rokryder
10-17-2002, 11:12 AM
STATE OFF-ROAD COMMISSION SACKS WINTER RECREATION PROGRAM ON ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST -- OTHER FORESTS AT RISK
SACRAMENTO, CA (October 16) -- The Off-Highway Motorized Vehicle Commission (OHMVR) today voted to kill the U.S. Forest Service’s winter recreation program along the Highway 50 corridor. The grant request for $147,000 dollars from the Eldorado National Forest was to fund maintenance of snowmobile trails, visitor contact and patrol, restroom cleaning, wildlife research, and snow removal.
On October 17 at the State Capitol the green majority on the commission could vote down the remaining winter recreation programs on the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Tahoe, Klamath, Lassen, Lake Tahoe Basin, Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Shasta-Trinity, Sierra, Stanislaus, and Tahoe National Forests. Over $2.5 million dollars of funding to support winter recreation programs in mostly rural counties is at risk much of which would go for resource protection and law enforcement -- programs that greens often champion.
All three commissioners, John Brissenden, Paul Spitler, and Harold Thomas, who voted not to fund the grant are noted anti-access activists and were given their appointments by either the state senate rules committee or Speaker of the Assembly. Commissioners who supported the grant because of recent conservation and enforcement efforts by the Forest Service included Robert Chavez, Michael Prizmich, and Daphne Greene. These representatives were appointed by Governor Davis.
Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "I think these anti-access commissioners have shown their true colors today after voting to deep-six the partnership that the state had with the federal government to provide managed recreation for millions of Californians. Even after testimony from rural businesses and law enforcement personnel about the important of the winter program, the greens cast an agenda driven vote."
"As a former OHMVR commissioner, I am concerned that the commission has become simply a tool of extremists who will use their position to further their own political views. In my opinion, this advisory body has violated its charter to promote managed recreation on public lands. I am also concerned that Brissenden’s vote constituted a conflict of interest since he holds commercial business non-motorized permits in this area of theforest," Amador concludes.
SACRAMENTO, CA (October 16) -- The Off-Highway Motorized Vehicle Commission (OHMVR) today voted to kill the U.S. Forest Service’s winter recreation program along the Highway 50 corridor. The grant request for $147,000 dollars from the Eldorado National Forest was to fund maintenance of snowmobile trails, visitor contact and patrol, restroom cleaning, wildlife research, and snow removal.
On October 17 at the State Capitol the green majority on the commission could vote down the remaining winter recreation programs on the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Tahoe, Klamath, Lassen, Lake Tahoe Basin, Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Shasta-Trinity, Sierra, Stanislaus, and Tahoe National Forests. Over $2.5 million dollars of funding to support winter recreation programs in mostly rural counties is at risk much of which would go for resource protection and law enforcement -- programs that greens often champion.
All three commissioners, John Brissenden, Paul Spitler, and Harold Thomas, who voted not to fund the grant are noted anti-access activists and were given their appointments by either the state senate rules committee or Speaker of the Assembly. Commissioners who supported the grant because of recent conservation and enforcement efforts by the Forest Service included Robert Chavez, Michael Prizmich, and Daphne Greene. These representatives were appointed by Governor Davis.
Don Amador, the western representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, said, "I think these anti-access commissioners have shown their true colors today after voting to deep-six the partnership that the state had with the federal government to provide managed recreation for millions of Californians. Even after testimony from rural businesses and law enforcement personnel about the important of the winter program, the greens cast an agenda driven vote."
"As a former OHMVR commissioner, I am concerned that the commission has become simply a tool of extremists who will use their position to further their own political views. In my opinion, this advisory body has violated its charter to promote managed recreation on public lands. I am also concerned that Brissenden’s vote constituted a conflict of interest since he holds commercial business non-motorized permits in this area of theforest," Amador concludes.