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Be Very Concerned

FEDERAL LAND GRAB - October 2008.

WITH H.R. 5151

     Congress is getting ready to vote on a new public lands package with H.R. 5151 when it is voted on by congress after the Presidential elections. UFWDA (United 4 Wheel Drive Association) is asking our members to call or write a letter to your representatives to oppose this legislation.
     This bill includes more than 150 bills that will create, expand, many wilderness areas, create new conservation areas, create and add to the current wild and scenic designations and national scenic trails. Additionally the creation of new national and historic park units and national heritage areas to become off-limits to 4x4 recreation.
     More then a million acres of wilderness, thus restricting the development of energy sources on various federal lands, and place thousands of acres under new or enhanced federal control and restrict access by 4x4 users.
     Not only that, but this bill would lock in, by statute, the Clinton Administration-inspired "National Landscape Conservation System" (NLCS) within the BLM. The bill would give federal land managers the ability to alter the long-standing multiple use management philosophy of the BLM by elevating the purposes to "conserve, protect, restore" above other purposes for NLCS units. This could mean agriculture, energy exploration and production and other economic uses could become imperiled on huge swathes of Western public lands.
     Please take a few minutes to contact your representatives and ask them to defeat this bill, H.R. 5151.
     For more detail contact landuse@ufwda.org

Will have more from the BlueRibbon Coalition soon.

Excerpted From the LA Times

By David Kelly, Times Staff Writer

November 8, 2008

ABANDONED MINE LANDS

Reporting from Death Valley National Park. Here in ghostly Skidoo, the holes and tunnels are everywhere, nearly a thousand of them puncturing mountains and cratering the desert. Cold winds blow through darkened shafts. Bats flutter in and out at twilight.

Linda Manning, an expert on abandoned mines at Death Valley National Park, peered into a tunnel braced by beams near the old mining camp."It kind of gives me the creeps," she said as dank air rushed over her. "These timbers are probably over 100-years old. You never know when they've reached their tipping point."

No other park in the nation has as many abandoned mines as Death Valley. Officials put the number between 10,000 and 50,000, or about a third of all hazardous mines within the national park system.

Now Death Valley and other parks are under increasing pressure to reduce the risks of those mines, risks that include falling, drowning, explosion and asphyxiation. At least 33 people have died between 1999 and 2007 in abandoned-mine accidents on federal and private land, experts say. Many of the openings are all but invisible.

"We are gravely concerned that the Department of the Interior has put the public's health and safety at risk by not addressing hazards posed by abandoned mines on federal lands," said a report by the department's inspector general last July. "We identified serious environmental and safety hazards where members of the public have been killed, injured or exposed to dangerous environmental contaminants."

California parks have the highest number of abandoned mines, with Death Valley followed by Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park.

In September, Death Vallley closed the defunct Keane Wonder Mine after the report cited a family with a toddler playing near a collapsing opening. In 1984, a visitor fell 30 feet down a shaft in the mine and died.

The park, the largest in the nation, warns visitors about the dangers, but the message isn't always clear. At the entrance to a mine shaft here large enough to stand in, signs bearing skull and crossbones warn of death from falling, suffocating and explosion, but a trail leads visitors to the opening. Mines, in fact, are often highlighted on park maps.

"I share the concern about mixed messages, of doing tours of mines and then telling people they cannot go into them," said Manning, a wildlife biologist who helps identify and mitigate mines in the park. "The signs say 'stay out,' but you can see the trails go right to it."

Some of the most dangerous mines have been fitted with bat gates that keep people out and let wildlife in. Others have metal netting stretched over openings.

Despite warnings, people continue to explore mines and occasionally post their exploits on YouTube. In one video, a middle-aged man heads into a Death Valley mine. At the point when he sees danger signs, a message on the video reads: "Danger...That's my middle name! Let's check out this mine."

