.

Article on WWNF Closure and Withdrawn Plan

http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/News/Local-News/FOREST-ROADS-PLAN-Access-to-firewood-big-fear

It appeared the Forest made an all too familiar mistake by forcing a plan on the public that ignored local input by user groups, individuals, and county government.

HQ believes that successful travel plans must include an engaged public and a will by Forest leadership to draft a plan that serves both local needs and the resource.  Plans created in a vacuum based on the presumption that massive closures are the only tool by which the agency can fulfill its mission are doomed to fail.

HQ Announces 2011 CORDRAM Tour

The Recreation HQ is proud to announce its 2011 California Oregon Dunes Recreational Access and Management (CORDRAM) Tour. CORDRAM goes from August 11 – 15. HQ’s Don Amador, on behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition, will be headed to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area for a tour/review of the site with local recreationists, government officials, and other interests. 


As many of you know, BRC and local OHV representatives are concerned the Forest Service has wrongly focused on OHV closures over the last 40 years instead of addressing encroachment of non-native vegetation into the open dunes.

Thanks to an update from Save The Riders Dunes, HQ presents the following link to a 1994 Seattle Times article on the invasive beach grass taking over the dunes.

1994 Seattle Times Article
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940925&slug=1932531


The Forest Service has extended the public comment period until September 1, 2011. After reviewing the site, HQ plans on submitting an addendum to our July 25, 2011 comment letter in which we basically stated the agency has failed in it mission to protect the open dunes by almost exclusively relying on OHV closures as a management tool instead of addressing vegetation encroachment.

Blog with Action Alert to Send in Comments
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2011/08/or-dunes-keep-sending-letters-and-join.html

HQ believes that OHV recreation can survive at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area if the agency takes action to address the encroachment issue. OHV recreation is not the problem… it is the solution.

Congressman McClintock Says NO to Federal Lands Becoming the "King's Forest"

4WD Trail on Plumas NF

HQ has obtained a Dec. 22 letter (thanks Doc and Pat) sent from a pro-access California congressman to the Chief of the USDA Forest Service reaffirming his vow to see redress from Congress regarding federal lands becoming the “King’s Forest.” Also, important is the letter from Butte County asking for his help!

Dec. 22 Letter from Cong. Tom McClintock to Washington Office of FS (and Butte County request)
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/McClintock.Dec22LetterTidwellTMRPlumas.pdf

On September 14, HQ posted a blog about McClintock’s promise last year to take the FS to task regarding the thousands of miles of historic roads and trails that have been closed by TMR in Region 5. Also, his office is reviewing the ML-3 and cost recovery issues.

2010 Blog about McClintock’s Access Agenda
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/09/november-election-and-access-on-federal.html

HQ believes the federal land agencies have had a free ride from House oversight since 2006 when anti-access forces took control of Congress. The General commends Congressman McClintock for taking an interest in access by sending his staff to several OHV Commission meetings and to a number of user meetings with the Eldorado National Forest regarding excessive cost recovery fees.

Unwarranted closures of public land was not right in medieval England nor is it right in 21st Century America. 2011 should be a very active year for public land interests.





Access State of Emergency Declared in Northern California Forest?

Recently, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors reviewed the possibility of declaring a state of emergency on lands managed by the Mendocino National Forest because of the threat to public safety by illegal dope growers.

Aug 5 Article on State of Emergency
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15681577

On June 21, HQ blogged about the closure and signs posted in AZ warning the public of criminal activity on the border including drug smuggling and human trafficking.
In that post, The General suggested the Forest Service take a break from travel management to focus its resources on real issues such as illegal dope growing vs. the faux issue of a grave environmental crisis posed by OHV use.

Actually, it is well known that the best defense against illegal dope growers is to have a managed and well-used OHV trail system (criminals don’t like to be in areas where there are a lot of people). Dope growers mostly practice their trade in areas where motorized public access has been restricted or banned.

Blog on Illegal Activity and Request to Push the TMR Reset Button
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/criminal-invasion-closes-public-lands.html

For those of you who ride in the Mendocino NF, the threat to public safety because of increased marijuana growing is nothing new. Many of us remember that last year, the agency basically banned its law enforcement officers from patrolling federal land in the Covelo area.

