<font color="yellow">Write a letter to let the BLM know they are wrong and should not be coersing(?) with the CBD to kick people off public land. Tell the BLM you will not support this type of one sided operations by our government agencies!!!</font c>

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Everyone (you do not need to be a rancher) do a letter and email or fax to the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management people identified at the end of this message. Sorry, I could not find fax numbers for the offices in CA.
I suggest you start your letter stating that you appeal and oppose the actions taken by the California Bureau of Land Management against the rancher Dave Fisher. In addition use any or all of the information below. If you have the time, change into your own words so we do not have a form letter from everyone.

AND PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO IT TODAY. Lets let BLM know the whole country knows what is going on and does not like it. And remember your ranch, your business, your enjoyment of public lands might be next.

FYI - on the appeal letters I asked for last week on this issue, I know of at least twenty letters that was submitted. Thank you all for the work you did.

Rachel


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Dave Fisher needs your (and every one else you know) help!!! Today (October 15) the BLM sent Dave a notice that if he does not remove his livestock from the Ord Mountain allotment in the California Desert (near Barstow, Ca.) within 5 days, his livestock will be impounded by the BLM. Consider the facts:

1. Dave is trying to cooperate with the BLM. The agency asked Dave for an alternative to their original decision; he gave them one that was within the parameters that the BLM and Center for Biological Diversity set. However because the BLM didn't like the alternative, the agency issued a decision to impound livestock.

2. Dave appealed the original BLM's May 15, 2001 decision to the Office of Hearings and Appeals ("OHA") and WON. The original decision was remanded back to the BLM because the BLM failed to consult, cooperate and coordinate ("CCC") with the permittees as required by section 8 of the Public Rangelands Improvement Act and BLM regulations. Dave then travelled to New Mexico to meet with one of the foremost experts in the CCC process to help the BLM initiate the CCC process according to the OHA decision. The BLM has never ever tried to work through the CCC process with Dave.

3. Rather than doing CCC, the BLM simply issued the exact same decision that was rejected by the OHA to Dave again. Dave duly and timely appealed the decision to the Interior Board of Land Appeals ("IBLA") and requested an expedited stay but the IBLA has not ruled on his request.

4. The Department of the Interior asked to visit Dave's ranch; he granted their request and Interior officials are scheduled to visit his ranch next week (the same week as the impoundment action).

5. There were dozens of appeal filed protesting and appealing the BLM's September 7, 2001 decision, and the BLM has not responded to those appeals.

6. Last December when there were "rumours" of concern with protection for the desert tortoise, Dave suggested to the California state BLM director that he exchange his ranch for another ranch. The BLM did not act on that solution to the problem. If Interior believes that Dave's property is so necessary for the desert tortoise, it should exchange Dave's ranch or purchase it. Even though this solution was suggested long ago, the Interior has not acted on it.

7. This is not a question of a rancher who is ignoring the system, but he has stayed within the system and is working through the process and still -- without any court order or decision -- the BLM now says it will impound his livestock. Based upon threats from the Center for Biological Diversity, the BLM now claims to take such action.

I would ask that every one you know prepare a letter of protest to the BLM and to the Secretary of the Interior. Not only is this rancher's livelihood on the line, but now the BLM claims it will gather and take his only means of support. Please do not let this happen.

The important addresses are:

Tim Salt
Desert District Manager
6221 Box Springs Blvd.
Riverside, CA* 92507
Tim_Salt@ca.blm.gov


Tim Read********************************************** *****
Barstow Field Office Manager*****************
2601 Barstow Road***********************************
Barstow, CA* 92311***********************************
Timothy_Read@ca.blm.gov.************************** ***


Mike Pool********************************************** *****
California State Director*****************************
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834*************
Sacramento, CA* 95825**************************** *
castatedir@ca.blm.gov***************************** ****
*FAX (916) 978-4699********************************************** ****
**
*********************************************
Tom Fulton
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Department of the Interior
18th and C Streets, NW*
*Washington D.C.* 20240
*Tom_Fulton@ios.doi.gov
* FAX* 202-208-3144


Secretary Gale Norton
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C. Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
Gale_Norton@ios.doi.gov