Posts Tagged ‘blueribbon coalition’

Grassroots and Industry Urge Permanent Fix to Controversial Youth-Model Bike/ATV Ban

Pocatello, ID (January 14) – A report that is due to Congress from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has sparked a renewed effort by off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts to completely remove a ban on youth-model off-highway motorcycles and ATVs. The youth-model ban is a result of the CPSC’s interpretation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), a law originally intended to ban the importation of children’s toys containing lead-based paint.

The powersports industry, individual dealerships and off-highway vehicle advocacy groups have been working hard to rescind the ban. OHV advocates believe the January 15 CPSC report provides an opportunity to move a final solution forward.

The BlueRibbon Coalition, a national grassroots OHV advocacy group is encouraging their members to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to take action to end the unfair ban. BRC’s Call to Action can be found here: http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1105

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Recreation Coalition Files Brief in Ongoing Roadless Lawsuit

Contacts
Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director
Phone: 208-237-1008 (x102) | Fax: 208-237-9424
Email: brbrian@sharetrails.org | Webpage: http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#BrianH

Pocatello, ID (January 5) – A coalition of recreation advocacy groups filed an Amicus Curiae brief in the 10th District Court of Appeals related to the 2001 Roadless Rule this week, marking over a decade of involvement in the controversial issue. The recreation groups include the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs (“CA4WDC”), United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA).

Environmental activists are appealing a 2008 decision by U.S. District Court of Wyoming Judge Clarence Brimmer declaring the Clinton era Roadless Rule illegal. That ruling came in a case brought by the State of Wyoming in 2007, which paralleled an earlier complaint filed by Wyoming in 2001. Brimmer’s 2008 decision minced few words, concluding the 2001 Rule “was driven by political haste and evidenced pro forma compliance with” environmental laws, using descriptors such as “flagrant” and “cavalier” in characterizing the “unequivocal” violations.

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$40 Membership Deal for BlueRibbon Coalition-TLCA-4WheelParts

Thanks to Brandon at OlympiaFJ60 for posting this on Facebook.

For all you Toyota 4×4 owners, for only $40, you get a one year membership in BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a one year membership in TLCA and a $25 gift card from Four Wheel Parts.

Offer expires January 31, 2010

Visit TLCA / BlueRibbon Coalition / 4 Wheel Parts for more details.

BRC Christmas Auction Project Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Del Albright, BRC Ambassador
Phone: (209) 286-1009
Email: brdel@sharetrails.org
Date: November 20, 2009

POCATELLO, ID (November 20) – The excitement continues to build for the Christmas Auction Project of the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). This list of “presents” is building fast, and the bidding will start December 1st. This special online auction is designed to help us all save trails and keep our sports alive. Check out our latest list of off-road goodies.

Just in, we have:

Nemesis Industries Hi-Line Front Fenders
Currie Enterprises Heavy Duty Steering System
GenRight Offroad Jeep goodies (TBA)
Tom Wood’s Custom Drive Shafts Apparel, goodies and discounts
5 ea. Of Del Albright’s Recreational Leadership Training Course (RLTC)
Roundeyes LED dome lights
PIAA Accessory Light Kit

These additions add to our growing list here:

5 off-road Tires from BFGoodrich with a set of 5 Monster Beadlock Raceline Wheels by Allied.
2 Dynatrac ProRock 44s for JK Jeeps (yes, the new ProRock 44, ready to install)
Rubicon Express JK Suspension Upgrade
4 Diff covers from Dynatrak
Olympic4×4 Heavy Duty Deluxe Receiver Rack
Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers
Recovery Gear from WARN

We’re still adding to our list as businesses continue to jump in and contribute, so get ready to bid. BRC sends a heartfelt thank you to the businesses who are making this Christmas and holiday season a very special one indeed.

See the auction items here starting Dec. 1st: http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=25971

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

NOHVCC Helps Riders Protect Trails with Web-Based Workshops and Videos

Catch All Four Sessions in November and December

With help from Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) has been conducting interactive web based workshops, or webinars, for OHV riders and anyone interested in OHV land use since mid-June. The workshops are designed to give riders the skills they’ll need to keep trails open in their areas. The sessions are 2 -3 hours long and are conducted by the same OHV management experts who conduct the on-site NOHVCC workshops. The four modules have been presented three times each for the past four months. Beginning November 9th and continuing through December, each module will be presented twice so the people who may have missed a session or would like to participate in any or all of the session will have another opportunity.

There are four separate modules that are being presented at various times to accommodate people’s busy schedules:

• Module 1 Route Designation: How Did We Get Here? – This module will help people understand the process required for land planning, it focuses on the US Forest Service Process, but the basics can be applied to any government agency. The course also discusses the US Forest Service Travel Management Rule, its implementation so far, and how to apply it going forward; as well as the US Forest Service structure.
• Module 2 Trail System Planning Part 1 – This module will help riders’ and land managers understand how to plan, design, manage, and maintain trail systems that meet the riders’ needs by providing high quality and adequate quantities of trails. The module will start with an introduction to OHV recreationists as it is hard to plan a trail to fit their needs if you don’t know what their needs are. It will then talk about the basic principles of OHV trail system planning before going into details on what is required to plan a sustainable trail system.
• Module 3 Trail System Planning Part 2 – This module starts with an overview of what was learned in module 2. It then goes into detail regarding trail maintenance, monitoring, and signing requirements. The details will instruct the land manager in various techniques to meet their needs and give the recreationists information regarding how they can assist the land managers with these trail requirements.
• Module 4 Making It Work: Where Do We Go From Here? – This module will help riders understand how to be effective in their efforts to influence the decisions that will determine where they can ride. It will give concrete examples of how to work effectively with land managers and make comments during the agency process. This module will also spend time looking at 4 areas where the design, planning, and implementation of the principles conveyed in earlier modules have worked to create successful trail systems. This module closes with ideas for both the enthusiasts and the land managers to move forward to creating the sustainable OHV trail systems.