Rather than starting Subpart A’s TAP process in September, HQ urges the agency to focus LE efforts on protecting the public. In addition, R5 should postpone TAP on Forests where there is a need to do post Subpart B project level trail plans in fulfillment of the agency’s promise that Subpart B was “just the beginning.”

Again, things are 180 degrees backwards in the country. Trail riders are being banned from historic routes while criminal activity is being ignored. HQ suggests the federal government spend more time addressing real crime vs. trying to make criminals out of law abiding citizens who like to ride a dirt-bike or drive a jeep.

Thanks for your service!

Disparity Between Federal Land Agency Leadership

The Recreation HQ is often asked why there is there such disparity between various National Forests or Ranger Districts. Some units are shining examples of cooperation between federal land management agencies and the local community. For example, The General was at Mammoth Lakes last week as a member of the Forest Service’s Region 5 Recreation Resource Advisory Council to review and make recommendations to approve or deny various fee proposals from the FS and BLM in California.

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PHOTO: Inyo NF Leadership Giving Presentation to RecRAC Members and Public on

Recreation Program and Collaboration

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Our host was the leadership team of the Inyo National Forest. They have an excellent working partnership with the County Board of Supervisors, the National Park Service, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and local businesses. The Inyo NF and partners have developed a holistic approach to all forms of recreation management in the area including fishing, mountain biking, snow sports, boating, hunting, OSV, OHV, 4x4 touring, hiking, wilderness, and the list goes on and on.

In The General’s considered opinion the Inyo NF has set a high bar for how a Forest should work with local interests in a collaborative manner.

See blog about Shasta County Fight with the FS and need for BBQ Diplomacy
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/bbq-diplomacy-needed-in-county-v-forest.html

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the Shasta Trinity NF. As many of you know, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors was snubbed by the Forest leadership team at a recent public meeting regarding the informal disposition of the county’s appeal of the Travel Management Decision that closed basically 100 percent (about 800 miles) of single track trails and trails less than 50 inches in width.

The BRC and BRC legal had also filed appeals in the hope that the Forest and Regional Office would realize they needed a redo or to modify the Record of Decision. Unfortunately, HQ got the Appeal Decision yesterday where the agency denied our prayer for relief.

See Appeal Decision from Region 5
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Shasta_Trinity_Appeal_Decision_Jun_240001.pdf

HQ believes the Shasta Trinity NF should have worked harder in a collaborative manner with users and county officials rather than producing a travel management plan that is nothing more than an unenforceable landscape level closure of all single track and ATV trails used by local riders and clubs such as the Redding Dirt Riders.

Can the relationship be salvaged between the Shasta Trinity NF and local interests? Only the agency has the answer to that question and the appeal denial may give us a clue. Not a pretty picture.

Why is there disparity between Forests? The answer is obvious… leadership or lack thereof. Rather then supporting the landscape level closure of trails in the Shasta T NF travel plan, the agency should do a statewide review/analysis of their leadership team and use the Inyo NF as an example of how a federal unit should work with local interests.

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Remember Flag Day Today - Comments from the HQ

As The General works on an appeal of the Record of Decision for the Lower Trinity and Mad River Motorized Travel Plan, he wants riders to remember this is Flag Day 2010.

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PHOTO: Flag Flying at the HQ

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The Recreation HQ believes Flag Day is a day for all Americans to celebrate our freedom and show respect for our flag. Our flag is strong symbol of our fight for independence and for our unity as a nation.

Our Flag has been carried into every major battle fought by Americans. Many people, including friends of The General, have died protecting it.

Today, patriots throughout this country are engaged in a fierce battle to protect those freedoms from a federal government that is imposing arbitrary land closures, unwarranted and job-killing regulations, and hiding documents from Congress and the public via denied FOIAs filed by the BRC and other groups.

As the Flag flies over The Recreation HQ today, remember that we must stand together in our struggle to preserve the rights and freedoms symbolized by our Flag.

God Bless America and all those engaged in the fight.

Thanks for your service!

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Congress Weighs into Shasta County v. FS Fight

The bizarre “no-show saga” of the Shasta Trinity National Forest continues today with Congressman Wally Herger weighing into the fight with letters to Regional Forester Randy Moore about the Shasta T stiffing both Shasta and Siskiyou Counties.

