untitled
NORTHSIDE SNOWMOBILE CLUB
of BATTLE CREEK MICHIGAN, U.S.A.

Legislative Watch

Posted 09/05/06

BRC National Land Use Update

Organizational Framework for National Recreation Resource Advisory Councils Announced

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Pursuant to the controversial Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S.D.A. Forest Service (FS) have announced the development of an organizational framework for the Recreation Resource Advisory Councils (Recreation RACs). The framework was based on public input during 11 meetings held in Idaho, Oregon, California, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and Washington, D.C.

The Recreation RACs will provide recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees and non-commercial individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and fee level changes (increases or decreases.)

Recreation RACs do not make recommendations on recreation fee sites operated by a concessionaire or contractor, commercial permits such as outfitting and guiding, or Forest Service special use permits and BLM special recreation permits issued for group events such as bike races.

According to an update released yesterday the agencies, the BLM and FS Recreation RAC structure will be:

1)  Both agencies will use existing BLM Resource Advisory Councils (BLM RACs) in states where appropriate.  These states include:  Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah.

2)  Both agencies will use new Recreation RACs, chartered by the FS, for the Pacific Northwest Region (Oregon and Washington), the Pacific Southwest Region (California), the State of Colorado, and for the Eastern and Southern Regions (these represent most States east of the Rockies).

3) The FS will use an existing FS Advisory Board for the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

4)  Neither the FS nor the BLM will use Recreation RACs where the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of individual States, have determined that sufficient interest does not exist in forming a FS-chartered Recreation RAC or using a BLM RAC as allowed in the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA).  Those States that are not establishing Recreation RACs are Alaska, Wyoming and Nebraska.

5)  Any of the above described FS-chartered Recreation RACs or BLM RACs may choose to develop subcommittees to better address local community or recreation interests.

6) BLM RACs and FS-chartered Recreation RACs will be providing recommendations for both BLM and FS recreation fees where applicable.

For a more detailed description of the organization, please visit:
 http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-map.shtmlor www.blm.gov/rac.

The FS will soon begin accepting nominations for membership on the new Recreation RACs.   If you are interested in nominating yourself or a member of your organization, please visit the FS Recreation RAC website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac.shtml   All nomination information as well as regional contacts will be posted to this site.

New Recreation RACs, which will occur in the Forest Service's Eastern, Southern, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest and Alaska Regions will consist of 11 members who represent the following interests as indicated in REA:
     * Five people who represent recreation users and include as appropriate: 
            o   Winter motorized
            o   Winter non-motorized
            o   Summer motorized
            o   Summer non-motorized
            o   Hunting and fishing
     * Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate:
            o   Motorized outfitters and guides
            o   Non-motorized outfitter and guides
            o   Local environmental groups
     * Three people, one in each position: 
            o   State tourism official
            o   A person who represents affected local government interests
            o   A person who represents affected Indian tribes' issues

BLM RACs are already formed and members are in place; however the BLM periodically solicits nominations for vacant positions.  These BLM RAC's may consider establishing subcommittees specifically to address recreation fees.

If you are interested in serving on a BLM RAC, please visit www.blm.gov/racfor local information about becoming a member of individual BLM RACs.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at BRC.

Thanks,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102

 

Posted 03/31/06

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Urgent Action Needed: Congress considering drastic cuts in Forest Service Trails Budget!!

This may seem unbelievable to you, but at a time when recreational trail use is increasing in popularity with tens of millions of Americans, Congress is considering major reductions in the budget for trail maintenance on National Forests.

The Bush Administration's proposed budget would reduce Trails funding for the Forest Service by 19.4% for a total decrease of $14.5 million. Recreation funding would be cut by 4% for a decrease of $10 million.

What you need to do:
BRC needs you to contact your House and Senate representatives and let them know that you want funding for National Forest Recreation and Trails programs restored.

BRC has made it easy for you to send your representatives an email. Click the link below to go to our Rapid Response Center.

CLICK LINK HERE.

This issue is critically important -- so we are requesting an additional ACTION ITEM.

Please consider taking just a few minutes to call your Congressman and both your Senators today.

