from the LUN

The below is a letter to the Dept of Interior and BLM addressing the
lack of internet access to public information and e-mail. As of Dec
6, DOI internet and e-mail was removed from the internet. Please
consider sending this letter (or substitute a comment period of local
interest) in an attempt to extend comment periods until DOI is once
again available to the public.

I have included addresses for California BLM officials, senators and
local representative. George Radanovich is chairman of the House
subcommittee with oversight of the BLM.

Your letter should indicate if you are writing on behalf of a club
and the number of members.

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

14 December 2001

Gale A. Norton, Secretary of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
1849 C. Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

Subject: Loss of Public Access to Public Information at DOI

At the direction of the Office of the Secretary, the bureaus within
the Department of Interior were ordered to immediately disconnect all
external network connections due to security concerns of the Court in
the Cobell v. Norton case. As a result, all Department of Interior
information germane to public comment periods on a large number of
issues became unavailable to the public. In addition, the public's
ability to provide comment by means established was severely
curtailed.

These measures were ordered by the Court after the Special Master for
the Cobell litigation hired a contractor to conduct penetration
testing of Indian Trust Management systems resulting in a compromise
of those systems. As a result, all Bureaus must take these measures.

These measures have a serious consequence with respect to the DOI
ability to meet congressionally mandated mission. Numerous public
comment periods are coming to a close and there is no alternative to
access DOI information and addresses for the public to provide
comment.

Considering these measures and the significant role of the internet
in public interaction with the Bureau of Land Management, I
respectfully request that the BLM hold in abeyance all efforts
concerning the development of the NECO, NEMO, and WEMO management
plans until such time as Department of Interior information is again
available to the public through their internet web sites and e-mail.
All public comment periods should be frozen as of 6 December 2001
(the date of the Secretary's order) to resume once internet access
and e-mail to DOI sources are available to the public.


Sincerely,



CC:
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
The Honorable Duncan Hunter
The Honorable George Radanovich
Mike Pool, BLM California State Director
Tim Salt, BLM California Desert District Manager

************************************************** *****
Mike Pool, BLM California State Director
2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1834
Sacramento CA 95825-1886

Tim Salt, BLM California Desert District Manager
6221 Box Springs Blvd.
Riverside CA 92507-0715

Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Senator Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

The Honorable Duncan Hunter
2265 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515-0552

Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands
Chairman George Radanovich (R-CA)
123 Cannon House Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20515

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John Stewart
KF6ZPL
http://members.home.net/jhstewart1/
Webmaster of Tierra del Sol 4 Wheel Drive Club of San Diego -
http://www.tds4x4.com
Webmaster of Jeep-L ...The Web Site - http://www.jeep-l.net
Conservation and Recreational Access Editor - http://www.outdoorwire.com

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