Congressman Wally Herger’s June 9 Letter to Randy Moore about Shasta County
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Shasta-County-Appeal-Meeting-Request-6.9.10.pdf



Congressman Wally Herger’s June 11 Letter to Randy Moore about Siskiyou County
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Siskiyou-County-BoS-6.11.10.pdf



The Recreation HQ has gotten several PMs from federal agents who think the actions of the Shasta T are unprofessional and reflect poorly on the agency.

HQ urges the agency to address the growing divide between the FS and county governments.
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BBQ Diplomacy Needed in County v. Forest Service Fight

A lot of riders, OHV media, federal agents, and others are watching the ongoing struggle or battle of wills between the Shasta County Board of Supervisors and the Shasta Trinity National Forest.

As you know, the BOS held a hearing on June 4 regarding the County’s appeal of the ROD and to have the informal disposition in a public forum as required by law.

June 6 Blog with info, archived news articles, etc.
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/06/shasta-county-close-to-vote-of-no.html


Based on direction by the BOS, the county counsel prepared and sent a letter on June 8 about the Forest‘s failure to appear. This letter was sent to Region 5, the Department of Agriculture, and Congress. The letter asked for a response by the Forest before the close of business on June 9. No response as of today.

June 8 BOS/Counsel Letter to Congress and USDA
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/HeywoodMtgLtr2.pdf


The letter while respectful does rightfully convey the board’s frustration with the Forest’s lack of communication and cooperation. The General does not believe the Forest has any excuse for not showing up. Some of you remember the OHV Commission meetings (circa 2000-2007) where the environmentalists who were running the commission often excoriated and made every effort to humiliate FS and BLM representatives in public. I think a lot of credit should go to those federal representatives who showed up and took the verbal abuse. I don’t know why the Shasta T decided to basically ignore the county’s request for a public forum. I don’t think it would have been near as hostile as the old OHV commission meetings.

Federal line officers should be able to take the heat. Their job today is really more political than resource oriented. Historically, District Rangers and Forest Supervisors integrated themselves into the community. They attended BBQs, fishing derbies, and turkey shoots. It seems that sort of camaraderie is sadly missing on the Shasta T.

Is there a growing rural county movement to challenge arbitrary land closures? We have seen the San Bento County BOS reopen county roads at Clear Creek. Del Norte County has joined recreation groups to challenge illegal road ripping. Shasta County seems to have joined in.

See WND Article on Counties Fighting Back
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=137737


In the absence of the Forest Service using “BBQ diplomacy” in rural areas such as Shasta County, the local government has only two options when faced with arbitrary federal actions and those are lawsuits or asking for the line officer to be replaced.

I know recreation groups such as BRC, ROC, et al are committed to working with the agency, but that relationship has to be a two-way street.

Stay tuned as the Shasta saga continues.

Historic Lawsuit Filed in Northern California to Challenge Illegal Road Ripping

The Recreation HQ wanted to let his readers know that a very historic and important proactive OHV access lawsuit was filed on May 13 in federal district court in SF to challenge illegal road ripping (i.e. decommissioning) and the publication of Motor Vehicle Use Maps without a public process.
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PHOTO: New "Culvert Canyon" created during rainy season

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The General believes this is the first time in CA where a county has joined access interests to challenge illegal road closures by the federal government. The importance of this case cannot be overstated since aggressive road ripping appears to be a key tenet of the preservationist groups as it relates to TMR.

It appears that some or all of this case will be heard in Eureka by Judge Nandor Vadas.

BRC News Release with Photo of “Culvert Canyon”
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=697&filter=media

Copy of Complaint
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Turcke_Six_Rivers_Lawsuit_Orig_Filed_May2010.pdf

Idaho State Journal Article
http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/article_ff8d7d98-6359-11df-ba8b-001cc4c03286.html

Blog with info/links to Enviro Road Decommissioning Strategy
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2010/05/road-ripping-is-coming-to-forest-near.html

With thousands of miles to roads and trails being “identified” in TMR for closure, it is important that OHV makes sure the FS does the site-specific NEPA required for ground-disturbing activities and not use MVUMs as a closure tool to pre-ordain which roads and trails will be permanently removed from future public use.

If you are one of those riders who said they were waiting to donate to a “pro-active” lawsuit to protect access… well here is that case and your chance to pony up. The OHV community at large cannot expect small local clubs to foot the bill on this historic and potentially groundbreaking case.

