These meetings are crucial to preserving our riding rights at the Imperial Dunes.

Without our input, we will fail to influence how the dunes will be managed for the next several years. The result could be capacity limits, curfews, alcohol bans, and more closures. Once the RAMP is in place most issues will be considered to be resolved making further changes unlikely.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend at least one meeting.

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA)
Management Plan Public Hearings (RAMP)


ALL MEETINGS ARE 7:00-10:00 p.m.

April 9, 2002 El Centro, CA El Centro City Council Chambers
1275 Main Street
El Centro, CA

April 11, 2002 Long Beach, CA The Grand
4101 East Willow
Long Beach, CA 90815
April 15, 2002 Phoenix, AZ Phoenix College
1202 West Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ
Contact: Priscilla

April 18, 2002 Brawley, CA Brawley City Council Chambers
225 A Street
Brawley. CA 92227

April 23. 2002 Yuma, AZ Yuma Civic and Convention Center
1440 W Desert Hills Drive
Yuma, AZ

April 25, 2002 San Diego, CA Town and Country Convention Center.
500 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISDRA Draft RAMP & EIS galvanize OHV Leadership

On April 6 & 7, 2002, history was made when a coalition of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Groups joined forces to analyze the recently released Imperial Sand Dunes Draft Management Plan (ISDRA RAMP). San Diego Off-Road Coalition Chairman Jim McGarvie commented “This professionally facilitated meeting provided an excellent opportunity for the OHV community to provide a rare united voice in proposing changes to the Draft Plan.” This BLM plan will affect the rules and management of the Dunes for future generations.

Some of the major concerns discussed at this meeting were: riding by permit, curfews, alcohol bans, visitor capacity limits, vendor limitations and an environmental test required for ONLY OHV users (other legitimate users of this area will not be under the same constraints). American Sand Association President Jerry Seaver stated, “The truth is this plan places unwarranted restrictions on the legitimate OHV recreation use in the dunes.”

The Dunes have come under recent controversy due, in part, to a misconception of the role of the OHV community in resource protection. At first glance it appears this Draft takes steps to correct the situation. Jeri Ferguson, California Association Four Wheel Drive Clubs representative in Southern California, is cautiously optimistic. “I was happy to see this draft acknowledges a balance between the environmental concerns and multiple use of ISDRA.”

All organizations agree that this Plan has a long way to go to before final acceptance. According to Off-Road Business Association President Roy Denner “Although this plan takes a bold step in addressing the socioeconomic issues at the Dunes, limiting the number of visitors as recommended in the Draft will negatively impact OHV businesses and the economics of the local communities.”

With The future of recreation at the Imperial Sand Dunes hanging in the balance, the OHV organizations are approaching this Draft with an unprecedented level of attention. California Off-Road Vehicle Association Land Use Representative Jim Arbogast said, “After 15 years of operating under the 1987 plan, we now have the opportunity to influence the future of our sport in the Draft Plan. If there is ever a time to be involved,
IT’S NOW!!!”

The April 6th and 7th meetings were sponsored by the American Sand Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending access to public lands. The meeting was a huge success by all accounts, not only in analyzing the Draft Plan but more importantly in helping the OHV community present a united front when addressing the important issues surrounding the Imperial Sand Dunes Draft Recreational Area Management Plan and will be used as a springboard for the upcoming BLM and ASA informational meetings

From the IV Press:
http://www.ivpressonline.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt
Terry in the picture is the lady that I did the fly opver with lastyear :)

By LAURA MITCHELL

Staff Writer

Conservationists and off-road enthusiasts both love the desert, what they disagree on is how the Imperial Sand Dunes should be used.

Almost 100 people attended a meeting Tuesday night in the El Centro City Council chambers, the first of six in the region on a draft management plan for the dunes to voice their opinions on desert use. The debate over the dunes can get so heated a bomb-sniffing dog was part of the meeting's security team.

Representatives from both sides of the issue agree on one thing: they are unhappy with the four alternatives proposed in the draft plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the dunes.

The four management plan alternatives are:

· no action, keeping the 1987 management plan;

· a plan that emphasizes protecting resources such as threatened and endangered species;

· a plan that emphasizes off-road vehicle opportunities;

· a combination of off-road and resource protection (the BLM's preferred plan).

Representatives from conservation organizations said they are upset none of the alternatives consider a settlement that was the result of a lawsuit by three environmental groups.

The Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility sued the BLM in March 2000 to force it to close portions of the sand dunes to comply with the Endangered Species Act.

