Posts Tagged ‘brc’

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

National OHV Group Supports GAO Recommendations on OHV use

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Greg Mumm, BRC Executive Director
208-237-1008 ext 101
Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director
(208) 237-1008 ext 102

Date: August 3, 2009

POCATELLO, ID (August 3) – The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national OHV advocacy group, today said it generally supports the recommendations made in a report released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the increased use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) on federally-managed lands. The report was requested by Arizona Representative Ra?l M. Grijalva, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

The purpose of the report was to examine the status of OHV use on federal lands managed by the
Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Park Service and focused on fiscal year 2004 through fiscal year 2008. The report also examined the environmental, social, and safety impacts, strategic planning, actions taken by the agencies’ field units in managing OHV use and current OHV management challenges.

“The report itself leaves much to be desired, but, by and large, we support its recommendations,” said Greg Mumm, Executive Director of BRC. Mumm said BRC was one of several OHV groups involved as part of GAO’s review. Mumm noted certain parts of the report are inconsistent and some parts are not accurate. “This is an imperfect analysis, but it is far from the manifesto for closure anticipated by the anti-access lobby,” Mumm observed.

The report makes four recommendations generally addressing identification of additional strategies, time frames for monitoring progress of OHV plan implementation, establishing performance measures and time frames for meeting goals, enhancing communication with the public about OHV trails and areas, and reviewing fine amounts across various U.S. district courts to establish consistency.

Brian Hawthorne, BRC’s Public Lands Policy Director, also agreed with the recommendations, but said the study is an “unfortunate example of government agencies doing too much evaluating and not nearly enough actual management. The conclusions and action items of this GAO report are remarkably similar to reviews completed by the Forest Service in 1985 and in 1996,” noted Hawthorne.

The GAO report is available online at: http://www.gao.gov/Products/GAO-09-509

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. http://www.sharetrails.org

Clearwater Forest Releases Travel Planning Draft Environmental Impact Statement

BLUERIBBON COALITION LAND USE UPDATE

The Clearwater National Forest, located in northeastern Idaho, announced the release of their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for managing motorized uses on the Forest’s roads and trails system. The Forest Service (FS) is asking for your input during a 45-day public review and comment period, which will end on August 31, 2009.

All travel management documents and maps can be downloaded from the Forest’s website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/. Copies of the DEIS are also available at Clearwater National Forest offices and many local libraries, including those at Orofino, Deary, Elk River, Grangeville, Kamiah, Kooskia, Lewiston, Moscow, Pierce, Potlatch, and Weippe in Idaho, as well as Superior and Missoula, Montana.

The DEIS consists of four alternatives, a No Action Alternative along with three Action Alternatives. The alternatives purport to address the nearly 4500 public comments that were received from November 2007-February 2008 in response to the Clearwater National Forest’s travel planning proposed action.

BRC and Idaho’s Panhandle Trail Riding Association submitted substantial input. It will be interesting to read how our input has been incorporated into the Alternatives. Stay tuned for a full review and a BRC Action Alert.

If you enjoy the Clearwater, we encourage you to look over the maps and send comments to the Forest. Comments should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the DEIS.

Send Written Comments To:
Kamiah Ranger Station, Attn: Lois Foster, Travel Planning Team Leader, Rt. 2, Box 191, Kamiah, ID 83536.

Send Electronic Comments To: comments-northern-clearwater@fs.fed.us (Please put “Travel Planning” in the subject line of e-mail comments)

For more information, contact Lois Foster, Team Leader, at 208-935-4258.

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 recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. http://www.sharetrails.org

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Motorized Travel Management DEIS Now Available

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, located in northeastern Oregon, has released their Travel Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for public review and comment.

The Forest Service (FS) is asking for your input during a 60-day comment period, which will end on August 18, 2009.The public is invited to suggest changes, provide new information, and offer other alternatives. Your comments will assist in completing the analysis for travel management, and following the FS review of the comments received, a final EIS will be issued with a Record of Decision detailing the decision points.

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BRC Alert: Important Idaho Land Use Update and Alert

BlueRibbon Coalition Alert

The looming deadline for comments on the Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Plan gives us a chance to blast a quick update on some important Idaho land use issues.

Comment Deadline November 25, 2008

A really important action alert on the Salmon-Challis NF Travel Plan is at the bottom of this email. Above that, we have a section giving a quick update on some of the land use issues BRC is tracking in Idaho. In each update, we’ve included a suggestion on what you can do to help.

Please take a minute to review this alert before the holiday. Also, everyone at BRC would be very grateful if you would forward this alert to family and riding pals. If you are already a BRC member, please ask them to join BRC and help us protect Idaho’s trails.
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