The Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study alternatives for meeting Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) sustained, combined arms, live-fire and maneuver training requirements. The proposed action is to request the withdrawal of federal public lands, acquire state and privately owned lands, and to seek the establishment of Special Use Airspace with the effect of expanding the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, California.

For the complete Federal Register announcement go to: http://www.pfjv.org/


Helen Baker
www.pfjv.org

I believe I'm reading that thier first proposal includes moving west through Johnson Valley.

Would this mean that that is thier primary goal then? And that the other proposals are only if they run into some unforeseen problem?
If that is the case, we better start looking into mitigation land a bit more seriously.......

I believe I'm reading that thier first proposal includes moving west through Johnson Valley.

Would this mean that that is thier primary goal then? And that the other proposals are only if they run into some unforeseen problem?
If that is the case, we better start looking into mitigation land a bit more seriously.......

I read it as alternatives 1,2,4 and 5 all take land from the West through JV. Alternative 3 seems to be the only one considers a move to the east.

And the sixth would be the No Action alternative, but they do not officially call it six.

What happened to all those people who posted on the rally??

Ok guys and Gals, For some reason this thing sure seems like
the Race car has dropped a tranny. The drive train is somehow is not getting all this horse power to the wheels! Our community
has the horse power, we just need to get the power to the ground!

Let me try to explain a few steps if I may to guide though this.
In attempt to keep it simple, Follow these five steps……..


Step one;
Stakeholder?
How would you classify yourself as a stakeholder?
Resident? Business? Local, or would you be affected by the products you sell or make?
Stargazer, Rocketeer, Rock crawler? Racer? Hot dog vendor?

Jot down as many items that would affect you as a stakeholder.

If you have one item to put pen to paper..Type one sentence, you are half way there!



Step two;
This form letter that goes to Roxie Trost BLM

Link http://www.pfjv.org/com.pdf

This comment form is for the "Request for withdrawal of BLM lands" by
29 Palms Marine Base.

Make sure you fill in all your contact info so you will be added to the
general BLM data base. Comments should include your stakeholder
interest. As soon as BLM Receives this form, You are identified as a
stakeholder. Pretty simple, keep it short and to the point, Maybe suggest
denying JV part of the application. Moving east, And this greatly affects
you weekend outdoor activities. Comment as simple as that.

We have until December 15 2008 to submit these forms.


Step three;

This is completely separate from Step two

The following is taken from the Marine's Notice Of Intent (NOI) to do
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and published in the Federal Register (FR)
October 30, 2008. Posted here http://pfjv.org/PR4.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The public is welcome to comment orally or by written
comment forms at the meeting; or, by sending a letter to
Mr. Joe Ross, Project Manager, 29Palms Proposed Training
Land/Airspace Acquisition Project, MAGTFTC/MCAGCC,
Bldg 1554, Box 788104, Twentynine Palms, CA 92278-8104;
by an e-mail to SMBPLMSWEBPAO@usmc.mil; or by voice mail
at 760-830-3764.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have met Joe, And this guy is not a Plumber, He is a Marine. This
guy really digs the OHV community and the locals . Pretty cool guy to
work with.

Contact Joe though Email, Snail Mail, whatever, Get on his
list of stakeholders. Joe wants to hear from you!

Again Identify your stakeholder interest and get in the
stakeholder data base by including all your contact info.
Comments must be received before January 31, 2009


Step Four;

Bueller?
Where the heck was everyone at the last meetings?

Why are these halls not completely Packed with people?

Attend the following,
1. December 3, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Twentynine Palms, CA;
2. December 4, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Victorville, CA;
3. December 5, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Ontario, CA.

Again, hit the Marines with comments of your interest, It can be as simple as
"Please take no course of action and leave Johnson valley alone".


Step Five;
This is where we need to put pressure on our Reps. This
whole ball of wax will ultimately be decided by an act
of Congress.

This is where we can use a tool like the letter generator
http://www.pirate4x4.com/letters

OR better yet Contact that person in your district, Even
if you are not in California.

In this age of Internet communications, this checklist
should be in the hands and acted upon by every user of
Johnson Valley. No Excuses, I have said before, All the
above is at your fingertips. It's the type of stuff we did
not have back in the days of the big land grabs and plans.

If there is any way to make this any simpler, Im all ears.

The time it takes to send comments, it now takes only a
few minutes out of your day, Type a simple Comment, Print, Sign, Send.

Lastly, PFVJ needs donations
Visit http://www.pfjv.org/

PFJV
3550 Foothill Blvd
Glendale, CA 91214

Wayne

I was at the last meeting. It was clear that they are only interested in moving west. North has a crater and hwy 40. East has some terrain that their tanks won't cross easily. West is open and only used by us off-roaders. Seems they want to move 3 battalions across the desert instead of only 2. The tanks also can't cross a dry lake bed.
The Hartwell Hills are connected to a huge dry lake called Emerson Dry Lake. It is NE of the Hammers. My idea is that they could leave us the HArtwell Hills since they can't cross either dry lake. I need a map to clarify this and will pursue an edit with a map later.

