I have written many letters over the years - I finally received a reply - just thought I'd share...

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Pombo" <richardpombo@yahoo.com>
To: <Ebert@RavenOff-Road.com>; <resources.committee@mail.house.gov>
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 3:41 PM
Subject: Re: Improper use of ISDRA Fee Demo Money


> Thank you for contacting me at my campaign e-mail
> account. Because this matter is related to official
> business before the Congress, I have taken the liberty
> of forwarding on your e-mail to the House Committee on
> Resources, of which I am the Chairman. If you would
> like to contact me further on this or any other matter
> before the Congress, please contact me at
> rpombo@mail.house.gov. I look forward to hearing from
> you again.
> --- Ebert@RavenOff-Road.com wrote:
> > Dear Honorable Mr. Pombo:
> >
> > I am opposed to the use of my camping fees by the
> > BLM to do biological monitoring at the Imperial Sand
> > Dunes. The monitoring was required by Fish and
> > Wildlife, let them provide the budget to pay for it.
> > My fees should be used instead to improve and
> > provide services for the users at the Dunes.
> >
> > The fees collected at the ISDRA are not being used
> > as promised. As a long time user of the Imperial
> > Sand Dunes Recreational Area (ISDRA), my family has
> > been lied to and robbed. From a BLM News Release
> > dated December 8, 1998: "The public has told us that
> > they want more and better services at the dunes and
> > are willing to pay an additional fee for these
> > services in developed areas if these funds go
> > directly for those purposes," said Tim Salt, BLM
> > Acting California Desert District Manager.
> >
> > We learned recently that our fees are now being used
> > to fund a federally mandated monitoring program at
> > the ISDRA at a cost of $825,000!!!. By no stretch
> > of the imagination is this an improvement to our
> > families' recreational experience at the Imperial
> > Sand Dunes.
> >
> > This release also stated: "The fees collected will
> > be used to fund additional improvements, including
> > camping pads, rest rooms, trash removal and
> > maintenance of access roads and trails."
> >
> > Since 1999, the fees have produced no new camping
> > pads or new restrooms; trash removal is barely
> > adequate even on off-weekends. There are no trails
> > to maintain within the ISDRA.
> >
> > Weekly User Fees jumped from $10.00 a to $25.00 and
> > from $30.00 to $90.00 for a season pass. With the
> > BLM arbitrarily spending the fees without regard to
> > their intent, promises made, and the policy that
> > initiated them, I shudder to think how high the fees
> > will go next season and following seasons.
> >
> > The government once again has gone back on their
> > word and lied to my family and me. When will it
> > end?
> >
> > Please stop picking my pockets to fund this
> > activity-we have paid enough already. It's time for
> > you to take action and correct this error and get
> > the BLM the budget they need. It's also time to
> > thank the one million of us who visit the dunes each
> > year for our fee money and pay us back. This misuse
> > of our money is not right and I urge you to make it
> > right.
> >
> >
> > Respectfully,
> > Johanna Ebert
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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There's a well written letter! It's amazing how easily the gov'ts plans with out money change. With this study, our own money could be used against us.

It's from a form letter generator - but you pick the paragraphs to be used.
I was amazed that I received a response.

May 25, 2004


Dear Friends and OHV Enthusiasts,

Thank you for contacting me by e-mail to express your outrage over how your recreation fees are being used at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA). I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me, and I absolutely agree with you.

I do not believe one dollar, let alone $825,000 of your recreation fees, should be used for a monitoring program. This money should come from the operating budget of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is my understanding that Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is working to secure increased funding for the operation of the ISDRA.

Using your fees on something far removed from recreation clearly violates the purpose for which the fees were established --- to enhance your recreational experience. In fact, Roy Denner of the Off-Road Business Association recently testified before the House Committee on Resources, of which I am Chairman, on proposed legislation to permanently authorize the Recreation Fee Program. Mr. Denner described the inappropriate use of fees at the ISDRA and requested that the Committee ensure that the situation is not repeated at ISDRA or at any other Federal recreation site.

I can assure you that should legislation move forward to permanently authorize the Recreation Fee Program for the BLM, I will make certain your fees are used only to enhance your recreational experience with on-the-ground improvements.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,



Richard Pombo
Chairman
House Committee on Resources