Nick Ervin, president of the Desert Protective Council, said he thinks the BLM has a bias toward off-road recreation at the dunes.

Desert Protective Council conservation coordinator Terry Weiner said the Imperial Sand Dunes is a "national natural landmark" that needs to be protected. The main problem with the preferred alternative is the BLM has not completed this year's surveys of plants and animals in the sand dunes, Weiner said.

"How can we do adaptive management if we don't know what we are adapting it to?" she asked.

Vendors who sell at the Imperial Sand Dunes are upset with the BLM's preferred plan because it proposes to limit the number of visitors to the dunes.

Lynn Howard, owner of Pair-A-Dice grill off Interstate 8 and Gordons Well Road in the south dunes, said plants and animals in the dunes survived Gen. George S. Patton in the 1940s and dune buggies since the 1950s.

Other vendors, such as Marie Pierce of Sweet Marie's at Highway 78 and Gecko Road in the north dunes, are upset because the plan proposes to limit vending to weekends.

Without vendors, dune users would not be able to get parts or vehicles fixed in the dunes, Pierce said.

The BLM is required by the federal government to provide for the health and safety of visitors to the sand dunes. It cannot do that by denying vendor services, she said.

Amadis Lugo of Brawley said his vending business will lose money with the new management plan.

"I thought I could provide a service seven days a week and now, after a $75,000 investment, you kick me out," Lugo said.

El Centro resident Bob Ham said one of the flaws in the plan is a ban on alcohol outside camping areas. It's a federal regulation that won't be enforceable by the county sheriff, Ham said. The local sheriff should be involved in the decision.

American Sand Association spokeswoman Vicki Warren said there are many discrepancies between the draft environmental study and the management plan draft.

A presentation slide the BLM used at Tuesday's meeting did not include Oldsmobile Hill as part of a curfew imposed at popular hills, although it is listed as part of the curfew in the draft management plan, Warren said.

She said there are discrepancies throughout the draft environmental study.

"We found three different figures for the number of people currently using the dunes. These are very specific things," Warren said. "Until we get some points clarified, what are we arguing for?"

The dunes are more than an environmental resource; they are also an important family resource, she said.

Warren, who has two teen-agers, said families who frequent the sand dunes find it's a way to relate to teens who usually don't want to have much to do with their parents.

"This fight we've been involved in has been a good bond. My 16-year-old is proud of me," she said. "He proudly tells people, ‘My mom's Vicki Warren.' "

Dear Fellow Duner,

How the BLM plans to manage the ISDRA will affect the way we enjoy the
dunes. By law, the BLM must submit their PROPOSED plan to the public so we
can comment on it. It decides how the dunes will be run for the next 10 to
15 years.

At this time, the plan preferred by the BLM includes the following:
· RIDING IN CENTRAL DUNES BY PERMIT ONLY - only 75 per week to be
issued
· CURFEWS AT ALL MAJOR HILLS
· ALCOHOL BAN
· CAMPING RESTRICTIONS AND CAPACITY LIMITS - limit of 55,403
visitors
· DUNE USE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST REQUIRED
· REOPENING ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE TEMPORARY CLOSURES
· SUSPEND ALL OPERATIONS IF WIND GUSTS EXCEED 25 MPH
· SUSPEND ALL OHV OPERATIONS DURING SECOND STAGE SMOG ALERTS

The ASA, in conjunction with the other off road groups, have compiled many
thoughts on what our comments should be. These thoughts must be structured
and presented in such a way that the BLM accepts them as valid comments - WE
WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE MEETINGS LISTED BELOW. FORM LETTERS
WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE. We have until June 28th to submit our comments.

REMEMBER: the final EIS and RAMP will provide the PLAN for running the ISDRA
for the next 10 to 15 years. In its present form, the plan contains many
restrictions and many ways to lock us out of the dunes. We are in a very
good position to influence the final plan. We cannot afford to miss this
opportunity.

Please plan to attend one of these meetings - your right to ride depends on
it. We will notify you as additional details and meetings are finalized.

Wednesday 4/17/02
TIME: 7pm
American Legion Hall POST 25
569 Broadway Ave
El Centro Ca.

Saturday April 20
2 PM
Sand Limo
1425 E. University Dr. #103-105
Tempe, AZ
480 966 1046

Sunday April 28
2 PM
Richard's ATV
7012 N 56 Ave.
Glendale, AZ
623 939 3181

Thursday May 2
7:00 PM
El Cajon Chamber Of Commerce
195 E. Douglas Ave

Thursday May 9
7:00 PM
Escondido Community Center
2245 E. Valley Parkway

Saturday May 11
1 PM
Tatum Motorsports
8741 N 79th Ave
Peoria, AZ
623 979-0808

Wednesday May 15
7:00 PM
Mission Valley Scottish Rite Center
1895 Camino Del Rio S.

