Recreational Groups Take Next Step To Save Tellico

[JC NC]

RECREATIONAL GROUPS TAKE NEXT STEPS TO SAVE TELLICO

May 7, 2010

Organizations dedicated to active recreation management today announced their latest efforts to save access to the Upper Tellico OHV System. The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Association, and BlueRibbon Coalition filed a NOI, Notice of Intent to sue, with various federal agencies outlining possible claims under the Clean Water Act. The claims target the U.S. Forest Service decision dated October 14, 2009, to close the Tellico trails to motorized travel. The organizations filed administrative appeals from the decision, which were denied on January 15, 2010.

“The agency’s actions do not surprise us, but are cause for deep concern,” said Roger Theurer, President of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. “It is apparent the Forest Service has disavowed any interest in continuing historical, or any vehicle access to the System. We hope that our organizations have been equally clear that we will fight for reasonable and sustainable access. This is but one step in that continuing effort,” Theurer concluded.

The NOI is a jurisdictional prerequisite to a citizen’s suit under the Clean Water Act.

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

[ROCKRAWL]

Just curious where they announced this? I searched all three of the websites you listed and couldnt find anything.


I also noticed a few days ago that the SFWDA website was awarded best website?? Everything is outdated and the forum is non existant.

[weedwacker]

The forum is up, I posted on it yesterday.

[JC NC]

Originally Posted by ROCKRAWL

Just curious where they announced this?

They announced it right here. Post #1 in this thread.

I would be interested to know where you saw the website rating?

Found it That was from 2005

[florida4x4]

I really hope this isn't too late.

The rating looks like an award from 2005. Scroll down - "We won United's
Best Web Site 2005 Award"

[funkskunk]

JC have you sent this to the Newspapers?

[ROCKRAWL]

Originally Posted by JC NC

They announced it right here. Post #1 in this thread.

I would be interested to know where you saw the website rating?

Found it That was from 2005

It seems an organization would use thier own website for an outlet to show thier accomplishments, not a forum the officials dont even visit.

The SFWDA needs to do a little updating on the site.

[*darcy*]

fyi ... the date he posted this here was 5/6/10 ... the release is dated 5/7/10 ... maybe the intent is to broadcast it friday? i have nothing to really back that up... its just a thought.

[ROCKRAWL]

I seen that, just thought it was a typo. I figured with a big announcement like that, they would release that on thier webpage.

[Eventhough]

Everyone has been yelling for SFWDA et al to file the NOI and to have a bigger presence on Pirate - so now that they have filed the NOI and posted it on Pirate why don't we give them a pat on the back for doing what many of you have been asking?

Southern - how will the NOI effect the current RFP to 'obliterate' the trails? Will the NOI stop the contract from proceeding? What is the timeline from public advertisement of the RFP to awarding of the contract to start of work? If the NOI won't stop the RFP from being awarded and work commencing what else will Southern do to stop the trail obliteration?

Please keep us up to date on anything that happens.

[godevil]

Originally Posted by Eventhough

Please keep us up to date on anything that happens.

This.

[McCracken]

well, I for one am happy to see this. I'm not going on any tangent at this point but I look forward to the updates coming.

[Eventhough]

Originally Posted by McCracken

well, I for one am happy to see this. I'm not going on any tangent at this point but I look forward to the updates coming.

Not being a lawyer (and not staying at a Holiday Inn last night) I'm very curious to the timeline/playbook and what is going to happen from this point out. Doesn't the NOI have to be filed 90 days out from an actual lawsuit? I'm not sure on the amount of time but 90 days sticks in my head for some reason...

[thumping]

Originally Posted by McCracken

well, I for one am happy to see this. I'm not going on any tangent at this point but I look forward to the updates coming.

x2 Hopefully this will at least move things in the right direction.

[JC NC]

Here is a link to the text of the NOI:

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/N...l_05-03-10.pdf

[Jeffb_79]

Originally Posted by ROCKRAWL

Just curious where they announced this? I searched all three of the websites you listed and couldnt find anything.


I also noticed a few days ago that the SFWDA website was awarded best website?? Everything is outdated and the forum is non existant.

Notice the link for the blue ribbon coalition in the 1st post?
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/...6&filter=media

[weedwacker]

Originally Posted by JC NC

Here is a link to the text of the NOI:

http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/N...l_05-03-10.pdf

That is the best news I have heard in months! Great work.

[*darcy*]

so is there going to be some kind of cease and desist on the trail obliteration??

whats the process here??

[JC NC]

The goal of the recreation groups sponsoring this legal action is to preserve, as well as restore access to, the trails in the Upper tellico OHV area.

[MsMarbury]

JC

SFWDA's lawsuit was filed roughly 15 days after this NOI was issued and certainly before the 60 days required by the NOI had expired. Does that mean, that once the 60 days is up SFWDA will be filing a second lawsuit or has this fallen by the wayside and is no longer needed? Or has SFWDA screwed up by not waiting the full 60 days?

MsMarbury

[JBC]

Originally Posted by MsMarbury

JC

SFWDA's lawsuit was filed roughly 15 days after this NOI was issued and certainly before the 60 days required by the NOI had expired. Does that mean, that once the 60 days is up SFWDA will be filing a second lawsuit or has this fallen by the wayside and is no longer needed? Or has SFWDA screwed up by not waiting the full 60 days?

MsMarbury

If I understand correctly the suit filed is not the same one as the NOI. The second one is to hopefully stop the obliteration process while waiting for the other case to be heard.

[MsMarbury]

Originally Posted by JBC

If I understand correctly the suit filed is not the same one as the NOI. The second one is to hopefully stop the obliteration process while waiting for the other case to be heard.

Thanks and that explains why the NOI is signed by BRC's land use expert (Turcke) while the lawsuit is signed by an attorney from Charlotte.

MsMarbury

[JC NC]

Originally Posted by *darcy*

so is there going to be some kind of cease and desist on the trail obliteration?

Obviously we would like to get an injunction to stop the FS before they begin their "obliteration" proceedings.

Originally Posted by MsMarbury

JC, SFWDA's lawsuit was filed roughly 15 days after this NOI was issued and certainly before the 60 days required by the NOI had expired. Does that mean, that once the 60 days is up SFWDA will be filing a second lawsuit or has this fallen by the wayside and is no longer needed? Or has SFWDA screwed up by not waiting the full 60 days? MsMarbury

What JBC said

[McCracken]

The article was in the Asheville Citizen Times yesterday. Also, here's a link to the comments.

http://www.citizen-times.com/comment...-trail-closure

[Crawfords Campground]

Just checking, do we have a date for the emergency injunction hearing? or is there any info?