Don't Like Land Closure ? Contact Your Rep NOW !

[KTMrad 508]

Here is YOUR chance to do something for our sport......use the links below to contact your representatives to tell them you support this bill and would like them to support it and that they should know about this important issue.......don't complain about losing riding areas if you don't do anything about it. Contacting your representative is EASY ! A quick letter, or even showing up at their office is not hard to do. Please don't be complacent.

In the future, I'd like to organize our own local "Lobby Day" where we visit some local representatives to show support of certain issues and bills.

April 29, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Off-highway riding restrictions may be lifted on 43 million acres

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), joined by other lawmakers, has introduced a bill to free up almost 43 million acres of public land that now may be off-limits to off-highway riding, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

Powerful lawmakers supporting the measure include Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, and Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.

"Millions of acres of land across the United States are being held under lock and key unnecessarily," McCarthy said. "My bill acts on recommendations made by the government agencies managing these lands so they are opened up for increased public use. This is just common sense.

"By opening these lands up to residents of our local communities and across the country for their use and enjoyment, we can help create jobs, boost local economies and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires," he said.

The bill -- H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, which was introduced on April 15 and announced at a press event on April 29 -- would remove the stringent use restrictions on 6.7 million acres managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and on 36.1 million acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land that was evaluated for a strict congressional Wilderness land-use designations.

The federal agencies have determined the 43 million acres aren't suitable for Wilderness designation, yet because of various laws and rules they must continue to strictly manage the land until Congress "releases" it for other possible uses.

The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act would release the land, freeing up land managers to determine new uses, if any, such as allowing responsible off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation where it currently isn't allowed.

The bill also would prevent the BLM and the USFS from using other means to manage the land as if it had received a restrictive Wilderness designation that bars OHV use, such as the new, controversial U.S Interior Department's Wild Lands policy.

The Wild Lands policy essentially allows BLM bureaucrats, rather than Congress, to determine what BLM land should be managed as if Congress had designated it as Wilderness.

AMA Washington Representative Rick Podliska noted the 43 million acres have been locked up for years, if not decades, even though the land managers themselves note the land doesn't qualify for the very restrictive Wilderness designation.

"For years, groups hoping to keep responsible off-highway riders off public land have been able to get areas earmarked for possible inclusion in the nation's Wilderness system, which immediately bars off-highway riding, bicycling and almost all other activities while the study is under way," Podliska said.

"We commend Reps. McCarthy, Bishop and Pearce for introducing H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act, and urge all riders who want to protect and promote responsible off-highway riding to contact their federal lawmakers and ask them to support the bill," he said.

The easiest way to contact your lawmaker is through the AMA website: AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

[KTMrad 508]

It took less than 5 minutes to send this letter to Representative Duncan Hunter....it's always better to customize the form letters with some of your own words.....PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO FIND YOUR REP AND SEND THE LETTER.

April 29, 2011 [recipient address was inserted here]

Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

I am sending you this letter because I am a person who loves the outdoors and enjoys many forms of responsible, motorized recreation.

As a constituent and concerned responsible motorized outdoor recreationist, thank you for cosponsoring H.R. 1581, the "Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011." This bill would remove restrictions to motorized access on more than 40 million acres of public land nationwide.

Hopefully this act passes and would remove the riding ban on 6.7 million acres managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and riding restrictions that may be in place for 36.1 million acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land. Specifically, this bill would "release" all Wilderness Study Areas controlled by the BLM and Inventoried Roadless Areas managed by the USFS that have been determined by land managers to be unsuitable for congressional Wilderness land-use designations. Motorized recreation is banned on Wilderness land.

Moreover, this legislation would terminate the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3310 as it relates to these lands. On Dec. 22, 2010, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed Secretarial Order 3310 creating a new land-use designation called Wild Lands that essentially allows officials in the BLM to manage public land as if it had received a "Wilderness" land-use designation from Congress, but without requiring congressional approval. On behalf of many friends and families who recreate together responsibly, thank you for supporting H.R. 1581, the "Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011."

Thank you for supporting our need for access to our public lands, which has been restricted and many areas have been eliminated in the past. Sincerely,

[mctrails 38]

I got an email from Save the Trails yesterday about this:

TWO MINUTES TO UNLOCK MILLIONS OF ACRES OF YOUR PUBLIC LANDS

Great News for all of us who care about access to public lands, helping our economy, jobs and improving forest health.

Congressman Kevin McCarthy recently introduced his ‘Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011” HR1581 into the House of Congress to release lands, which decades ago were determined by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to be unsuitable for Wilderness designation. This legislation fully embodies both recreation and stewardship, something we believe most reasonable people will join us in heartily supporting.

This important bill would release millions of acres of lands which have been needlessly restricted for 20 years, because the public had not spoken up and demanded their release.

These lands have a rich history of Multiple Use and contain mines, cabins, developed campgrounds, roads and trails

These lands once again will provide places for families to recreate, camp, mountain bike, dirt bike, 4x4, hunt and fish.

These lands will again be actively managed as needed to promote forest health and prevent unnatural wildfires.

These lands will once again provide jobs and income to local economies.

This bill will stop the BLM from designating "Wild Lands", which would be de facto Wilderness, without public or Congressional approval.

Decades are a long time to keep lands lock up for no valid reason. Now is the time for you, your family and friends to speak up and support this important and long overdue legislation. It will only take Two Minutes, but will make a difference.

Click here to go to a letter generator to send a letter in support of this bill.

[ADV Bum 205]

done

[dirt dame 559]

Did and done.