Simply click the link http://capwiz.com/share/home/

Enter your zip code where it says "Elected Officials" to find the contact information for your House and Senate representatives. Take just a few minutes to contact your representative about the cuts in the FS Trail program budget. Use the comment suggestions below.

Thank you in advance,
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Director
BlueRibbon Coalition


Tips for calls regarding Forest Service Trails budget cuts:

Be brief. Be polite.

Tell the staff that you are calling about the proposed cuts for the National Forest Recreation and Trails programs.

Tell the staff that you are concerned that the Administration's budget calls for a 19.4% cut in Trails budget. Tell them you oppose those cuts.

Tell the staff caring for our National Forests and making them accessible to all Americans is a high priority for you and your family.

Ask your representative to reject any attempts to cut the Forest Service Trails and Recreation programs.

Ask your representative to restore the National Forest Recreation and Trails programs to a level equal to that which the Congress appropriated in FY 2006
 

Posted 02/22/06

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

Comments needed on Yellowstone and Grand Teton Winter Use Plan alternatives.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The BlueRibbon Coalition, in cooperation with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) and the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) coordinated two special meetings with Park Service Planners and members of the Snowmobile Community.

At these meetings held on January 17th in West Yellowstone, Montana and January 27th in Jackson, Wyoming, our group discussed the current Winter Use Planning process with John Sacklin, Yellowstone Park Management Assistant, and Gary Pollock, Grand Teton Management Assistant.

The Park Service, using a paper version of a PowerPoint presentation, updated our group on the current EIS process. This process is developing a long term plan for Winter Use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The meeting brought to light several areas of concern.

I will address each area of concern for the two parks.

First, winter use issues in Grand Teton National Park must be considered on their own merits versus simply dragging them along on the coattails of a winter plan for Yellowstone. This park unit is distinctly different from Yellowstone and deserves to be treated differently. But thus far, throughout the previous winter use planning processes, they have not been. And the Range of Scenarios presented by the planning team clearly suggests that there will, again, not be meaningful consideration of the CDST (Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail), Jackson Lake and Grassy Lake Road even though they are presented as "critical elements" of the scenarios.

The following components of the alternatives need to be considered in the range of alternatives for Grand Teton National Park.

Allow non-BAT snowmobiles to be operated on the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail (CDST) since 100% of this trail is immediately adjacent to plowed highways used by other motor vehicles.

Allow non-BAT snowmobiles to be operated on Jackson Lake for fishing access since BAT snowmobiles cannot safely pass through unpacked and drifted snow.

Allow non-BAT snowmobiles to depart from Flagg Ranch on the Grassy Lake Road in order to provide access to national forest trails located on the Targhee National Forest.

Allow up to 50% of daily snowmobile entries on the CDST and Grassy Lake Road to be used by commercial snowmobile outfitters.

PLEASE USE THIS WEB ADDRESS TO REVIEW AND SEND A LETTER TO GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT MARY GIBSON SCOTT

http://capwiz.com/share/issues/alert/?alertid=8474331&type=CU

Second, in the case of Yellowstone National Park the following must be considered in the range of alternatives.

Our first concern is related to "guiding requirements" which is listed as one of the `critical elements' of the Range of Scenarios for snowmobile entries into Yellowstone. From our discussions with the Park Service staff, we understand that this may range from the existing
"100% commercially guided", to a percentage of "non-commercially guided" ,to potentially "unguided" access for a percentage of snowmobilers. We believe that all three scenarios deserve careful consideration and analysis during this EIS process.

Please ensure that all three of the following scenarios are included and receive meaningful consideration during the analysis of alternatives.

A percentage of "commercially guided" snowmobile entries, not to exceed 70% of the total daily entries.

A percentage of "non-commercially guided" snowmobile entries for 30% to 50% of the total daily entries, where the `group leader' has taken some type of certification course to lead up to 10 people into the park.

A percentage of `unguided' snowmobile entries for 20% to 30% of the total daily entries, where all members of the group have watched a video or taken some type of educational short course.

Our second concern over the issue of snowmobile access to and consideration of reopening all Yellowstone `side roads' to snowmobile visitors.

