4x4Wire

The Grand Junction Field Office is finalizing rules for three areas this summer. Rules for the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area have already been released for final review.

“This final step ensures that we can provide the experiences and environment outlined in the management plans for these areas – plans the public helped us create,” said Grand Junction Field Manager Catherine Robertson. “The average user will not see any changes in the way we manage these areas. These are the same messages we've been communicating since the management plans were approved. They are already posted on our signs. In the past, they have been recommendations. In the future, they will be regulations.”

Public comments for Bangs Canyon will be accepted through September 21, 2009. The rules can be viewed online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-17591.pdf.

Public comments for North Fruita Desert will be accepted through October 5, 2009. Rules can be viewed online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-18723.pdf.

The bipartisan letter thanks the leadership for including the RTP in the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. The letter also makes three specific requests:
 
1.    For RTP funding levels in the legislation to be set at $690 million over six years - $90 million in 2010, $100 million in 2011, $110 million in 2012, $120 million in 2013, $130 million in 2014, and $140 million in 2015;
 
2.    For $2.5 million to be allocated to a DOT study of off-highway recreational fuel use, to ensure that the level of RTP funding reflects
the federal fuel taxes paid for off-highway fuel usage; and
 
3.    For funds allocated to the FHWA to administer the RTP each year to be adjusted from a set amount to one percent of actual available annual funding to ensure that sufficient administrative resources are available for the program.
 
Since the deadline is this Friday, July 17, the fastest way to reach your Members of Congress is to call them. You can find contact information for your Representatives on AmericanMotorcyclist.com, click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your U.S. Representatives by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.
 
All AMA members and anyone else who enjoys recreating on trails responsibly is urged to contact their Representatives and ask them to sign on to the Michaud/Petri letter addressed to the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of the RTP.

(Dec 23, 2009) - With the release by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), OHV organizations including the BlueRibbon Coalition, California Off Road Vehicle Association, California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, American Motorcyclist Association, American Motorcyclist Association District 36, Timekeepers Motorcycle Club and the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club have joined together in a collaborative effort to respond to this document.

These groups will continue their ongoing efforts to analyze and respond to the DEIS by the March 5 deadline for public comments. It is important for the local recreationists and other stakeholders who have been arbitrarily locked out of Clear Creek by the BLM's temporary closure to attend the public meetings in January 2010.

MEETING SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2009/december/CC1012_clearcreek_draftplan_meetings.html

The OHV organizations mentioned above will be providing analysis and suggested comments to their respective organizations and utilizing the Friends of the Clear Creek Management Area web site: http://www.foccma.org/ as a clearing house for DEIS related information.

*BRC Contact for CCMA is Don Amador.

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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

The proposed revisions would also prohibit specified vehicle operations that are unsafe but do not rise to the level of reckless operation or child endangerment.

The public hearing is Monday, August 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The forty-five day comment period will end at 7:00 p.m. on August 17, 2009.

For additional information, visit the California State Parks OHMVR Division website.

*    Read more about the reauthorization in my July magazine column
*    View the First RTP Reauthorization Letter
*    View  the Second RTP Reauthorization Letter

Thank you in advance for agreeing to sign your organization on in support of this very important effort for all recreation.

Sincerely,

Greg Mumm
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition