Urgent Bad news for Utah

[TheBigSgt]

This is not good! Please call your reps and say you don't want to support it!
Outdoor companies ask Obama for Utah monument | ksl.com

We also need a copy of the letter and what companies backed this.

Matt Wetrich
AKA The Big Sarge
President Utah 4Wheel Drive Assocation

[Stonebone]

Will do. Thanks for the heads up.

[aphantomduck]

This could be a rough one to keep from happening in that the President, under his authority of the Antiquities Act can designate the land at will with no pubic process or debate in Congress.

[TheBigSgt]

So true!
He can just do it! Bill Clinton Jr!

[TrailGuru]

Here is the Outdoor Industry Association letter on the Canyonlands Monument proposal, with a list ofmember companies supporting it. The OIA has long been led by some hard core anti-OHV folks, with North Face and Patagonia being some of the biggest and most vocal. Patagonia also paid for the production of a huge glossy coffee table book that is nothing but a total hit piece on motorized recreation, called "Thrillcraft"

Thrillcraft - The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation

Most of the companies make backpacking or mountaineering products, but several major companies sellproducts to our community as well, such as Camelback, Fat Tire beer, Jansport, Red Wing Shoes, and several restauraunts in Moab

The formatting gets messed up when I paste this letter in, so here is a link to the letter also:

http://www.eenews.net/assets/2012/11...ment_gw_01.pdf

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We are writing to encourage you to protect Greater Canyonlands – the magnificent 1.4 million-acre region of
publicly-owned wildlands surrounding Canyonlands National Park in southern Utah – by proclaiming it a
national monument.
Greater Canyonlands is without question a world class landscape deserving of the highest levels of protection.
It is a place of unparalleled beauty, a geologic wonderland and a treasure trove of ancient cultural and
archeological artifacts. Greater Canyonlands also offers superlative recreational opportunities that draw
people from around the globe.
Many of us know and love the Greater Canyonlands area firsthand, and would like to see the area preserved
because it is a premier part of our nation’s natural heritage. But as people who make their living in the
outdoor industry, we also want to stress that preserving landscapes like Greater Canyonlands makes good
economic sense. Wildlands are the foundational infrastructure for our industry.
A study recently released by the Outdoor Industry Association notes that outdoor recreation is “an overlooked
economic giant,” generating $646 billion in national sales and services in 2011 and supporting 6.1 million
jobs, powering the economy in a manner comparable to the financial services and insurance industries or
outpatient health care. As highlighted by the Western Governors Association, in western states alone outdoor
recreation spending equaled almost $256 billion (nearly 40% of the national total) and supported 2.3 million
jobs.
The future of our outdoor recreation economy depends on protecting iconic landscapes – such as Greater
Canyonlands – where people go to recreate. And monument proclamation is an important and effective way to
provide the protection that is needed.
We also turn to you for action because unfortunately, Greater Canyonlands is endangered. Federal land use
plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land to drilling and mining and fail to address exploding
off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude. Now, the state of Utah is
demanding that the federal government turn over 30 million acres of federal land for potential development
and/or privatization and is asserting the right to expand and pave 40,000 miles of dirt routes and trails that crisscross
Utah’s federally-owned wildlands. Both actions would result in the despoiling of Greater Canyonlands.
We hope you will act to protect Greater Canyonlands. Thank you for your vision and leadership.

Outdoor Industry Association
Boulder, CO
Frank Hugelmeyer
President and CEO

Black Diamond Equipment
Salt Lake City, UT
Peter Metcalf
CEO and Lead Founder

Backcountry.com
Park City, UT
Jill Layfield
CEO

Eastern Mountain Sports
Peterborough, NH
Will Manzer
CEO

Petzl
Clearfield, UT
Roody Rasmussen
Senior Vice President

Western Spirit Cycling
Moab, UT
Ashley Korenblat
CEO

Patagonia
Ventura, CA
Casey Sheahan
President

PROBAR LLC
Salt Lake City, UT
Jules Lambert
President

Gregory Mountain Products
Salt Lake City, UT
Billy Kulczycki
President

Mountain Hardwear
Richmond, CA
Topher Gaylord
President

Canyon Voyages Adventure
Company
Moab, UT
Don and Denise Oblak
Owners

Rim Tours
Moab, UT
Kirstin Peterson
Owner

Teva
Goleta, CA
Joel Heath
President

Moki Mac
Green River, UT
Bob Quist
Owner

Moab Cliffs and Canyons
Moab, UT
Brett Sutteer
Owner

Jansport
Morland, KS
Skip Yowell
Co-Founder

Lost River Clothing
Company
Moab, UT
Dave Knowles
President

Skinny Tire Events --
Road Cycling in Moab
Moab, UT
Beth Logan
Owner

Red Wing Shoes
Red Wing, MN
Bill Sweasy
Chairman/CEO

Canyonlands Field Institute
Moab, UT
Karla VanderZanden
Director

Miguel’s Baja Grill
Moab, UT
Dave Bodner
Owner

Camelbak
Petaluma, CA
Sally McCoy
President and CEO

Magpie Adventures
Moab, UT
Maggie Wilson
Owner

Ekletica Cafe
Moab, UT
Julie Fox
Owner

Prana
Carlsbad, CA
Theodosakis Beaver, Founder
Scott Kerslake, CEO

Moab Destination
Management
Moab, UT
Fiona Raison
President

Moab Coffee Roasters
Moab, UT
Jana Wilson
Owner

Osprey Packs
Mill Valley, CA
Michael Pfotenhauer
Owner and Founder

Horny Toad Activewear
Santa Barbara, CA
Kate Larramendy
Design Director

With Gaia Design
Moab, UT
Kalen Jones
Owner

Marmot Mountain, LLC
Rohnert Park, CA
Mark Martin
President

North Face
San Leandro, CA
Ann Krcik
Director Outdoor Participation

Nichols Expeditions
Moab, UT
Chuck and Judy Nichols
Owners

American Recreation
Products
Boulder, CO
Brett Jordan
CEO

Nikwax Waterproofing
Seattle, WA
Chas Fisher
President

White Horse Residential
Homes
Moab, UT
Mark Griffith
Managing Partner

Bergans USA, LLC
Longmont, CO
Patry Loomis
President

The Conservation Alliance
Bend, OR
John Sterling
Executive Director

Desert Bistro
Moab, UT
Karl and Michelle Kelley
Owners

Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen, CO
Mike Kaplan
President/CEO

Backbone Media LLC
Carbondale, CO
Nate Simmons
Partner and Founder

High and Wild
Castle Valley, UT
Jay Smith
Owner

Adventure Bound River
Expeditions
Grand Junction, CO
Tom Kleinschnitz
President

Ute Mountaineer
Aspen, CO
Bob and Ruth Wade
Owners

Far Out Expeditions
Bluff, UT
Vaughn Hadenfeldt
Owner/Guide

Loki Outerwear
Grand Junction, CO
Seth Anderson
Co-Owner

Whitewater West
Grand Junction, CO
Pete and Monica Atkinson
Owners

Bryce Valley KOA
Kampground
Cannonville, UT
John Holland
Owner

4 Corners Riversports
Durango, CO
Andy Corra
President

Pine Needle
Mountaineering
Durango, CO
Jeremy Dakan
Owner

Imlay Canyon Gear
Mt. Carmel Junction, UT
Nolan Jones
President

Mountain Waters Rafting
and Adventure Co.
Durango, CO
James Wilkes & Dan Bechtel
Owners

Deer Hill Expeditions
Mancos, CO
Douglas and Beverly Capelin
Owners and Founders

Red Desert Adventures
Springdale, UT
Eric Draper
Owner

Kling Mountain Guides
Durango, CO
Josh Kling
Owner

Open Sky Wilderness
Therapy
Durango, CO
Aaron Fernandes
CEO

Wasatch Touring
Salt Lake City, UT
Charlie and Dwight Butler
Owners and Founders

Verde PR and Consulting
Durango, CO
Kristin Carpenter-Ogden
CEO and Founder

Venture Snowboards
Silverton, CO
Klemens and Lisa Branner
Owners

The Family Outing
Murray, UT
Richard Luke
Owner

New Belgium Brewing
Ft. Collins, CO
Jenn Vervier
Director, Strategic Development
and Sustainability

Neptune Mountaineering
Boulder, CO
Gary Neptune
Owner and Founder

International Mountain
Equipment
Salt Lake City, UT
Scott Carson
Owner

La Sportiva
Boulder, CO
Jonathan Lantz
President

Scarpa
Boulder, CO
Kim Miller
CEO

Trio Restaurant Group
Salt Lake City, UT
Mikel Trapp
Owner

GTHI
Boulder, CO
Malcolm Daly
Founder

The Access Fund
Boulder, CO
Brady Robinson
Executive Director

SOAR Communications
Salt Lake City, UT
Chip Smith
President

Stohlquist WaterWare
Alamosa, CO
Jim Stolhquist
President

Outside Adventure Film
School
Boulder, CO
Michael Brown
Founder

Outdoor Utah Adventure
Guide
Salt Lake City, UT
Red Oelerich
Editor-in-Chief

Veterans Expeditions
Boulder, CO
Nick Watson
Army Ranger

Fishpond Inc.
Denver, CO
John Land Le Coq
CEO and Founder

Excalibur Distribution/
DMM Inc.
Sandy, UT
Steve Petro
CEO

American Alpine Club
Golden, CO
Phil Powers
Executive Director

Stonewear Designs
Louisville, CO
Kitty Bradley
President

SNOCRU
Sundance, UT
Ed Lewis
Founder

NRS
Moscow, Idaho
Bill Parks
Founder

Chalk Bag Specialist
Pocatello, ID
San Krieg
Owner

Quality Bicycle Products
Ogden, UT
Steve Flagg
President

Asana Climbing
Boise, ID
Jamey Sproul
Founder

Wild Iris Mountain Sports
Lander, WY
Jennifer Barrett
Owner

Alpine Sports
Ogden, UT
Peggie Chambers Ambrey
Owner

Oceanmedix.com, LLC
Wilson, WY
Dennis Emory
Co-Founder

The Base Camp
Billings, MT
Scott Brown
Owner

Thompson Manufacturing Inc.
Clearfield, UT
Rock Thompson
President

Outdoor Research
Seattle, WA
Dan Nordstrom
President

International Mountain
Guides
Ashford, WA
Phil Ershler

Logan Outdoor Products/
Camp Chef
Logan, UT
Ty Measom
President

Far Bank Enterprises
Bainbridge Island, WA
Travis Campbell
CEO

Mountain Gear
Spokane Valley, WA
Paul Fish
President

Ultralight Adventure
Equipment
Logan, UT
Chris McMaster
Owner

Peak Sports
Corvalis, OR
Jeff Katz
Owner

Montrail
Richmond, CA
Topher Gaylord
President

Treasure Mountain Inn
Park City, UT
Andy Beerman
Owner

Mountain Tools
Carmel, CA
Larry Arthur
CEO and Lead Founder

Mammoth Mountaineering
Supply
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Dave Talsky
President

Christoph & Company
Park City, UT
Lesley Christoph
President

Wilson’s Eastside Sports
Bishop, CA
James Wilson
Owner

Desert Rock Sports
Las Vegas, NV
Steve Mallory
Owner

Grassroots Outdoor Alliance
Park City, UT
Roanne Miller
President

Midwest Mountaineering
Minneapolis, MN
Rod Johnson
Owner and Founder

River Sports Outfitters
Knoxville, TN
Laura Jones
General Manager

Burton Snowboards
Burlington, VT
Jake Burton Carpenter
Donna Carpenter
Owners

Jetboil, Incorporated
Manchester, NH
Perry Dowst
President and CEO

Mammut Sports Group
Shelbourne, VT
Bill Supple
CEO

Penguin Brands
Greater Boston Area, MA
Donna Williams
SR Sales Manager

River Runner Outdoor
Center
Columbia, SC
Guy Jones
President

Pack and Paddle
Lafayette, LA
Rebecca Williams
Owner

Pack Rat Outdoor Center
Fayettville, AR
Carolyn Crook
Owner

Rabbit Mountain
Miami, FL
Edward Gerety
President

Equip
Derbyshire, UK
Matt Gowar
CEO

Exped
Zurich, Switzerland
Heidi Brun
CEO

[Family man]

The town of Moab would dry up except for the hiking and Cycling shops that are supporting this. What a total load of crap. I rode in the Moab area this year and was amazed at the beauty of the area. There are already areas for cycling and hiking where ohv's are not allowed. I was amazed and how well the trails were being taken care of. In many places you could hardly tell there that a trail even existed. I have a sinking feeling after 4 more years of Obama/ Salazar that our best riding spots will be shut down for the "good of the Enviroment"(read to make the greenies money and to punish us ohv'ers). Guess I will never buy another product from Jansport or Camelbak or any of the other comanies listed.

[LYIN' KING]

This landuse email about Utah comes to you from Del Albright.

UTAH UNDER THE GUN FROM OUTDOOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Outdoor Industry Association (businesses making a living off the great outdoors) launches massive attack on Utah for more land restrictions, this time in the form of a new Monument Proposal that 100 businesses signed onto and sent to President Obama. I don’t think anyone asked Utah what they thought….???

Some companies that are in the forefront of closing lands seem to include: Teva, CamelBak, Moab Coffee Roasters, North Face, New Belgium Brewing, and more. I’m really surprised that REI did not sign on as they are usually in the lead for more Wilderness and motorized restrictions.

Pdf with companies listed: http://www.delalbright.com/Access/Ca...s%20letter.pdf

BRC Alert and what to do: https://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/2...pushed-in-utah

National leaders are taking a counter action to this, but you can help too. Go to the BRC alert and do what you can.

Thank you,
Del


Del Albright

Ambassador, BlueRibbon Coalition Home | BlueRibbon Coalition
Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon Friends of the Rubicon
Environmental Affairs, CA4WDC Home - California Association of 4WD Clubs, Inc.
Find us on Facebook here

Contact Del at del@delalbright.com
Website: Land Use, Access and Rubicon Trail Home Page by Del Albright including Volunteer Training and Outdoor Photography

[broncomitch]

BE SURE TO SINE THIS PETITION!!!!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...untry/s6BHJcKn

[HardcoreAK]

Originally Posted by aphantomduck

This could be a rough one to keep from happening in that the President, under his authority of the Antiquities Act can designate the land at will with no pubic process or debate in Congress.

Hi folks, thanks for the footwork, and efforts highlighting such a sensitive topic. I decided to bring this commentary over from another thread because its really about land use.

I'm so happy to see some "fired up" people after such a lame reckoning of elections. I was thinking everybody was fired up before the election, but gaging the voter turnout I guess I was mistaken.

In essence of all the seccession petitions filed, and the fact that the reigning dictator in DC has pretty much untouchable power when it comes to these issues.... lets pray he is preoccupied with higher priorities like the middle east, and military sex scandals... that don't actually destroy our military and intelligence processes.

The BIG picture here, is that WE all need to PUSH and PUSH HARD for the sovereignty of "states rights".

This is Utah's issue, and I'm going to sign on and SUPPORT the state of Utah in their request! We need to make that argument clear.

All of the states joining into a union was a concept that served its purpose of the greater good. In the later years of the 1900's only led to big government agencies and bloated blanket environmental policies that are no longer necessary nor are they viable, let alone affordable in the current world.

Voting with our dollars is a powerful form of communication but not as effective as directly writing letters to these companies, its obvious that the leftists that wrote some of these companies "into" their plot have cheated and lied as they drafted the letters, just like the majority of leftists do.

Write your local and state constituents! Tell them we MUST limit the power of these federal agencies, and find ways to limit the power or at a minimum BOG DOWN these extreme leftist special interest organizations with the VERY thing that they wield as a weapon, "paperwork and regulation" fight fire with fire. Make it impossible for them to operate without jumping through firey hoops and chasing ends of rainbows. How about a minimum of a "comprehensive environmental analysis" MUST be completed following about a 7000 page format before they can restrict useage of any land for any reason....????

Why can we just have massive property's locked up by the stroke of a pen? Thats crazy! The way I see it this type of issue they MUST prove the validity of their claims, the effectiveness of their plan.... just like all the mining permit requests, or even oil company's who want to go drill a well on property they already paid millions of dollars to "explore"...?? They have to provide some "comprehensive plan" and it has to be available, to go through a public "review" hearing in respective local courts before anything gets approved for a go ahead.

Executive Orders need to dissappear. That's waayy too much power for one man and an agenda. Cheers?

This is the ONLY way to gain any form of control on what happens to our backcountry access. What the heck right does any "national" or "fed" organization have on what happens in ANY state?

They don't.

An often heard comment "As long as its what the majority wants" I don't give a crap what the majority of this "country" wants. Especially when we are talking about a local matter. Majority from the locals who live there? Hell yeah they deserve the voice. Tis their back yard.

Thanks for listening.

[knaffie]

Originally Posted by broncomitch

BE SURE TO SINE THIS PETITION!!!!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...untry/s6BHJcKn

#121. We need a hell of a lot more - 24,880 to go and 4 weeks left.

[badassblaze]

#124. Between the con, this, and me not having my rig finished for another half year, and then trying to get time off, I may never get the chance to wheel these awesome holy grail areas.

[LYIN' KING]

Urge your Members to Oppose Efforts to Lock Up Enormous Tracts of Public Lands

Earlier this week non-motorized recreation groups joined a number of Utah businesses on a letter to President Obama urging him to designate 1.4 million acres of public lands in Utah as a National Monument. The letter stated, “Federal land use plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land to drilling and mining and fail to address exploding off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude” (emphasis added). Of course the letter fails to note that a recent management plan was put in place for the area that is supported by local governments and limits motorized and non-motorized activities to routes that have been subject to environmental analysis and public involvement. Further, the letter from non-motorized organizations cites an economic impact study that shows “that outdoor recreation is ‘an overlooked economic giant,’ generating $646 billion in national sales and services in 2011 and supporting 6.1 million jobs...” Again, they are telling only part of the story. The same study shows that approximately $257 billion or nearly 40% of the total $646 billion in economic impact is derived from motorized recreation. And, as you know, motorized recreation is far too often shut out of National Monument areas.

ARRA and our partners are pushing back. Click here to view a response letter signed by 14 national organizations representing responsible motorized recreation. This letter is a start, but we need your help to ensure that the President understands that effective land management is best achieved through deliberative local processes that engage all stakeholders – not through Administrative fiat.

Please click the Take Action link to send an email to the President opposing this and other massive, inappropriate designations of National Monuments. It is important for motorized recreation enthusiasts all across the country to weigh in as today anti-access organizations have targeted Utah, but tomorrow it may be your state.

TAKE ACTION!

[Jeff Knoll]

[euroford]

I ended up kind of getting sucked into this one...

So personally, i kind of bridge the gap between the "Outdoor Industry" and the "OHV" user groups. my vision of an ideal weekend is hitching the jeep to the diesel, throwing the camping, climbing and biking gear in the back, and truckin down i70 for the weekend to moab, its one of the few places where you can satisfy all of that in world class fashion.

so given this, and the fact that we live in Boulder county, our friends, neighbors, coworkers and buddies are some of the people involved in this and i've spent the last couple of days having some pretty interesting conversations with some of the people involved.

I come to find out that the intent of this letter was NOT to alienate the OHV people and i've been told over and over and over again that is as much about protecting the OHV use as any other, and the point is to oppose the extractive industries.

to me via email, the letter has been acknowledged as "crappy and inflammatory" towards the OHV industry and needs to be rewritten, but the outdoors industry DOESN'T KNOW and DOESN'T UNDERSTAND the OHV industry and the best they knew how to do was to go to some of the moab area ohv tour providers who clearly don't reflect the OHV group as a whole.

this is a PEOPLE PROBLEM. the right people in the OHV business need to be put in touch with the right people in outdoors so that off highway recreation can be properly represented in a cohesive effort against oil and gas.

so thats what i want to find out. i want to find out who the right people to represent the OHV interested are and i can do my best to put them in touch with some of my other contacts in the outdoors industry.

this is kind of a new thing.... i guarantee that climbers, bikers and jeepers (toyota's and buggy too...) all really really love the moab area so we need to figure out a way to all work together.

so if you can help with this, please send me a pm, post here, or an email to euroford@gmail.com with some names, emails or telephone numbers that i can spread over to some outdoor industry contacts and maybe this whole thing can be sorted out a bit better.

of we can just bitch on the internet! and let em drill!!

[knaffie]

We have two thread going about the same thing. Would be nice to put it all in one place..........

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...your-list.html

As I posted in there, this letter from Gregory states: "The Outdoor Industry Association proposal for a Canyonlands National Monument WOULD KEEP ROADS AND TRAILS OPEN TO MOTORIZED TRAVEL. The outdoor industry is asking for this Monument to protect recreation of all types---biking, jeeping, hiking, horses, ohv's, hang gliders, base jumpers---EVERYBODY."

So unless somebody can tell me wrong, this thing sounds pretty good to me. I agree with what euroford said above - we need to work together, not against each other.

[Family man]

Originally Posted by knaffie

We have two thread going about the same thing. Would be nice to put it all in one place..........

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...your-list.html

As I posted in there, this letter from Gregory states: "The Outdoor Industry Association proposal for a Canyonlands National Monument WOULD KEEP ROADS AND TRAILS OPEN TO MOTORIZED TRAVEL. The outdoor industry is asking for this Monument to protect recreation of all types---biking, jeeping, hiking, horses, ohv's, hang gliders, base jumpers---EVERYBODY."

So unless somebody can tell me wrong, this thing sounds pretty good to me. I agree with what euroford said above - we need to work together, not against each other.

Except the letter to the President Specifically included wording that condemns that ohv use in the area. They can tell you what you want to keep you happy, but what they are saying to you and what they are asking the president to do are totally different things.

[MochaMike]

Knaffie, please read my posts/links in the other thread.

I think Greg (& others) have been misled by the people behind the letter/monument proposal.

Feel free to share what I have found with him.

[LYIN' KING]

Originally Posted by knaffie

We have two thread going about the same thing. Would be nice to put it all in one place..........

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/gener...your-list.html

There are at least five, four in this sub-forum.

It is entirely understandable given the importance and significance of the issue but to keep things clean the "search before post" approach would seem to have been prudent.

This one was first, put up by a member of a club local to the fight!

[Jeff Knoll]

Originally Posted by euroford

I ended up kind of getting sucked into this one...

So personally, i kind of bridge the gap between the "Outdoor Industry" and the "OHV" user groups. my vision of an ideal weekend is hitching the jeep to the diesel, throwing the camping, climbing and biking gear in the back, and truckin down i70 for the weekend to moab, its one of the few places where you can satisfy all of that in world class fashion.

so given this, and the fact that we live in Boulder county, our friends, neighbors, coworkers and buddies are some of the people involved in this and i've spent the last couple of days having some pretty interesting conversations with some of the people involved.

I come to find out that the intent of this letter was NOT to alienate the OHV people and i've been told over and over and over again that is as much about protecting the OHV use as any other, and the point is to oppose the extractive industries.

to me via email, the letter has been acknowledged as "crappy and inflammatory" towards the OHV industry and needs to be rewritten, but the outdoors industry DOESN'T KNOW and DOESN'T UNDERSTAND the OHV industry and the best they knew how to do was to go to some of the moab area ohv tour providers who clearly don't reflect the OHV group as a whole.

this is a PEOPLE PROBLEM. the right people in the OHV business need to be put in touch with the right people in outdoors so that off highway recreation can be properly represented in a cohesive effort against oil and gas.

so thats what i want to find out. i want to find out who the right people to represent the OHV interested are and i can do my best to put them in touch with some of my other contacts in the outdoors industry.

this is kind of a new thing.... i guarantee that climbers, bikers and jeepers (toyota's and buggy too...) all really really love the moab area so we need to figure out a way to all work together.

so if you can help with this, please send me a pm, post here, or an email to euroford@gmail.com with some names, emails or telephone numbers that i can spread over to some outdoor industry contacts and maybe this whole thing can be sorted out a bit better.

of we can just bitch on the internet! and let em drill!!

I am often the first to look for compromise, and like you I enjoy multiple types of recreation. I have no desire to go do burnouts at Devils postpile, or Rainbow falls, but I also don't like the fact my Dad is not able to see Delicate arch because he is handicap. A balance is my belief.

That being said here is a quote from the letter by OIA.

A study recently released by the Outdoor Industry Association notes that outdoor recreation is “an overlooked
economic giant,” generating $646 billion in national sales and services in 2011 and supporting 6.1 million
jobs, powering the economy in a manner comparable to the financial services and insurance industries or
outpatient health care. As highlighted by the Western Governors Association, in western states alone outdoor
recreation spending equaled almost $256 billion (nearly 40% of the national total) and supported 2.3 million
jobs.
The future of our outdoor recreation economy depends on protecting iconic landscapes – such as Greater
Canyonlands – where people go to recreate. And monument proclamation is an important and effective way to
provide the protection that is needed.
We also turn to you for action because unfortunately, Greater Canyonlands is endangered. Federal land use
plans inappropriately open scenic and undeveloped land to drilling and mining and fail to address exploding
off-road vehicle use that is damaging riparian areas, cultural sites, soils and solitude.