"It's not a matter of if we have another death, but when," said Mike Cipra, California Desert Program manager with the National Parks Conservation Association. "This year, Death Valley got no money for mine reclamation. All national parks are competing for that money. there is an $8-billion maintenance backlog in the national parks." The job is daunting, especially in Death Valley.

Miners once moved like termites over this harsh landscape, blasting and boring their way through sand and rock. Everything was taken - uranium, silver, talc, borax. When the earth stopped yielding its treasures, the miners simply packed up and went away leaving gaping holes behind. "The floors can easily collapse," said Greene. "Last spring a volunteer found a case of dynamite nearby, which is highly unstable."

The most menacing mines are just deep gouges in the earth, often more than 50 feet deep and 30 feet across, propped open by timbers. Metal netting stretches over some, while others remain exposed. Climbers are known to rappel down the sides into the darkness below. "To me, it's an interesting example of early mining technology," she said. "If you fill up the hole you can't imagine how they worked. If we could make it safe for tourists and for education, that would be great."

The inspector general's report said mine shafts on some roads there are "large enough to swallow entire vehicles but have no fences or warning signs." "All of the mines close to roads and trails are our number one priorities. We have taken care of almost all of those." "Mining is the legacy all of us land managers have been left to deal with."

RELATED ARTICLE: BLM AND PARTNERS LAUNCH "FIX A SHAFT TODAY (FAST)" CAMPAIGN.

BLM National Website

The Bureau of Land Management is launching a new campaign to mitigate and remediate abandoned mine land (AML) physical safety hazards specifically targeting AML sites located in the southwest desert states. While the FAST Campaign is in the early stages, state agencies in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah have expressed interest and support. Plans are to invite members of the mining and off-highway vehicle industries, volunteer and other non-government organizations to participate. Find the link to this information at:

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands.html

Please check Page 8 on this website - SAFETY - scroll down to MINESHAFT HAZARDS!

NEW ARIZONA LICENSE PLATE HOLDER LAW

Received December 2008

A.R.S. 28-2354 (B). License plates; attachment. The new law takes effect January 1, 2009.

A. A person shall display the license plate or plates as follows:

1. For a motor vehicle, motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer, on the rear.

2. For a vehicle for which two license plates are issued, the vehicle owner shall display either of the following:

(a) One plate on the rear.

(b) One plate on the front and one plate on the rear.

B. A person shall display all license plates as required by subsection A until their lawful use expires or is canceled or revoked. A person shall

maintain each license plate so it is clearly legible and so that the name of this state at the top of the license plate is not obscured. A person

shall securely fasten each license plate to the vehicle as follows:

1. To prevent the plate from swinging.

2. At a height of at least twelve inches from the ground to the bottom of the plate.

3. In a position to be clearly visible.

CCRKBA HAILS INTERIOR DEPTARTMENT RULING ON CONCEALED CARRY IN NATIONAL PARKS

By CCRKBA Friday, December 5, 2008

Today's announcement that the Interior Department has amended its rules and will henceforth allow licensed concealed carry in national parks was hailed as a victory for the Second Amendment by the Citizens Committee for the right to Keep and Bear Arms.

"No longer will American citizens be required to leave their right of self-defense at the gates of a national park," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "This common-sense change in regulations reflects not only changes in the laws of 48 states, but more importantly the Supreme Court's ruling in June that upheld the individual right to keep and bear arms that is protected by the Second Amendment."

Under the rule change, individuals may carry concealed handguns in national parks and wildlife refuges only if they are licensed to carry under the laws of the state in which the park or refuge is located. This new rule does not allow the illegal carrying of any firearm, nor will it allow hunting, target practice or poaching.

"We are delighted that the Interior Department has taken this step," Gottlieb stated. "This was never an issue of opening parks to hunting or recreational shooting, and the extremist opponents of this measure know it. This has always been about personal protection in areas where law enforcement may be hours away, or not available at all in an emergency.