Tues May 21
Time:TBD
El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
2020 E. Ball Rd.
Anaheim CA 92806
714-956-4880 Phone
X street: State College

Thursday May 23rd
7:00pm
Long Beach Motorsports
3291 Cherry Ave.
Long Beach CA. 90813
562-427-2779 Bob or Moe

Thursday June 6
7pm
Funco Motorsports
1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave. Unit F
Rialto, CA
909-421-2558

Saturday June 8
1 PM
Orange County Fairgrounds
Building 17
Costa Mesa CA

Thursday June 13 or Thursday June 20
Time to be determined
Sand Tires Unlimited

The ASA

Dunes plan hurts businesses, BLM told

By LAURA MITCHELL

Staff Writer

BRAWLEY — The debate over the Imperial Sand Dunes used to be between conservationists and off-roaders, but lately businesses are getting involved because some realize they have a lot to lose.

Business owners, chamber of commerce representatives and city officials concerned with economic development were among those who spoke to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management officials Thursday night at a public hearing in Brawley on the draft management plan for the Imperial Sand Dunes.

The BLM's preferred plan proposes to use "triggers" that would limit the number of visitors to the dunes and trigger reactions based on that number.

Neil Hamada, BLM dunes manager, said the draft plan calls for a trigger if more than 55,403 people visit the dunes for 37 days (15 percent) of the off-roading season. If that happens, the BLM's options include looking at establishing a reservation system at the dunes.

If more than 55,403 people visit the dunes for 49 days (20 percent) of the season, or if visitors exceed 15 percent for two years in a row, the BLM will set up a reservation system and limit the number of visitors in the dunes, Hamada said.

The 55,403 figure includes holiday weekends, even though the BLM knows that number will be exceeded on big holidays, he said. But the number is exceeded about 22 days per year, 15 fewer than the first trigger point of 37 days.

Hamada said the BLM acknowledges there is no trigger reset listed in the draft but it will be addressed in the final environmental study and management plan.

Brawley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nicole Gillis said she disagrees with the socioeconomic data in the environmental study.

"The study states there will be no adverse economic impact (to limiting visitors). I disagree. The plan will have a negative impact on local businesses," Gillis said.

Angie Riven, assistant manager at Vons in Brawley, said store management estimates the store has about $3.5 million in sales from visitors to the dunes. The increased sales means an increase in employment of about 25,000 man hours, Riven said.

Westmorland City Councilman John Makin said the Imperial County League of Cities is against any needless loss of jobs in a county that historically had one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and the lowest per capita income.

Preston J. Arrow-Weed of Winterhaven, a member of the Quechan Indian tribe, said the BLM has a responsibility as stewards of the land.

"Those little creatures cannot speak for themselves," Arrow-Weed said.

He warned there will be a consequence to people's actions at the dunes.

"When they are all gone, your fun will be gone, too," he said.

Helena Quintana, a member of the Green Party's Imperial County council, said she is in favor of closing some areas of the dunes to protect the environment. Quintana also said she does not want to pay extra taxes to support more law enforcement at the dunes. She thinks the people who use it should pay.

Chuck Mobley of Brawley took issue with curfews that would be imposed at particular places in the dunes by the draft plan. A curfew study done by the Justice Policy Institute in 1998 concluded curfews do not curb rowdy or unruly behavior, Mobley said.

Brawley native Don Lambe said he has been visiting the dunes for 57 years, starting when he and high school friend Otis Wood rode out there in a customized Model-A. Lambe praised the BLM for many of the positive changes such as extra law enforcement, but he said more and more people will come to the dunes.

He asked the BLM not to let a few "bad apples" stop the important family recreation there.

After the meeting, Lambe said he did not understand why people want to save Peirson's milk vetch in the dunes.

"The cattlemen tried to get rid of that weed because the cows would eat it and go crazy," he said. "That's why it's called ‘loco weed'."

The hearing Thursday night in the Brawley City Council chambers was the fourth of six public hearings scheduled by the BLM. The next hearing will be Tuesday at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center and the final hearing will be Thursday in San Diego.