To Donate Go to:
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1

and type in amount and in the special instructions space type… “Six Rivers Lawsuit”

Feel free to comment on this blog or send The General a private message

at: damador@cwo.com

Thanks for your support and service!

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CA OHV Commissioner Wins Appeal and Closes Routes on Modoc Forest

In late February, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors praised the Modoc National Forest’s Travel Management Record of Decision because the plan added 331 miles of unauthorized routes as Forest Service System Trails and designated 513 miles of Level 3 Roads as available for use by non-street legal dirt-bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides. In contrast, the BOC criticized the Shasta Trinity National Forest’s plan to close almost 100% of its currently legal dirt-bike and ATV trails less than 50 inches in width. The article also noted an appeal filed by the Wilderness Society against the Modoc plan.

See Article about BOS Praise for Modoc Decision and Threat of Appeal
http://www.redding.com/news/2010/feb/25/modoc-travels-a-different-path-on-road-closures/

Well folks, the Recreation HQ was not surprised to learn yesterday about the Regional Forest’s decision to uphold the recommendation of the Appeal Reviewing Officer to CLOSE all unauthorized routes and to BAN use of non-street legal OHVs on 513 miles of level 3 roads.

See March 11, 2010 Regional Office Decision to Uphold Appeal and CLOSE routes
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Modoc-Appeal-Resol-March-11.2010.pdf

*Stan Van Velsor – who wrote the appeal for The Wilderness Society is also an OHV Commissioner at CA State Parks – Gee, thanks Stan!
Here are the OHV Commission Policies -- see if you think Stan lived up to the spirit and intent of these policies of SB742

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/OHMVR-Commission-Policies-SB742.pdf

The General and his legal staff are reviewing the appeal decision as it is the first time that the HQ is aware of an appeal decision overturning a ROD decision without requiring the ROD to be withdrawn and a reset button pushed to start the planning process all over again.

Historically, the NEPA appeal process does not allow for substantive changes to a ROD. Generally only technical or non-substantive changes are allowed.

What the Regional Office has done is take a plan that was crafted with local involvement and decision-making and replaced it with a heavy-handed top-down decision that is an affront to that local process.

As the General told many riders at the Carnegie Rally…”2010 will be a very challenging year regarding OHV access.” This decision sadly fulfills that gloomy albeit realistic prediction.

The Recreation HQ thanks you for your support and for staying engaged.

BIG OHV TMR-Related VICTORY

The Recreation HQ was glad to see the news today about recreation groups winning a TMR-related court case.

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PHOTO: A popular jeep trail in a roadless area on the Eldorado NF
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See BRC News Release on Court Victory
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/?story=688&filter=media

Copy of Court Decision
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/LCNF_Decision_dkt_45_3-10-10.pdf

BRC and partners are fighting for our right to ride, by addressing egregious examples of where the Forest Service (or BLM) is arbitrarily closing too many OHV routes in the TMR decisions.

Current BRC Legal Docket on Page 23 of the BRC Feb Online Magazine
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/issues/february2010/pdf/BRM_February2010.pdf

In some cases, BRC files as an intervenor to stand with the federal agencies (even if we don’t always agree with their final decision) and defend a travel plan from being overturned and having OHV faced with potentially even more closures in a subsequent plan) or sometimes we file a complaint against the agency.

Just how this court decision will impact potential route losses of biblical proportions on some Forests (such as is expected in the Shasta-Trinity Travel Plan) is hard to say. However, The General wants you to know that his office is actively engaged in the land use fight and wants riders to know when we do win a battle.

Stay involved and engaged.

To Join BRC or Donate to BRC Legal Efforts go to:
https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/join_or_contribute/?c=1

Thanks for your service!
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Global Warming, Eco Hoaxes, and OHV Predictions

As a soldier in land-use wars for the last 20 years, The General has often been able to read the stitches on the fastball when it comes to predicting and exposing environmental hoaxes and eco-frauds.

In the late 1990s, I testified before Congress regarding the anti-access tenets of the Clinton-Gore Roadless Agenda. Today the BRC Legal Defense Fund continues to battle Enviros on several “Roadless” lawsuits

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BRC Roadless Legal Efforts (look at Roadless and So Cal Lawsuit – which is also roadless related) http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/article.php?legal=1&nonav=1

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In 2002/2003, The General was the only OHV leader who formally objected to the CA Route Inventory and Designation Process because he knew it was going to be used to defund trail maintenance grants to FS and BLM units, close trails, and lay the foundation for the current TMR debacle that we see on many Forests and Regions.
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Overview of CA RID
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/05/travel-management-good-idea-or-big.html

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In 2005, I wrote a book review on Michael Crichton’s State of Fear. In that review, The General agreed with the book’s thesis that man-made climate change was a hoax and that the Wilderness was a political agenda driven issue as well.
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2005 State of Fear Review
http://www.delalbright.com/Articles/book_fear.htm

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Some folks were quick to criticize The General for daring to question the Climate Change Industrial Complex (e.g. Algore’s scheme to create taxes and fees for carbon credits, etc)

With today’s expose of the man-made global warming hoax, The General feels vindicated on his position that man should not be blamed for climate change. As many of you know, climate change is a fact of life and has been occurring since time began. In fact, my ancestors (the Vikings) were driven off the North American Continent by a mini ice-age. It will continue regardless of what man does.

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Good Blog on Global Warming Hoax
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/

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Sen. Inhofe’s Effort on this Front
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=2188feb3-802a-23ad-4de4-3fbc0a92e126&Issue_id

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As off-roaders we are obligated to be good stewards and use sound science and a substantive land-ethic in the management of our sport on public and private lands. We have a long history of volunteerism and taxing ourselves to pay for OHV-related trail maintenance, conservation, and law enforcement. I see that continuing.

What is at question is how we expose, respond to, and address eco-hoaxes, ill-conceived or agenda driven land management planning efforts, and proposed land closures?

Lastly, you can be assured that “Donstradamus” (that name was given to me by an OHVer because of my accurate predictions on roadless, CA RID, man-made global warming, and other issues) will continue to look into the future and prepare for what awaits the OHV community.

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Happy Birthday - What a Ride

As The General turns 55 today, I wanted to STOP for a minute and thank my fellow riders for their continued interest in land-use issues. This truly has been a challenging year for me on any number of levels.

Photo: Don Amador working a road crossing at an off-road event several weeks ago

In my 20 years of OHV advocacy, I believe this has been the most difficult for me personally. We have a number of very complex issues in play at this time. The battle at Clear Creek, TMR gone wrong on various Forests, the grim reaper tried to get me a couple of times, Wilderness proposals, lawsuits filed by enviros (Carnegie SVRA, Eldorado NF, etc), the downturn in the economy, and personal attacks on my credibility as an effective land-use advocate (to be expected I guess).

Most, if not all, of the following trials come as part of my job and I accept that. The one factor that keeps The General going is your support and continued confidence in his leadership abilities and long-term vision for protecting our access to public lands.

While some may disagree with my tactics (that is your option and I respect your right to do so), be assured that I have my eye on the big picture and can still see the stitches on the “land-use OHV fastball” from 40 feet away.

Let’s see what next year brings. The same challenges (and new ones as well) will be there and so will The General.

Thanks for your service!

"Blessed" Routes Closed in Current MVUM

In a recent blog, The General advised his followers to “hold the Forest Service accountable” particularly when it comes to travel management planning. A good
case study of a unit being unaccountable is the Smith River National Recreation Area.

*Photo: Trail that is open and blessed on the 1994 Forest Visitor Map, yet it is closed on the current MVUM

In 1990, President George Bush signed the Smith River National Recreation Area Act.
http://www.smithriveralliance.org/resources/library/SmithRiverNRAAct.pdf

As you know, the NRA just published a MVUM that was apparently based on a pre-Act
(circa 1990 Forest Visitor Map - with many OHV routes not being shown) rather than basing the MVUM on the post-Act 1994 Forest Visitor Map (that showed NRA/Act “blessed” OHV routes) as was promised to the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors.

The Forest’s current and past rationale for making such ad hoc decisions (i.e. to arbitrarily close roads and trails without project level NEPA) is based on their false belief that the 1990 Act gave the NRA “special authority” to bypass the NEPA process and just close routes as they see fit.