"As with the adoption of concealed carry laws in dozens of states over the past several years," he added, "we are confident that passage of time will prove that all the alarmist rhetoric about poaching and increased danger to families and especially children was deliberately misleading.

"With the nation facing drastic budget cuts," Gottlieb said, "this rule change comes at the right moment. It recognizes the inability of park officials to provide adequate law enforcement services, particularly in the back country. We are confident that this rule change improves public safety and deters criminal behavior."

UPDATE 12-19-08—USMC Expansion of Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base—Johnson Valley, the Hammers!!!

By Ed Hills

High Country Off Roaders

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

12/19/08

Ed has given his permission for this article to be used, forwarded, circulated, etc. Please take action now!

The time period allotted for public comment to the BLM has expired as of Monday Dec. 15, 2008. From this time forward all comments should be directed to the USMC specifically regarding the six proposed alternatives for expansion of the Twenty Nine Palms base. In a nutshell the six alternatives include the following...

There are four alternatives proposed to expand west into, most of if not all of, Johnson Valley OHV area. These are not acceptable alternatives for the off-road community.

One alternative proposes to expand east of the existing base. This is the best alternative for the OHV community.

The final alternative is a proposal of no action. We would not be having this conversation if this alternative was considered to be a reality!

Public comments to the USMC are due by Jan. 31, 2009! I have been informed that the letter generator may continue to be used for this purpose... http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters/

You may print and mail your comments directly to the USMC also...http://pfjv.org/Mcom.pdf

If this is your first time visiting this post please read on and participate in BUILDING THE SURGE...

Have we already lost the effort to keep Johnson Valley open to public recreation? Some of the signs are indeed troubling. At Monday night's meeting of Friends of Johnson Valley it was revealed that only 800 responses to public comment have been filed with the BLM. The letter generator on Pirate 4x4’s forum has registered only 581 visits. Compare this to the 20,011 visits logged to the “picture post.” Comparatively, the “picture post’ has had 3400 percent more activity than the effort to maintain access to one of the most coveted destinations in the country. What are we doing wrong?

Allow me to put forth some suggestions. We seem to be approaching this latest crisis in our traditional failed form by waging a fight. What’s the problem you ask? In a fight you react by instinct, to some extent withdrawing to a position of defense. Passion and fear blind you, resulting in missed opportunities. In a fight there is a winner and a loser. A fight is tiring and grows wearisome over the long haul. This was plainly evident at the meeting Monday night as told by the faces and look of exhaustion by some present. If we continue in this manner who do you think will win the fight? The United States Marine Corp or the Off Road Community. We need to find a solution to satisfy both parties.

I propose we continue from this point forward not in fight mode, but rather in a campaign. What’s the difference? A campaign is a well thought strategy executed by a team of individuals with conviction. In a campaign you proceed with your eyes wide open, seizing not only the opportunities that are readily recognized, but also creating new ones. A campaign moves forward in constant motion with a cohesive message carried out on the ground by people of conviction in their beliefs. Who are these people? If you are under the impression that there is an organization or coalition fighting on your behalf without your involvement you are grossly mistaken! If you believe that the so-called leadership in the Off Road community can successfully maintain your right to recreate in Johnson Valley you are flat out wrong!

You are the coalition. You are the leadership. Each individual is an equal stakeholder in this process. Remember, we live in a nation governed through democracy. Our military is civilian led by a duly elected Commander-in-Chief. Government does not exist to empower the people, but rather, people empower the government. Our Campaign to maintain access to Johnson Valley is critically dependent on your voice. Let’s lay out a strategy to succeed.