Dunes battle is far from over
BY LUKE TURF
Apr 23, 2002



The environmentalists whose lawsuit helped close part of the Imperial Sand Dunes to off-road use may seek a court-ordered closure of the entire area if the closed areas are reopened.

The latest chapter in a battle between off-roaders and conservationists will be written by the mediator, the Bureau of Land Management when the bureau implements a new plan regulating usage of the dunes. But all three parties acknowledge the debate is far from over.

In a letter sent to several Yuma officials, Daniel Patterson, desert ecologist from the Center for Biological Diversity, wrote, "if the BLM draft goes through to re-open all the currently protected areas, we may have no other legal options but to move for complete dunes closure, which is not what we want to do."

The bureau temporarily closed 49,000 acres of dunes to off-roaders in November 2000, in response to a lawsuit filed by the center and other groups. The lawsuit alleged federal agencies (one of which was the bureau) weren't doing enough to protect threatened and endangered species. As part of a settlement, the bureau instituted the temporary closures until it could create a new management plan of the area.

Patterson has said he doesn't want to see the entire dunes closed to off-roaders. Nonetheless, Patterson maintains he has enough evidence to convince a judge that all of the dunes need to be closed to off-roaders to protect the Pierson's milk-vetch, which is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

The bureau is holding a meeting from 7 to 10 tonight at the Yuma Civic and Convention Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive, to hear public comment about the Recreation Area Management Plan. The plan, which took 2 years to make, is designed to be a resolution of the battle between duners and conservation groups.

This is the fifth of six meetings in Arizona and California to deal with the heated debate in the dunes. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting, which is being held to gather public opinions before the bureau decides what to do with the dunes.

And duners are answering the call.

Mike Reilly, a Yuman duner recently took out an ad in The Sun, challenging duners to attend the meeting. The ad uses sarcasm to encourage duners to get out and speak their mind.

"Please don't come," the ad states. "Your lack of interest in outdoor recreation areas and your city's economy will continue to make it easy for them to close all of our public lands."

Reilly said lifting the temporary closures to off-roaders permanently is worth the risk of Patterson and the center filing a suit to close all the dunes.

Perhaps the main reason a meeting is being held in Yuma is the economy — which is also why Patterson sent the letter.

Several off-road businesses depend on the dunes for survival, and the bureau estimates the economic benefit of the dunes in Yuma is $13 million, including gas, restaurants and groceries. The bureau used an economic research group from California State University, Chico.

But Patterson said conserving half of the dunes for non-motorized recreation like hiking will diversify the visitors and generate revenue in other areas. Patterson estimates he and the center have spent more than $3,500 in Yuma related to dunes visitation since September 2000 and predicts more money will follow if the bureau encourages more hikers to come to the area.

Delmar Foote is one of the off-road business owners dependent on the dunes. Foote's business, KD Cycle, sells off-roading equipment and gear.

Foote said he thinks off-roading generates even more money for Yuma than estimated by the bureau. Foote is among the off-roaders who think the center is abusing environmental laws and using "frivolous" lawsuits to keep the dunes closed.

Though four alternatives for dunes management are already written, the bureau has identified its second alternative as its "preferred alternative." That alternative lifts the bans almost completely. Of the 49,000 acres of closures, 14,000 would be open to unlimited off-roading, while 34,000 would be limited to 525 vehicles at a time and duners would need to pass an environmental education course or accompany someone who had to gain access, said Roxie Trost, the bureau's resources branch chief in El Centro.

The conservationists oppose lifting the bans, and the off-roaders oppose some of the other regulations in the preferred alternatives, including a capacity on the dunes, speed limits and curfews.

Anyone who can't make tonight's meeting can send the bureau's El Centro office a letter or e-mail their comments to caisd@ca.blm.gov until June 28. Trost said after all public comments are collected, the bureau will revise the draft of its management plan and begin another period of public comment known as the protest period. Trost said the bureau's goal is to have a signed record of decision Oct. 2, and she is "probably" anticipating lawsuits from off-roaders, conservationists or both.

"It's a passionate project," Trost said.

Luke Turf can be reached at lturf@yumasun.com or 539-6858.

