Crowdog
04-29-2002, 06:30 AM
Congressman Duncan Hunter’s letter that was read aloud at the San Diego BLM RAMP meeting by Hunter’s aide.
It's not often that a member of Congress will make a public stand against environmentalists and Boxer in our support. 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):
Congressman Duncan Hunter
366 SOUTH PIERCE ST.
EL CAJON, CA 92020-4136
(619) 579-3001
FAX: (619) 579-2251
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
It's not often that a member of Congress will make a public stand against environmentalists and Boxer in our support. 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):
Congressman Duncan Hunter
366 SOUTH PIERCE ST.
EL CAJON, CA 92020-4136
(619) 579-3001
FAX: (619) 579-2251
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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