We can take a lesson from our own military. Our Nation’s military has successfully turned around the war in Iraq as a result of a well thought out and multi dimensional campaign, commonly referred to as The Surge. Among the techniques utilized in the surge was to build relationships with Iraqi citizens. To educate and gain the assistance of the average person. We need to do likewise. We need to reach out to every off-road enthusiast, regardless of whether they recreate in JV or not. Also, our military commanders engaged in dialog, building trust and relationships with Tribal Sheiks. Likewise we need to reach out to Land Managers and Military leaders to share with them the intrinsic value that Johnson Valley represents to families throughout California and the nation. Currently that value does not appear on any document or form referenced by our government. Finally we need the surge of troops to make this happen. The military could not have achieved success without committing the boots on the ground. In this campaign we are all the boots. We all have an opportunity to rise to leadership! Contact your friends, the companies with whom you do business, exploit every opportunity. There is no master list being utilized to get the word out. You each have a list in your computer’s address book. Raise awareness! Share knowledge! The technology is at your fingertips.

The expansion of the 29 Palms base is a benefit to the security of the entire United States, and indeed the free world. Yet it is only the off-road enthusiast who is being asked to sacrifice. Below are targeted talking/bullet points for you to address in your public comments. Write a comment regarding each, submit each one separately... one a day, or in one letter. Be creative and think of your own comments. Become active in the process; engage in the conflict, SURGE towards success. Do three things. First...Bump this to the top. Don’t waste your time commenting or replying, just bump to the top and spend your time productively submitting your comments. Also, cross post to other popular forums. Second...Forward a link of this page to everyone you know who recreates off-road. Build the surge. Encourage them to act. Public comments to the USMC are due by Jan 31, 2009.

Talking Points to be commented on by Off-Road enthusiasts

1. The landmass of Johnson Valley totals nearly 200,000 acres. It is the largest designated OHV area in the country. The impact of its closure would adversely impact the already limited resources available to off-road enthusiasts in the region.
2. The closure would negatively impact remaining OHV areas both in regards to the environment as well as personal safety as a result of increased and heavily concentrated use. Injury and even death will likely increase from over population of other BLM and Forest Service managed lands in the future should the base extend into Johnson Valley.
3. Increased use of Federal, State, and Local public lands will put additional pressure on land managers resulting in greater restriction to motorized recreation. The result of concentrated use will create increased environmental concerns likely leading to further closures in the future, thus compounding the problem.
4. In the San Bernardino County portion of the Mojave Desert the military currently utilizes areas of Federal land for China Lake Naval Weapons Center, Fort Irwin National Training Center, Twenty Nine Palms Marine Corp Air Ground Combat Center, and a portion of Edwards Air Force Base. This, in addition to countless Wilderness designated areas already severely restricting public motorized access on public lands. Other western States with similar topography should be studied.
5. The USMC should study cooperative use of existing military bases to accommodate their training goals. The USMC has indicated in the scoping meeting that training exercises would be held only once or twice each year. China Lake and Fort Irwin are directly adjacent to each other. It seems reasonable that cooperative use can be an option. After all mobilization is also a part of training.
6. Expansion to the east would only require de-designation of a small portion of the Sheephole Valley Wilderness. Although political leaders have shown resistance to the idea, military training is a benefit to the entire Nation and the responsibility should be shared equitably among all Americans, not just off-road enthusiast. The number of designated wilderness areas far outnumbers designated OHV areas in the Mojave Desert.
7. Once used for live military fire, Johnson Valley would become an area restricted and off-limits to future generations in perpetuity, regardless if the needs of the USMC change and diminish in the future.
8. The characteristics that define the Hammer trails in Johnson Valley exist nowhere else inside the state of California. For the countless off-road enthusiasts who have invested thousands into their vehicles for the specific purpose of traversing these trails there is no alternative available in other Federally managed lands within the Mojave Desert. This represents a potential loss in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to families and individuals.

Link to USMC comment form, print and send...http://pfjv.org/Mcom.pdf

For additional information regarding the 6 USMC proposed alternatives visit... http://www.pfjv.org/

ABOVE ALL, IN YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE BE POLITE. GIVE YOUR NAME/ORGANIZATION, ADDRESS, PHONE #.