© Copyright, YumaSun.com

Originally posted by Crowdog
Patterson has said he doesn't want to see the entire dunes closed to off-roaders. Nonetheless, Patterson maintains he has enough evidence to convince a judge that all of the dunes need to be closed to off-roaders to protect the Pierson's milk-vetch, which is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

translation:

in the past 6 months that the dunes have been partially closed I have "found" enough evidence to entirely close the dunes. We did not have this evidence at the time of the original lawsuit because it didn't exist. We needed this "temporay closure" time to fabricate the rest of our case for total closure. Really, we wanted total closure all along, but felt we could do it easier in smaller increments, because the general public is stupid like that, they would never go for a total closure, but they wouldn't care about a piece here and a chunck there...till it's all closed - but then it would be too late.....so now we want everything closed, and if the BLM uses sound science and genuine public comment to reopen the closed area, we will sue them for total closure...why you ask? ..... because people are stupid and we know whats best for them and the environment, It has nothing to do with sound science.....





God this guy needs to be left in the desert so the sun can melt some sense into him....


:usa:


:usa:

Peter,

Don't forget that good ol' Danny Boy is with the CBD. The same guys fabricating lies for the El Dorado Forest lawsuit....

Jon

I know, but it just pisses me off more that he said they have all the information they need to close it down entirely...if this truely was an environmental claim, they would have pushed for total closure from the start, but since they didn't it leads me to believe they have other motives..... Now they are playing the "our way or no way" game.... if we can't have our partial closure, then noone gets to use the land...


FUCK HIM AND THE CBD!:mad3:


:usa:

From the American Sand Association (http://www.americansandassociation.org)

Dear Fellow Duner,

How the BLM plans to manage the ISDRA will affect the way we enjoy the
dunes. By law, the BLM must submit their PROPOSED plan to the public so we
can comment on it. It decides how the dunes will be run for the next 10 to
15 years.

In its present form, the plan contains many restrictions and many ways to
lock us out of the dunes. We can help change this by making useful comments
on the new plan. WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THE MEETINGS
LISTED BELOW. FORM LETTERS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

Bring a pen to write with - we'll supply the comment form(s) and ideas to
put on them.

Please plan to attend one of these meetings - your right to ride depends on
it. We will notify you as additional details and meetings are finalized.

THIS SUNDAY
SUNDAY APRIL 28
2 PM
RICHARD'S ATV
7012 N 56 AVE.
GLENDALE, AZ
623 939 3181

Thursday May 2
7:00 PM
El Cajon Chamber Of Commerce
195 E. Douglas Ave.
El Cajon, CA

Thursday May 9
7:00 PM
Escondido Community Center
2245 E. Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA

Saturday May 11
1 PM
Tatum Motorsports
8741 N 79th Ave.
Peoria, AZ
623 979-0808

Wednesday May 15
7:00 PM
Mission Valley Scottish Rite Center
1895 Camino Del Rio S.
Mission Valley, CA

Tues. May 21
Time: 7 PM
El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
2020 E. Ball Rd.
Anaheim CA 92806
714-956-4880 Phone
X street: State College
"Taco Tuesday"

Thursday May 23rd
7:00pm
Long Beach Motorsports
3291 Cherry Ave.
Long Beach CA. 90813
562-427-2779 Bob or Moe

Saturday June 1
2 PM
Di-Tec Int.
1850 Lucky Lane
Simi Valley, 93063

Thursday June 6
7pm
Funco Motorsports
1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave.
Unit F
Rialto, CA
909-421-2558
Bring a chair and a pen

Saturday June 8
2 PM
Orange County Fairgrounds
Building 17
Costa Mesa CA

Thursday June 20
7 PM
Sand Tires Unlimited
42198 Avenida Alvarado
Temecula, CA 92590
Bring a chair and a pen

The ASA

BLM catches heat over dunes plan

BY LUKE TURF
Apr 24, 2002
About 300 people packed into a stuffy room Tuesday night mostly to vent frustrations toward the Bureau of Land Management about its new proposals for running the Imperial Sand Dunes.

The temperature of the room — and tempers of the speakers — soared through the evening. After filling out a card, dozens of people had the opportunity to address bureau officials ranging from environmental experts to law enforcement officials.

Of the first 25 speakers, none approved of the bureau's preferred alternative for running the dunes which includes vehicle limits on the entire area and limited off-road vehicle access in certain areas. The bureau's new dunes management strategy lifts the 49,000 acres currently closed to off-road vehicles. The closures were a temporary measure instituted to protect the threatened Pierson's milk-vetch. But some of the re-opened areas will have restrictions including capacity limits and permit requirements.

Off-roaders and business owners dependent on the off-roading market dominated the crowd. Only two of the first 25 speakers were opposed to lifting the bans to off-road use.

"The dunes are not just a big sand box to play in, they are not barren," said Cary Meister, the conservation chairman for the Yuma Audubon Society.

Meister said species related to the milk-vetch are being used for medicinal purposes and some scientific secrets may lie undiscovered in the dunes.