The crazy thing is that in the 1995 Forest Plan it references that OHV projects should be “scheduled” to implement OHV use on trails and roads. See excerpt from 1995 Forest Plan:

******************************************************************

http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_027543.pdf

Page 13
Off-Highway Vehicle
(OHV) Management
Strategies
Assess areas for OHV use. Schedule projects to implement
vehicle use in some areas and restrict use in other areas.
As needed Recreation
Transportation Management
Strategy
.
Assess transportation system and use. Schedule projects to
construct, reconstruct, or decommission roads based on
anticipated needs.
1998 Engineering
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Yet over the years and until BRC and local stakeholders started to complain about ad hoc closures, the NRA had been doing aggressive road decommissioning/obliteration without any (in most cases) project level NEPA to back up the work. It appears the NRA continues to use this invalid rationale to deny public access to “blessed” routes via its current MVUM.

Shasta County Supervisors Weigh In on Shasta NF DEIS

So far in the travel management saga, I have received the most email and responses on this issue from users, retired FS employees (including recreation officers and regional foresters), and others who are extremely disappointed in the Shasta Trinity National Forest’s DEIS and its proposal to close virtually ALL (over 800 miles) of the Forest’s single track motorcycle trails and ATV trails (see letter from Shasta County Board of Supervisors below). County officials have a key role in standing up for the public’s access rights.

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Photo is of a volunteer with the Redding Dirt Riders enjoying an ATV trail that would be closed in the DEIS

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* Aug 25, 2009 Shasta County BOS Letter to Shasta Trinity National Forest on TMR DEIS http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Shasta-Trinity_NF/Shasty%20County%20Comments%20on%20STNF%20DEIS-08.25.09.pdf

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Again, I believe that the Forest should withdraw the current DEIS and issue a supplemental DEIS that includes a “citizen’s recreation alternative.” That alternative could be the product of collaboration between users, local government, and the agency.

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Shasta Trinity NF DEIS - Closed Trails and Broken Promises

On August 25, 2009 - The General (on behalf of the BlueRibbon Coalition) sent in formal comments on the Shasta Trinity National Forest’s DEIS for Travel Management.
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Photo: This is the Idaho-style single track trail called - The Dubakellas Trail. It is proposed to be closed to OHV use in the DEIS.

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BRC Aug. 25, 2009 Comments on Shasta Trinity NF including exhibits
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Shasta-Trinity_NF/

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Regrettably for both users and the agency, this is the best (or worst) example of TMR “gone wrong” in California so far. Basically all of the action alternatives close almost 100% of the existing motorcycle only trails and ATV trails <>

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See my May blog on the origins of the CA RID process for some perspective
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/05/travel-management-good-idea-or-big.html

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The General hopes that Forest leadership will review public comments (users, local governments, and other stakeholders) and push the “reset button” on TMR. I believe the Forest should withdraw the DEIS and issue a supplemental DEIS that includes a viable recreation alternative that designates a significant number of historic OHV routes. A blanket closure of almost 100% of their motorcycle only and ATV trails is unrealistic, unfair, a violation of public trust, and runs counter to promises made by Region 5 staff to BRC that TMR would not be used as a closure tool.

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The Public Process - Was Bruce Babbitt Right?

I was prompted into writing this blog today based on several recent calls from users in different states who wanted to know about “getting involved” in ongoing travel planning processes or addressing the implementation of unknown previous agency decisions.

While attending a land-use conference in the mid 1990s, I remember talking with then Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, about cumbersome bureaucratic planning efforts, where at the end of the discussion he basically said…”The [public] process is the product.”

At that time (and still today), I thought the end product of land use planning should be the construction of a trail or campground. Because of my work on numerous federal travel management planning efforts that have been completed or are currently underway, I now agree – in part - with Mr. Babbitt’s theory. Because if recreationists are not involved in the public process from the initial scoping to the final Record of Decision they will not have any standing for an appeal or worse yet… the agency won’t be able to address their concerns or consider proposals for a citizen’s alternative that could be developed for full analysis in the environmental document’s draft phase.

For many years, the BlueRibbon Coalition has written articles encouraging its members to get involved in the early stages of federal agency land use planning efforts. Riders have been asked to submit route networks that are important to them or areas of the unit they want managed for year-round use.

Just so off-roaders get a broad picture of how important it is for them to become involved “in the process” – I have linked to an article below that tells sportsmen how to become involved and that the true purpose of involvement is not so they can appeal. Rather, it allows the agency to use those public comments to make a better decision.

