YellowSub1962
05-06-2002, 08:54 AM
BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC
www.sharetrails.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Don Amador - 925.625.6287
DATE: May 1, 2002
BOXER WILDERNESS BILL HEADED DOWN WRONG TRAIL
POCATELLO, ID -- Recreationists express concern about the negative access
impacts of Senator
Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) newly announced "California Wild Heritage
Wilderness Act of 2002."
This legislation could close almost 2.5 million acres of lands currently
used by mountain
bikers, 4-wheel drive enthusiasts, the ski industry, and other outdoor
interests who value
access to our public lands.
Off-highway recreation (OHR) users are already denied access to over 21
percent of California's national forest lands and 25 percent of areas under
Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction.
Nancy Ingalsbee, a former spokesperson for the ski industry, said, "I
remember when we had the famous
'wilderness' battles back in the 1980s. I don't think any of us would have
supported the California Wilderness Act of 1984 if we knew that we would
have to fight this issue again just a decade or two later."
Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC),
said, "I think a lot of recreational users who depend on legal trails and
roads for access to the backcountry are going to strongly oppose Boxer's
effort to shut us out of our favorite areas."
"Federally designated wilderness is highly restrictive and bans the use of
motorized and mechanized vehicles including trail and mountain
bikes. Greens have even filed legal action to close commercial horse
packers out of some Wilderness areas. Also, I think local governments and
cabin owners are going
to be concerned about the Act's negative impact on forest management to
prevent wildfires," Amador stated.
"I believe that a vast majority of areas she proposes to close should
remain in multiple-use using existing best management practices. Instead
of supporting Boxer's plan, I will urge counties to look at the BRC's
Backcountry designation as an alternative that allows access and requires
that special lands be actively managed to preserve their rustic nature."
Amador concludes.
# # #
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions
responsible use of public lands.
It presents over 1,100 organizations and businesses with approximately
600,000 members.
:usa:
www.sharetrails.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Don Amador - 925.625.6287
DATE: May 1, 2002
BOXER WILDERNESS BILL HEADED DOWN WRONG TRAIL
POCATELLO, ID -- Recreationists express concern about the negative access
impacts of Senator
Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) newly announced "California Wild Heritage
Wilderness Act of 2002."
This legislation could close almost 2.5 million acres of lands currently
used by mountain
bikers, 4-wheel drive enthusiasts, the ski industry, and other outdoor
interests who value
access to our public lands.
Off-highway recreation (OHR) users are already denied access to over 21
percent of California's national forest lands and 25 percent of areas under
Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction.
Nancy Ingalsbee, a former spokesperson for the ski industry, said, "I
remember when we had the famous
'wilderness' battles back in the 1980s. I don't think any of us would have
supported the California Wilderness Act of 1984 if we knew that we would
have to fight this issue again just a decade or two later."
Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC),
said, "I think a lot of recreational users who depend on legal trails and
roads for access to the backcountry are going to strongly oppose Boxer's
effort to shut us out of our favorite areas."
"Federally designated wilderness is highly restrictive and bans the use of
motorized and mechanized vehicles including trail and mountain
bikes. Greens have even filed legal action to close commercial horse
packers out of some Wilderness areas. Also, I think local governments and
cabin owners are going
to be concerned about the Act's negative impact on forest management to
prevent wildfires," Amador stated.
"I believe that a vast majority of areas she proposes to close should
remain in multiple-use using existing best management practices. Instead
of supporting Boxer's plan, I will urge counties to look at the BRC's
Backcountry designation as an alternative that allows access and requires
that special lands be actively managed to preserve their rustic nature."
Amador concludes.
# # #
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions
responsible use of public lands.
It presents over 1,100 organizations and businesses with approximately
600,000 members.
:usa: