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SAN creates Land Use
http://nevadabackroaders.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2473		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  geno [ Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:23 am ]
Post subject:  SAN creates Land Use
Hope this helps to understand what Washington is trying to do to our trails.

The SEMA Action Network (SAN) is here to help ensure that enthusiasts like
you and the staff at 4WD&SU have trails to travel for years to come. Check
out the following press release from SAN regarding it's latest endeavor, the
"Guide to Land Use Policies & Off-Road Recreation". The Guide is designed to
explain current land use legislation in laymans terms. Take a look to see
what you can do to help the fight to save public lands for public use.

>From SAN:

"Free and unfettered access to public lands is vitally important to many U.S
citizens, not the least of which are Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts.
This hobby represents a growing trend and leads to more people actively
using and appreciating our public lands each year. Land use policies
developed in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere have a dramatic impact on the
availability of public land for hobbyist use, so it is important to be a
knowledgeable and active enthusiast. Because these laws and regulations are
massively complex, the SAN has created a "Guide to Land Use Policies &
Off-Road Recreation" to help you decode the Washington lingo.


"The "Guide to Land Use Policies & Off-Road Recreation" provides several key
tools that will help you build a solid foundation of land use knowledge. It
includes a broad overview of such topics as the key federal agencies
managing public lands; major laws and regulations, such as the Endangered
Species and Wilderness Acts, that affect access to public lands; private
organizations who are active in the conservation of natural lands while
supporting the hobby; and SAN position statements, which act as a guidepost
for legislative and regulatory advocacy.
"Many laws and regulations that are passed or proposed are well intended,
but have a tendency to be one-sided and too vast in scope, taking little
account of hobbyists who responsibly enjoy nature through a variety of
motorized activities. Far too often, laws are enacted by legislators who do
not take into account the beneficial impact that enthusiasts have on public
lands through the OHV hobby. Many hobbyist groups and clubs actively
participate in the maintenance of roads and trails on their own time and
dollar, conduct clean up days on public lands, and work to preserve the
environment not only because it's the right thing to do, but to ensure that
future generations can enjoy the same natural splendor and beauty our public
lands possess. These are the same individuals that are as passionate about
their vehicles as they are the land they enjoy them on, and maintaining a
future for this hobby on public lands is essential.
"How can these wilderness bills affect my hobby you ask? Imagine planning a
trip to go enjoy OHV trails in The Great Basin, Grand Staircase-Escalante,
Moab-La Sal Canyons or San Rafael Swell areas. Now imagine the U.S. Congress
passing a bill called America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009 which closes
significant portions of those parks to all OHV use. The threat that these
laws and regulations pose to hobbyists are not imagined or abstract; they
are very real and require action on the part of hobbyists, hobby groups and
other industry associations.
"This March, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 was signed into
law, designating more than 2 million acres of wilderness (land closed to all
motorized activities) in nine states. This included areas in and around
Joshua Tree National Park and Eastern Sierras in California, Owyhee-Bruneau
Canyonlands in Idaho, Mt. Hood in Oregon and Zion National Park in Utah.
Additionally, a bill entitled "The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection
Act" has been introduced in Congress. This legislation would set a precedent
by using the term "bioregion" as justification for converting 24 million
acres across five states into wilderness areas. How would you feel if
congressmen and senators from distant states came to your backyard and told
you how you can use local designated trails? Keeping access decisions about
these lands at a local level and to be determined by those who enjoy them is
vital to keeping them free for all Americans.
"The SAN has taken the action of submitting comments in opposition to these
bills, but participation by invested hobbyists and businesses may be
necessary to secure access to these areas in the future for all tax-paying
hobbyists. The SAN's "Guide to Land Use Policies & Off-Road Recreation" is
another means of protecting access to these lands by putting the information
necessary to understand the issues and the players at your fingertips.
Educating yourself and using that knowledge to take action by writing your
legislators and passing the information on to your friends is the key to
creating a win for your hobby and passion. The guide can be found at
http://www.semasan.com/. "


_______________________________________________
Author:  Wizard Tom [ Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SAN creates Land Use
Thanks Geno, very useful info. Thats why I'm a life time member of UFWDA.
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