Crowdog
07-14-2002, 09:24 PM
Please consider sending something like this to your local paper urging your county Board of Supervisors to do the same. I live in El Dorado, and had this published in Nevada County. The Counties that have already publicly opposed Boxer's Wilderness bill (that I know of) are:
Plumas, Tehama, El Dorado, Inyo & San Bernardino.
Jon
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July 10, 2002
More wilderness area is not a good thing
I would like to urge Nevada County supervisors to follow Plumas and Tehama counties' recent decision to formally oppose Senator Boxer's Wilderness Bill.
Senator Boxer's bill would add 2.5 million acres to the already existing over 14 million acres (or about 14 %) of Wilderness in California. Under a Wilderness Area designation, numerous outdoor recreation enthusiasts would be shut out of some of their favorite places because of new restrictions on off-highway vehicle and mountain bike activities. By closing these public lands to large segments of the public, Senator Boxer would rob many people of opportunities to enjoy the wonders of nature. While able-bodied 30 year-olds would still be allowed to backpack into the wilderness, the elderly and disabled who rely on vehicle access to experience these sites would be excluded.
I am also worried that wilderness designation will produce a greater threat of wildfires spreading out of control. The prohibition of motorized vehicle access severely limits firefighting capabilities and Senator Boxer's approach to this issue is simply unacceptable. Vehicular access to these areas for firefighting purposes should not be discretionary. Granting a Washington-based Secretary of Interior or Agriculture unilateral authority to decide what firefighting measures are necessary places a significant risk on rural communities.
Erecting a regulatory barbed wire fence around many of the most cherished areas in the Golden State favors the few, when our public lands are supposed to be open to all.
I urge my fellow Californians to contact your local, state and federal representatives and ask that they oppose any new Wilderness Area designations.
Jon Crowley Jr.
Shingle Springs
http://www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73104576873453&Avis=TU&Dato=20020710&Kategori=OPINION&Lopenr=107100018&Ref=AR
Plumas, Tehama, El Dorado, Inyo & San Bernardino.
Jon
------------------------------------------------------------------
July 10, 2002
More wilderness area is not a good thing
I would like to urge Nevada County supervisors to follow Plumas and Tehama counties' recent decision to formally oppose Senator Boxer's Wilderness Bill.
Senator Boxer's bill would add 2.5 million acres to the already existing over 14 million acres (or about 14 %) of Wilderness in California. Under a Wilderness Area designation, numerous outdoor recreation enthusiasts would be shut out of some of their favorite places because of new restrictions on off-highway vehicle and mountain bike activities. By closing these public lands to large segments of the public, Senator Boxer would rob many people of opportunities to enjoy the wonders of nature. While able-bodied 30 year-olds would still be allowed to backpack into the wilderness, the elderly and disabled who rely on vehicle access to experience these sites would be excluded.
I am also worried that wilderness designation will produce a greater threat of wildfires spreading out of control. The prohibition of motorized vehicle access severely limits firefighting capabilities and Senator Boxer's approach to this issue is simply unacceptable. Vehicular access to these areas for firefighting purposes should not be discretionary. Granting a Washington-based Secretary of Interior or Agriculture unilateral authority to decide what firefighting measures are necessary places a significant risk on rural communities.
Erecting a regulatory barbed wire fence around many of the most cherished areas in the Golden State favors the few, when our public lands are supposed to be open to all.
I urge my fellow Californians to contact your local, state and federal representatives and ask that they oppose any new Wilderness Area designations.
Jon Crowley Jr.
Shingle Springs
http://www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73104576873453&Avis=TU&Dato=20020710&Kategori=OPINION&Lopenr=107100018&Ref=AR