PLEASE USE THIS WEB ADDRESS TO REVIEW AND SEND A LETTER TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK SUPERINTENDENT SUSAN LEWIS.

http://capwiz.com/share/issues/alert/?alertid=8474236&type=CU

Please send the two form letters linked above as soon as possible. The time is short since the preliminary alternatives will be released on March 14th. Please act today to apply public pressure. Your letter will make a difference!

Note: BlueRibbon wants to publicly thank the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) for developing these two form letters!

The BlueRibbon Coalition - 1-800-258-3742. http://www.sharetrails.org
 

Posted 01/13/06

Comments offered in response to request for input to Fost Custer Rec. Area Management Plan (posted following [01/04/06

Fort Custer Recreation Area General Management Plan
‘Draft’ Park Purpose and Significance Statements
January 12, 2005
And
PRD “STANDARD” MANAGEMENT ZONES
4/2005 – PNC

With regards to the subject plan we offer the following input [click title above read]:

1. We support the operation of snowmobiles in the all management zones of the Fort Custer Recreation Area excluding the Primitive Zones and the Back Country Zones. We offer two possible ideas on trail extensions under ideas for consideration below.

2. We suggest the operation of snowmobiles should only be allowed upon designated and permanently signed trails maintained for snowmobile and possible other designated use, such as bicycle, hiking, and car/truck/RV traffic, where deamed appropriate by the MDNR.

3. Snowmobiling should be subject to all state snowmobiling laws and regulations, should not be operated on unfrozen ground or and should not be operated where there is less than four inches of snow cover. Signs that state these prohibitions should be posted at entry points to the Fort Custer Recreation area and in the parking area(s).

4. Snowmobile tow vehicle and trailer parking should be addressed in the management plan, perhaps near the entrance.

Ideas for consideration based upon the maps provided: Possible designated trails across two Back Country Zones (highlighted in green on attached map). 1. Through the southern most existing trail across the Back Country Zone at the southeast central section of the recreation area. 2. Through the existing trail around the west side of Whittford Lake connecting three disconnected Developed Recreation Zones. This would serve three purposes: 1. Could provide a less disjointed trail plan with longer loops with less possibility of having to backtrack. 2. Discourages straying from the designated trail when inexperienced riders are faced with a backtrack situation. 3. A trail around Whittford Lake would allow the snowmobile operators to enjoy its beauty and thus enhance the family snowmobiling experience.

Question: Would snowmobile trail users have to purchase an additional Michigan State Park Permit or would a Michigan State Trail Permit suffice to use the Fort Custer Area trails, as is the case with our other state designated trails?

Suggestion: If snowmobile users should have to pay for two permits for the same recreational usage, we urge that Michigan State Park Permit be required only for the towing vehicle used to transport the snowmobiles to the Recreation Area.

Thank you for soliciting our input and giving us this opportunity to participate in the Fort Custer Recreation Area management process.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kim T. Leach 2005/2006 Vice President Northside Snowmobile Club

 

Posted 01/04/06

If you have any input for the following meeting please contact Larry Crandall or Kim Leach

Good morning,

As you may be aware, the DNR is currently in the process of developing a management plan for Fort Custer Recreation Area. Our next step is to have a public input meeting in order to explain the management planning process to the overall public and gather their input/suggestions.

A public input/information meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2006 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the following address:

Galesburg-Augusta Middle School 750 West Van Buren Augusta, MI 49012

We also added Fort Custer to a "Park Management Plans" web site. See following address. Fort Custer is listed under the category "Feature Plan".

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365_31399---,00.html

We are hoping in receiving local snowmobile input on our planning process for Fort Custer RA. Northside Snowmobile Club is the closest club to Fort Custer, so that is the reason I'm sending your group this email.