The Study they refer to was paid in part by MIC, and ROHVA through a partnership with OIA. I have a little bit of a hard time with the statement that OIA does not know who to talk to from the OHV industry. I am not saying that ROHVA and MIC are the voice of that industry, but based on the response from the unified Motorized Recreation groups (which they both supported in opposition of OIA) I would guess that if their (ROHVA and MIC) money was good enough for OIA that perhaps they should consider some dialog with those groups?

That letter and the groups that signed it might be a good start for OIA if they really want to have a discussion. My hat is off to you for trying to bridge the gap. I agree with that type of effort. Solutions, not just complaints. How can i help?

The thing that makes me smile is how much better the OHV groups are working together, and how powerful the message can be when they are in harmony.

[zukijames]

still not many signing the petition! if this happens it wont only be bad for utah..

people are still going to wheel! so colorado /az/new mexico/ even the hammers and rubicon will get more traffic if moab is closed..

that will lead to more complains about damage to the trails in those areas..


we all need to help everyone out and join together and not just win this battle but lets win the damn war and get this over with!

[zukijames]

another misguided company


Ashley Korenblat ashley@westernspirit.com
1:00 PM (4 hours ago)

to me
Hi James,

Not sure where you are getting your info, but it will not close one bike trail or motorized route. The point is to protect against oil and gas and other extractive industries around the National Park.

Ashley

[Bebe]

Today's Press Release by OIA.....

Industry News

OIA Statement on Greater Canyonlands Monument Designation

For Immediate Release

Avery Stonich
Outdoor Industry Assocation
303.327.3511
astonich@outdoorindustry.org



Boulder, Colorado, Nov 16, 2012 -

In early August 2012, Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), along with 100 companies, signed a letter in support of designating the Greater Canyonlands area as a national monument.

The canyon country of Southeast Utah, Canyonlands National Park and the Greater Canyonlands area host spectacular natural, biological and cultural resources. The area is known for world-class outdoor recreation – from climbing and canyoneering to whitewater to off-road touring and mountain biking and more. Increasingly, these resources and amenities drive a diverse and sustainable outdoor recreation and tourism economy across the region.

The challenges facing the Greater Canyonlands area represent a much larger issue. Right now, the needs of two fast growing industries – outdoor recreation and energy extraction – are at odds.

Outdoor recreation is a large and growing economic driver in the U.S., representing $646 billion in direct spending each year and more than 6.1 million American jobs. OIA believes that it is crucial to find a balance between the needs of extractive industries and sustainable outdoor recreation. Conflict will continue until outdoor recreation is an equal and important consideration alongside energy development planning.

OIA is working collaboratively with the state of Utah to craft an outdoor recreation vision to ensure that the world-class recreational values of places like the Greater Canyonlands region are preserved. We hope that this open and transparent process results in a balanced approach to managing Utah’s public lands and resources. Until such a plan is in place, letters requesting protections are necessary tools to ensure that outdoor recreation interests are considered and preserved, especially as Congress remains in gridlock and unable to take meaningful action to balance outdoor recreation and energy development.

OIA aims to protect the integrity of this area for all types of outdoor recreation experiences. We seek a collaborative and holistic vision and approach that balances the competing needs on our nation’s public lands. With this in place, recreational user groups can work collaboratively to define management plans at the local level.

OIA and our members believe protecting our public parks, trails and waters is much more than just about the land. It is about protecting the economy, communities, companies and people whose lives depend on having access to high quality outdoor recreation experiences.

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[LYIN' KING]

ALL outdoor groups posturing aside . . . instead of utilizing the “Antiquities Act” via the President’s whims to get this done, how about running it through “we the people” via the House and Senate???

At least that would ensure nothing got done!

I’m so sick of the constant barrage of “Secretarial and Executive Orders” that grab the publics land!!!

The very thought of pulling a “Clinton” on this so early in the beginning of “Four More Years” is causing projectile vomiting urges!!!

Gonna hate being bent over and sodomized some more by what will surely follow this crap . . .

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by LYIN' KING

ALL outdoor groups posturing aside . . . instead of utilizing the “Antiquities Act” via the President’s whims to get this done, how about running it through “we the people” via the House and Senate???

Because they have tried for YEARS and failed.....Hinchey

[Stonebone]

Originally Posted by broncomitch

BE SURE TO SINE THIS PETITION!!!!

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/pet...untry/s6BHJcKn

Done, thanks. A couple years till my buggy is done, and all the wheelin' areas I ever hoped to go to are getting shut down!!!!!!