"It may turn out someday that Pierson's milk-vetch will save someone's life in this room, we need to save it," Meister said.

Meister said the best thing to do is keep the temporary closures in place.

Another speaker who agreed with keeping the temporary closures in place was Frank Bonnet. But Bonnet had very different reasons for doing so. He said by leaving the temporary closures in place the bureau could give law enforcement officials an opportunity to clear all law-breakers out of the area making room for the family-oriented dunes visitor.

Several of the bureau's law enforcement policies for the dunes came under attack. Among those is a capacity on the dunes, curfews and speed limits.

Sarah Woodman was one speaker opposed to the curfews.

"I just don't think you should let a few bad seeds spoil the area for everybody," Woodman said suggesting curfews only be placed on children.

But overall people feared the bureau's management of the dunes would drive people away from the area and have a negative effect on Yuma's economy.

One speaker, Greg Ferguson, said he's afraid if people are shut out of the dunes they'll head to privately-owned areas near Yuma and the Foothills and ride their vehicles there.

"The dunes are public lands," Ferguson said echoing the overall discontent of the room with the bureau trying to impose so many regulations on land they believe they pay to access through taxes.

Several people mocked the environmental groups behind the lawsuits that closed the dunes in the first place. A hired mediator of the discussion expressed discontent with speaker Flash Farrar, who generated a booming applause with his harsh rhetoric.

Farrar said he's fed up with (a description not fit for print) “liberals” trying to put the world "in a glass jar." Farrar said he's never used the dunes and probably never will, but he's fed up with agencies like the bureau oppressing his rights.

Still others said they just don't want to lose the dunes because they are so important to their families.

Longtime Yuma resident Don McCain said the most endangered species of all is the family unit.

"Please don't deny any family unit the area," McCain said.

Another meeting is scheduled in San Diego Thursday and anyone who wants to give the bureau any feedback about the Recreation Area Management Plan, which focuses on the bureau's preferred management alternative, or the Environmental Impact Statement which looks at the range of alternatives can send an e-mail to caisd@ca.blm.gov.

After all comments are collected the bureau will revise its draft for management of the dunes and release the final document to the public for a thirty day protest period. By October the bureau hopes to have a signed record of decision and begin implementing it providing the process is not interrupted with litigation.

Congressman Duncan Hunter’s letter that was read aloud at last night’s BLM meeting by Hunter’s aide:

Dear Friends:

First, I would like to thank the Off-Road Business Association for inviting me to attend your event. I regret that our vote schedule has kept me back in Washington.

Your participation tonight is a great testament to your commitment to our shared goal of keeping not only the Imperial Sand Dunes, but all public lands open for multiple use. Southern California's growing population is hungry for the outdoors experience, and not every one of them wants to get it by hiking 20 miles through 100 degree heat while nibbling tofu.

As many of you know, this issue is not new to my office. I have been working for months on how best to address these unwarranted closures. I have spoken repeatedly with Department of Interior officials to voice my view that these court-mandated closures are nothing but a last ditch payoff to extreme enviros by the outgoing Clinton crowd. Although unfair, we have been dealt a court mandated hand, and we must work our hardest with all of our available resources to make sure that the best science is put forward to prove us right. I commend the American Sand Association for putting forth the resources and volunteer hours necessary to fight for this goal. As you may know, the ASA’s efforts discovered more than 70,000 of these so-called endangered plants thriving in our sand. Of course the enviros think “that’s great and all, but they’re still in need of protection because they only thrive in this one place.”

Their distorted logic aside, I think our efforts have begun to pay off. What would have been a completely different result had you all not become involved has yielded some positive results. Not perfect of course, but certainly better than would have been expected under the previous Administration. The BLM recently came to my office with the new Draft RAMP you have all heard about, and presented a preferred alternative that, quite frankly, was better that I expected, although still considerably short of our ideal plan.

My good friends Roy Denner, Jim McGarvie and David Hubbard were kind enough to pay me a visit the other day on Capitol Hill to talk about sand issues. They made me aware of your continued concerns with the Draft RAMP, and I have agreed to help, but I can’t do it alone. In the coming days, they will be coordinating your concerns and developing a proposal that I will fight for on your behalf. I encourage your active participation in this matter.

Friends, we’ll gain some ground here in this battle, but the Clinton War on the West is far from over. We have attempts everywhere to make us endangered species; to take away our outdoors; to remove our families from their wild vacation spots. Any day now, Senator Boxer will introduce her brand new Wilderness bill that will chain off an unprecedented portion of our state to all but the most vigorous hikers. The Desert Protection Act wasn’t enough - they’re back for more. You’ll need to stay informed, remain active and maintain your commitment to freedom. Always know that you can come to me for assistance.

We’ve got a lot of work to do - lets get to it.

Sincerely,


Duncan Hunter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take a moment to write Congressman Hunter to thank him for his support of off-road rights. He can be reached at (sorry no email):

366 SOUTH PIERCE ST.
EL CAJON, CA 92020-4136
(619) 579-3001
FAX: (619) 579-2251

Crowdog

Group finds Hunter letter offensive

By LAURA MITCHELL

Staff Writer

SAN DIEGO — The last of six public hearings for the Imperial Sand Dunes draft management plan started with U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, attacking environmentalists.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's draft management plan and the environmental study it was based on have been the subject of criticism from environmentalists, off-roaders and business people. About 700 people attended Thursday night's meeting.

Hunter sent a letter, read by Nathan Colestack, thanking his good friends in the off-road community

"Southern California's growing population is hungry for the outdoors experience, and not every one of them wants to get it by hiking 20 miles through 100- degree heat while nibbling tofu," Hunter's letter states.

The letter goes on to refer to environmentalists as "enviros."

"It's insulting. Some of the people he represents would not appreciate that comment," Desert Protective Council conservation coordinator Terry Weiner said.

Larry Hogue, of the San Diego and Imperial chapter of the Sierra Club, said Hunter's remarks were shocking and unprofessional.

Hunter's letter was the first comment of the hearing, almost setting a negative tone for the entire evening.

Off-roaders who did not agree with statements made by environmentalists snickered, heckled, coughed and passed

notes.

The hearing monitor issued a few warnings and the crowd calmed down.

Off-road enthusiasts said Hunter's letter gave them a morale boost.

"It was a great letter of support. It was wonderful," American Sand Association spokeswoman Vicki Warren said. "But we continue to draw lines between us and them and I don't know if that helps."

Hunter's letter also states U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California will soon introduce a wilderness bill that will "chain off an unprecedented portion of our state to all but the most vigorous hikers."

Larry Baker, an ASA member from Riverside, said he was injured in a work accident in 1996 and was permanently disabled.

After a couple of years he said he was able to get out of his wheelchair and now can get into a sand buggy. Keeping the dunes open is especially important to him. On the sand he can move around like anyone else.

Environmentalists, off-roaders and business people generally agreed they do not give much credibility to the statistics used in the draft environmental study.

Jim McGarvie, chairman of the San Diego Off Road Coalition, said he disagrees the with BLM considering visitor limits at the dunes. Numbers used to make those assumptions are not based on sound scientific data, he said.

McGarvie said he was happy to see the BLM did not consider the temporary closures as part of the draft plan's assumed management area.

Business people said they disagreed with the numbers used for the socio-economic impact report.

"I wouldn't have a business today if I provided a product like this. The socio-economic assumptions are absolutely false," Funco Motorsports owner Grant George said.

After the meeting, Pat Flanigan of the California Wilderness Coalition said air-quality issues at the sand dunes needs to be addressed and monitored.

Imperial and Yuma counties have high asthma rates and Imperial County doesn't meet air quality standards for airborne dust particles, Flanigan said. Someone needs to monitor that.

>> Staff Writer Laura Mitchell can be reached at 337-3452 or lauramitchell9@yahoo.com

Dear Fellow Duner,

If we don't speak our minds on the new dunes management plan, we may have to
contend with management prescriptions and dune closures we don't agree with
for the next 10 to 15 years.

The remaining RAMP Info meetings are listed below. Remember that we have
less than a month to get our comments in. If you can't make a meeting, go
to our web site and get informed about the DEIS, the DRAMP, and what
comments we need to concentrate on. All the why and how is there in an easy
to follow format.
Go to http://www.GlamisOnLine.org/RAMP/RAMP.shtml for all you need to know.

Here are the last 6 meetings.

