From American Sand Association:

This is a letter Roy Denner has sent to Mike Pool. We need to support Roy and follow up with a message in support of this letter.


Roy E. Denner
11108 Green Oaks Road
Lakeside, CA 92040
June 30, 2001


Mike Pool, State Director
U.S. Dept. of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1834
Sacramento, CA 95825-1886

Dear Mr. Pool:

In the past week I have received no less than five documents from the BLM describing land and route closures to motorized vehicle use.

Is there any hope that some day I will see a document from the BLM saying that some of the “unnecessary” closures proposed will be rescinded in order to accommodate the “necessary” closures and the ever-increasing interest in off-road activity by the California public?

In the State’s own California News Bytes email distribution on Friday, June 29th an article released by the Center for Biological Diversity titled “BLM MOVES TO LIMIT ORVs IN CAL. DESERT. BUSH ADMINISTRATION STILL UNACCEPTABLY STALLING ON-THE-GROUND ACTION” is listed among other BLM and actual news media releases.

Since when is the CBD an information news source? Why do we never see news releases from OHV, equestrian, or other recreation organizations? Wouldn’t it be equitable to print a news release stating “OHV ORGANIZATIONS RAISE $40,000 FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AT AN ANNUAL EVENT HELD AT THE OCOTILLO WELLS STATE VEHICULAR RECREATION AREA”. Does this say anything about the balanced land management efforts of the BLM?

Then I receive a copy of a letter from Tim Read, your Barstow Field Manager, reading as follows:
From Wilderness Watch:

More wilderness land is now protected. Today WW received the
following note from BLM's Barstow Field Office:


By your October 31, 1999 letter... you expressed concern about a
private sector application to construct vehicle access across Rodman
Mountains wilderness land to a private inholding.

This is to inform you that escrow closed June 5, 2001 on BLM purchase
of the 562-acre private parcel involved. As a result, the
application for constructed access across Rodman Mountains wilderness
land surfaces, as well as BLM production of the associated
Environmental Assessment, has been rendered moot.

We genuinely appreciate your interest in public lands management, and
your particular concern for wilderness protection.

Sincerely,

Tim Read
Field Manager

You can send a "thanks for the good work" to Timothy_Read @ca.blm.gov

It’s interesting to see how reducing access to private property makes a key manager in the California Desert District so happy!

These kinds of actions on the part of the BLM are waking up a sleeping majority. The vocal minority that has had undue influence over federal land management is about to be challenged big time!

Please don’t have one of your administrative staff respond to me with another “feel good” pitch about how you favor balanced land management. I have not seen a single action by the BLM to respond to the OHV community’s valid, factual concerns since you became the California State Director. This is particularly frustrating since I was very excited about your taking the California BLM reins after meeting you in Barstow last October.

Regards,


Roy Denner
CA Desert District Advisory Council Recreation Representative
President & CEO, Off-Road Business Association
Education Chairman, San Diego Off-Road Coalition

Cc: Gale Norton
Congressman Duncan Hunter
Congressman Duke Cunningham
California Desert Advisory Council Members
OHV Leaders


Regional Coordinator - Fresno