How Deer Hunters (and off-roaders as well) Can Become Involved in Federal Land Use Planning?
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/docs/sportsmanguide/deerbook3.pdf

Title 36 Part 215 – Public Involvement/Comments/Appeals in Land Use Planning
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=36:2.0.1.1.5&idno=36#36:2.0.1.1.5.0.1.13


Is public involvement a guarantee that the agency will make a decision in your favor? No it is not! However, The General can almost guarantee that if you are not at the table from the early public scoping period to the final decision advocating for your form of recreation - the agency’s final decision most likely will not be to your satisfaction.

Get involved early and often. Don’t give up. Once a final agency action is completed review it and then consider the next steps such as helping the agency implement the decision. Also, you can petition the agency to undergo a new planning effort to designate additional trails or change the vehicle use classification of existing routes. Help with volunteer projects – stay engaged… Your commitment for the next 10-20 years is needed.

At the end of the day (or trail) maybe Bruce Babbitt was right?

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New GAO OHV Survey - Garbage In/Garbage Out

Have you ever been asked a question that was designed to cast a
poor light on your character regardless of how you answered the question?

If the answer is yes, then you now understand the concern expressed by the BlueRibbon Coalition in a news release from yesterday.

As the release states, there is a new national OHV “survey” from the Government
Accountability Office that has been sent to one federal official
on each Forest or BLM Field Office. The General is familiar with the tone
and direction of the survey and shares BRC’s concerns about the survey’s
“Have you quit kicking your dog?” type questions. Any survey built upon
that foundation will be invalid and useless, unless, the survey was designed
to give political ammo to the anti-OHV crowd.

If this survey has actually gone out, The General urges the selected government agent
on each Forest or BLM Field Office to communicate with the GS5/7/9s that are in the field. They often have the best working knowledge of how OHV recreation is being managed on that unit.

Even though the survey does not ask for examples of successfully managed OHV programs, The General would urge the land manager to include that information somehow into the survey or better yet – Send the survey back and ask the GAO for a more balanced project.

There is an old saying…”Garbage in – Garbage out.” In the case of the GAO OHV survey, I think we all need to be ready to help Congress take out the trash?

BRC News Release on GAO Survey
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=634

OHV Group Letter
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Letter_To_GAO.pdf

News Article on the Survey
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/pending-gao-study-on-off-highway-vehicles-fatally-flawed,706450.shtml


Thanks for your service!

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Mississippi National Forests Pull Travel Plan

With the “paperwork” avalanche cascading down on the OHV community via numerous travel planning processes on various National Forests throughout the country, I want to report a recent land-use victory regarding the Travel Management Project for the Mississippi National Forests.

A Jan. 30 News Release by the BlueRibbon Coalition
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=630

The news release simply states that the agency is “…withdrawing the decision to allow consideration for additional analysis to be documented in the project record.”

Major Kudos should be going to the Memphis Motorcycle Club, the BRC, and the AMA for appealing the Forest’s final decision to not designate basically ANY of the historic user routes which came about through legal means when the Forest had an “Open” for cross-country travel prescription.

This decision could have an impact on the decision-making process on units such as the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that recently came out with a proposed action that functionally closes almost all of the historic trails (many of which I ride on and so do the Redding Dirt Riders) on the Forest.

When a Forest arbitrarily dismisses all of the historic and popular OHV routes (some routes even have carsonite trail or road numbers) that came into existence in a legal manner when that unit had an “Open” designation, the agency creates distrust with the users and lays a poor foundation upon which to build a quality trail recreation program. Ill-conceived and arbitrary final agency actions will only create future management and enforcement problems.

The General reminds the troops to stay engaged in the process. Strongly advocate for a reasonable range of alternatives… some of which should include historic and important user created (unauthorized) routes. Develop and propose your own “citizen’s or club” alternative like the Memphis club did. If you participate in the administrative planning process you are in a position to appeal (and sometimes win) onerous decisions that are unfair and unacceptable.

Last year, the BRC and Del Norte County appealed an unreasonable Forest Service decision that arbitrary closed a number of historic jeep routes in the Smith River National Recreation Area. That unit has also pulled the decision and is undergoing a new planning effort… an effort that hopefully treats the local county officials and OHV users with more respect.

News Release on Smith River NRA 2008 Appeal
http://www.sharetrails.org/magazine/article.php?id=1518

Photo by Don Amador – Rider is Mark Story, Land Use Hero from the Memphis Motorcycle Club
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