Why can't a tank cross a dry lake?
Emerson is a big ass dry lake east and north east of JV.

They said it'll sink far enuf down to F it up. And gettin em out isn't easy. 61 tons I believe. Yes Emerson is a big lake. It's the main geological feature of the area. My topo map that I used to build the first 7 Hammer trails is called Emerson Dry Lake.
My point is if they can't cross Emerson or Means, maybe they could leave us our little corner of utopia by using the land north and west of Emerson. However they probly figured this all out long in advance and chose their opponent. I believe they see us as poor, illiterate white males.

Wayne, I'm no 'nattering naybob of negativity' but we have a bigger battle on our hands than we first thaught we would have....




(how do you like the edit?)

Wayne, I'm no 'nattering naybob of negativity' but we are fucked....

Hey Rick, pause for a second and read the text in green below all your posts. :grinpimp:

We need to ramp it up and fight on, cus "whoa is me" aint going to get us chit.

I aint going down without a fight in this. I'm fricken 2800 miles away but this is the most beautiful areas I have ever been to and if I only make it back once a year its worth fighting for. If anyone wants to meet their congress person in DC you are more than welcome to come stay at the Bigelow household. We are 45 mins from DC and I get into DC on a regular basis. I've also been on Capital Hill enough and know my way around the Hill and know the protocol there.

Hey Rick, pause for a second and read the text in green below all your posts. :grinpimp:

We need to ramp it up and fight on, cus "whoa is me" aint going to get us chit.

I sure the hell don't go for the 'whoa is me' crap......
I'm looking for the angle that allows us to keep The Hammers. It is not in the proposal....
So, how do we get the Marines to change thier mind?

Is it me or is this link not working?
http://www.pfjv.org/com.pdf

Wayne, I'm no 'nattering naybob of negativity' but...

Give up?

Never! :flipoff2:

This 44 year old has been following the sport of desert racing since I was 12

That’s over 30 years I have been going to places like JV to participate.


Is it me or is this link not working?
http://www.pfjv.org/com.pdf



Doug, That link works on this end, If you can’t get it to go, PM you email addy
I will send you the PDF directly

Thanks
Wayne Nosala

I'm looking for the angle that allows us to keep The Hammers. It is not in the proposal....
So, how do we get the Marines to change thier mind?

Here's what you do.

When you write your comments, you submit a citizen's alternative and ask them to study it. How do you do that? Read the NOI document carefully so that you understand their purpose and need. i.e. how they want to train X amount of Marines for X amount of days, etc. and then you suggest map documentation on how they can meet their purpose and need without taking the Hammers. Is it easy? No. Is it worth doing? Yes. As part of the NEPA process all resonable alternatives will be studied. So be reasonable and thoughtful. Help the Marines to save Johnson Valley.

And, if you want the Marines to go east, don't just tell them that, help them figure out how to deal with Amboy Road (bridge it, tunnel under it, move it), the gas pipeline (reroute to the east) and the cone of the Sheephole Wilderness (dedesignate).

Start thinking outside the box guys.

james

They said it'll sink far enuf down to F it up. And gettin em out isn't easy. 61 tons I believe. Yes Emerson is a big lake. It's the main geological feature of the area. My topo map that I used to build the first 7 Hammer trails is called Emerson Dry Lake.
My point is if they can't cross Emerson or Means, maybe they could leave us our little corner of utopia by using the land north and west of Emerson. However they probly figured this all out long in advance and chose their opponent. I believe they see us as poor, illiterate white males.

Wow that is interesting. Sink in a dry lake... How useful is that?

"Dry" lakes needs to be considered from two aspects:

1. They are areas historically noted for holding water.

2. "Dry" is applied to surface conditions.

If a lake once held water long enough to be identified as a lake. While "dry" it can ans will hold water again given the right conditions.

There are many "day" lakes throughout the west that appear "dry"; however, the underground water table is high enough that there is a crust that appears dry. Given right conditions, a dry lake can swallow a motorcycle.

I sure the hell don't go for the 'whoa is me' crap......
I'm looking for the angle that allows us to keep The Hammers. It is not in the proposal....
So, how do we get the Marines to change thier mind?

About that 'It is not in the proposal...' thing.

WRONG, it is in the proposal as Alternative #3.

Alternative 3 would add the same 22,000 acres of land in the South
as would be added in Alternatives 1 and 2 and would add approximately
228,000 acres to the East of the base.

I should have read more carefully.
Now it is our job to make #3 the most appealing to the Marines as well as to our Congress.

Rick

I've also been on Capital Hill enough and know my way around the Hill and know the protocol there.

No shit? I always thought you were just another dirtbag like me:flipoff2:

hahahah gotta love it! Yeah I'm still the same ole dirtbag I just clean up a little bit during the week. Its weird on the Hill. Not my cake there but again I love Cake.

I'm done on all 4 accounts except for attending the meetings. Wish I could but unfortunately I cant. Wife would cut the boys off.

let me know of any other emails, correspondence, etc I can do/help with.