This Saturday: June 1
2 PM
Di-Tec Int.
1850 Lucky Lane
Simi Valley, 93063


A Week from Thursday: June 6
7pm
Funco Motorsports
1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave.
Unit F
Rialto, CA
909-421-2558
Bring a chair

A week from this Saturday: June 8
2 PM
Orange County Fairgrounds
Building 17
Costa Mesa CA

Wednesday June 12
6:30 PM
KD Enterprises and Cycle
2431 E. 16th Street
Yuma, AZ 85365
phone: (928) 329-1908
fax: (928) 329-1970

Thursday June 20 (LAST ONE IN CALIFORNIA)
7 PM
Sand Tires Unlimited
42198 Avenida Alvarado
Temecula, CA 92590
Bring a chair

Saturday, June 22nd
1 PM
Creative Enterprises-Carlos Moreno, owner
2919 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson
(520) 623-1171


The ASA

Press Release – American Sand Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
American Sand Association
PMB 108
1911 Foothill Blvd
La Verne, CA 91750

DATE:
June 5, 2002, El Centro, CA

HEADLINE:
Off-Road Groups Unite to Save Dunes

BODY:
A group of off-road organizations, led by the American Sand Association, today provided written comments to the Bureau of Land Management’s new Environmental Impact Statement and Recreation Area Management Plan for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. “This was an unprecedented effort by many people who voluntarily put in hundreds of hours to study and respond to the BLM’s documents,” said Jerry Seaver, ASA President and Phoenix resident. This is the first time that such a large group of organizations has come together for a common purpose.

Organizations participating in the historic effort with the American Sand Association (ASA), a non-profit grass-roots organization dedicated to fighting for the rights of the sand sports community, included the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), San Diego Off-Road Coalition (SDORC), California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs (Cal 4WD), Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and the American Motorcyclist’s Association (AMA

Over thirty representatives from the groups held two workshops in Ontario, CA in order to develop the comments. “The Draft RAMP and EIS are several hundred pages long and full of items that we need to comment on,” says Jim McGarvie Chairman of the San Diego Off-Road Coalition. “We needed a large group in order to ‘divide and conquer’ all of the issues that needed to be addressed.” Along with the workshops, the representatives have been using the Internet and email extensively to research information about Federal, State and Local regulations and policies, recreation management programs, resource protection, and to keep in touch and circulate their notes and findings with each other.

The BlueRibbon Coalition, a national multiple-use organization representing 700,000 recreationists, fully endorses and supports the efforts of the American Sand Association and all the organizations and businesses working collaboratively on the management and future of the ISDRA.

“It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all join forces,” says Greg Gorman, ASA’s Media Relations Director. “We’ve put together over 20 pages of comments, suggestions, error corrections and new research that we expect the BLM to include in their final version of the EIS and RAMP,” he added. Jeff Taylor, ASA National Membership Director said, “The results of the workshops will go a long way towards helping the ASA membership and the off road community at large understand the BLM’s plans. We’re confident that many people will now be able to play a substantial role in the public process for managing the dunes.”

The American Sand Association has also been holding public information meetings in local communities around Arizona and Southern California throughout May and June. Bob Mason, ASA Vice-President said, “The turnout for the most recent meeting we had in Arizona was fantastic! Over 275 concerned ASA members and the public at large attended. The ASA increased its financial war chest and several duners committed to sending in comments on the DRAMP.”

Additional public meetings planned before the deadline to submit comments:
· Thursday June 6th, 7:00pm, Funco Motorsports, 1280 N. Fitzgerald Ave., Unit F, Rialto, CA; (909) 421-2558
· Saturday June 8th, 2:00pm, Orange County Fairgrounds, Building 17, Costa Mesa CA
· Wednesday June 12th, 6:30pm, KD Enterprises and Cycle, 2431 E. 16th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365; (928) 329-1908
· Thursday June 20th, 7:00pm, Sand Tires Unlimited, 42198 Avenida Alvarao, Temecula, CA; 909-296-6125
· Saturday June 22nd, 1:00pm, Creative Enterprises, 2919 N. Stone Ave, Tucson AZ; 520-623-1171
About the American Sand Association
The American Sand Association is a grass-roots, non-profit organization of approximately 20,000 members dedicated to preserving the use of public lands for sand-sport enthusiasts’ use, improving OHV safety and promoting responsible land use. Some local sand-sport areas include the Imperial Sand Dunes, Pismo Beach and Dumont Dunes in California, Sand Mountain in Nevada and Hotwell Dunes in Arizona. The ASA is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. We rely on the financial support of sand-sport enthusiasts and small businesses. Most of the members are family-oriented, have a rich family history going back for generations enjoying the sand sport; and most have a significant financial investment in their equipment, gear and campers. Additional information can be found on our web site at http://www.americansandassociation.org.
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If you haven't sent in your RAMP comments yet, USA-ALL has set up a customizeable letter generator at:

http://www.usa-all.com/docs/wc.dll?wwusaall~actionalert~000007