I hope to see a representative(s) of your club on January 11th. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Joe Strach District Planner MDNR Parks and Recreation Bureau (517) 641-4903 phone (517) 641-6186 fax strachj@michigan.gov

Alert from Blue Ribbion Commission

Posted 05/25/05

 

BRC's "NO SPIN" on the Roadless Initiative

-by Adena Cook

 
On May 5, the Final Rule on management of our National Forest System "Roadless Areas" was released.  Subsequent news stories totally misrepresented the intent of the Rule or what it could accomplish.  The stories postulated that the Rule would stimulate road-building and timber harvest in these relatively undeveloped areas.  In describing these areas, they chose to ignore that our Roadless Areas are where a significant amount  of recreation occurs in our National Forests, the importance of that recreation, and how it is crucial that these areas be actively managed to provide for forest health, access and diverse recreation opportunities.
 
The Rule establishes guidelines and an ambitious time frame under which the governor of each state with Roadless Areas can submit a petition to the Forest Service proposing to change how each of these areas is now managed.   The stakes for the recreation community are high.  For example in Idaho, 45% of national forest lands are in inventoried roadless areas, and these areas provide significant opportunities for motorized recreation.  The OHV community isn't the only group with a dog in this fight. Indeed, the majority of trail based recreation enjoyed by the American public is in "roadeless" areas.
 
In the next 18 months, a governor must decide whether or not to submit a petition for change.  For those choosing to submit a petition, they must conduct some rational process leading to final submittal to the Secretary of Agriculture on the ambitious time frame required.  Any such decisions are likely to be highly controversial, and subject to the disinformation that has characterized the public discussion so far.  Both could be costly, both in dollars and political capital that a governor could spend to get the job done.
 
The rule leaves to each affected State's discretion the process by which a petition is crafted. It does specify that a petition must contain:
 
  1. Location and description of the lands and how they are managed now.
  2. Purpose and need for change.
  3. Relation of the area's current management to local and state land conservation policies now in place.
  4. How fish and wildlife would be affected.
  5. A description of how the public was involved in developing the petition.
  6. A commitment that the state will participate in subsequent rulemaking as a cooperating agency.

 
After the petition is submitted, the Secretary has 180 days to accept or decline the petition.  The rule provides for the creation of a national advisory committee to assist in evaluating the petitions.  The committee will also provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on any state specific rulemaking.
 
The committee will consist of 12 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, "..composed of a balanced group of representatives of diverse national organizations who can provide insights into the major contemporary issues associated with the conservation and management of inventoried roadless areas&Collectively, the members should represent a diversity of organizations and perspectives." 
 
After a petition is accepted, the Forest Service will begin rulemaking to address the petition.  This rulemaking process will consider the environmental effects of the proposed rule in compliance with NEPA.  Put in the context of other Forest Service planning efforts, the petition may be analogous to a proposed action and the subsequent process will presumably have a full range of alternatives with national public involvement at the appropriate levels.  The subsequent decision by the Secretary will reflect this decisionmaking process, and could be different from the petition.  However, despite many inquiries from states and affected interest groups, the Forest Service and Department of Agriculture have been conspicuously vague in describing the process that will be used in evaluating and finalizing any petitions submitted under the Rule. 
 
This is a powerful opportunity for the recreation community to join together and tell our story:  the importance of recreation in our Roadless Areas, access to our national forests, and active management of those lands.  The story thus far has spun way off this track.  The recreation community has a significant challenge ahead.
 
Following are some thoughts on how recreation groups at the state level could proceed:
 
·       Networking with all the recreation groups that use these roadless areas will be more important than ever.
·        Become informed on all the Roadless Areas in the state, their recreation resources, and assemble a package of the highlights in each.  A good place to start is the Forest Service's Roadless web site: http://www.fs.fed.us
·        Establish a close relationship with officials engaged in the petition decisionmaking and process. 
·        Submit applications to any state committees or task forces that are established.  Now is the time for our best people to become involved.
·        Work with recreation leadership to encourage appropriate applicants for positions on the national committee.  The deadline for applications is 45 days from May 5.
 
Finally, organized recreation advocates have long been, and will continue to be, fully engaged in this process and the fight for our ongoing access to Roadless Areas.  Be aware of their requests for financial or other assistance, and provide them this assistance according to your means and qualifications.
 
This will be a lot of work for everyone in the recreation community who has Roadless Areas in their state.  It is a tremendous opportunity to tell our story, and we cannot afford to leave that story untold.

 

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