In addition to the interactive webinars, NOHVCC will be offering 14 video workshop sessions as podcasts in late November. The videos cover the same topics as the webinars without the interactive elements. Riders or groups who can’t participate in the webinars or workshops now have access to the knowledge they need to protect their riding opportunities. The videos can be watched as streaming videos at www.nohvcc.org or contact NOHVCC and we will be able to mail you a DVD with all sessions on one disc free of charge in December courtesy of Yamaha OHV Access Initiative.

Russ Ehnes, Executive Director of the NOHVCC said “In these tight economic times we need to take advantage of technology to help riders get the information they need. Last year we began developing the webinar and video programs with financial support from the Motorcycle Industry Council and Specialty Vehicle Institute of America. This year, we are delivering the webinars and videos with funding from the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative. This program is helping us reach thousands of OHV activists who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to take part in a NOHVCC workshop.”

The workshop modules were developed in cooperation with the American Motorcyclist Association, BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle industry Council, Off-Road Business Association, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and United Four Wheel Drive Associations

For more information about signing up for the webinar sessions, viewing the video sessions, or to order a DVD, check out www.nohvcc.org or call 800-348-6487.

Creating a Positive Future of Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation
427 Central Ave W, Great Falls, MT 59404
Phone: 800-348-6487 Fax: 406-454-9142 e-mail: trailhead@nohvcc.org

Cline Buttes Recreation Area Plan EA Now Available

BLUERIBBON COALITION LANDUSE UPDATE!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Prineville District Office, located in central Oregon, has just announced the release of the Cline Buttes Recreation Area Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment.

The document and maps can be viewed or downloaded from the Cline Buttes Recreation Area Plan Environmental Assessment page, or you can request a CD and map packet, or a print version of the EA by contacting the BLM at the address below.

Alternative 2 is the proposed action, which the interdisciplinary team feels best resolves the identified issues. If you feel the proposed action should be changed, please be as specific as possible on how you would change it and why.

The public comment period closes December 4, 2009.

Comments should be mailed to:
Bureau of Land Management
Prineville District Office
3050 NE 3rd Street
Prineville, Oregon 97754

Emailed comments to:
clinebuttes@blm.gov

For further information, please contact the BLM Prineville District office at (541) 416-6700.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN; PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

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

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

Travel Management DEIS Released for Central Oregon Forest

BLUERIBBON COALITION LANDUSE UPDATE!

The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland, located in central and northeastern Oregon, have released their Travel Management Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review. The Forest Service (FS) will be accepting comments on the DEIS during a 45-day comment period.

Copies of the DElS are available upon request at FS offices, or may be viewed in PDF format on the Forest’s website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/travel-mgmt/index.shtml.

To give the public a better understanding of the project and its alternatives, the Forest Service will hold several public meetings. These meetings will be “open house” settings where guests are encouraged to ask questions and give feedback on the project. Listed below are the dates for this round of open houses.

Public Open House Locations (All events are scheduled from 3:00 – 7:00pm)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Jefferson County District # 1 Fire Hall
765 South Adams Drive
Madras, OR 97741

Thursday, October 22, 2009
Crescent Ranger District Office
136471 Hwy 97 N
Crescent, OR 97733

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ochoco Headquarters Office
3160 N.B. 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754

Thursday, October 29, 2009
Deschutes Headquarters Office
1001 SW Emkay Drive
Bend, OR 97702

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Sisters Ranger District Office
Pine St. & Hwy. 20
Sisters, OR 97759

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Paulina Community Hall
Paulina, OR 97751

Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted until November 23, 2009.

Send written comments to:
Deschutes and Ochoco National Travel Management Project
172 E 500 S
Bountiful UT 84010

Hand-delivered or oral comments may be submitted to:

John P. Allen, Forest Supervisor
Deschutes National Forest
1001 SW Emkay Drive
Bend, OR 97702

or

Jeff P.Walter, Forest Supervisor
Ochoco National Forest
3160 NE Third St.
Prineville, OR 97754

via telephone (541-383-5300) or in person during regular office business hours from 7:45 A.M. to 4:30 P.M, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Email comments to:
donf@contentaJJ.alysisgroup.com

Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc). If no identifiable name is attached to a comment, a verification of identity will be required for appeal eligibility. In cases using an electronic message, a scanned signature is one way to provide verification. Emails submitted to email addresses other than the one listed above, in other formats than those listed, or containing viruses will be rejected.

Fax Comments To
801-397-1605

COMMENT DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 23, 2009

For additional information concerning the specific activities authorized with the decision, you may contact Mollie Chaudet or Peggy Fisher at (541) 383- 5300.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN; PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

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

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