Missoula MT, Letters needed - Rally 3/10/07

[HummBebe]

Hey west.....

Pro-access rally in Missoula, MT 3/10/07
Text of the letter:
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/....cfm?story=513

HELENA, MT (December 4) -- Millions of acres of prime recreational opportunities in Montana are threatened with closure. Your action could mean the difference between a "closed" sign and a "trail open" sign. Please take a moment to read the information below and act on the action items.


Situation:
BRC, with help from Craig Osterman, Executive Director of the Treasure State Alliance (a new OHV umbrella group in Montana) has been tracking Forest Plan revisions for many months. Despite our efforts working within the planning process, the U.S. Forest Service is planning a de-facto Wilderness management regime on all "Recommended Wilderness Areas" (RWA).

Under normal circumstances, the "Recommended" Wilderness classification is just that: a recommendation. The decision of "whether Wilderness" is supposed to be left to Congress and the American People.

Sadly, the Northern Region of the U.S. Forest Service seems to think they, not Congress, have the authority to manage these lands -- as Wilderness! New Forest Plans state that RWAs will now become closed to all motorized use, including winter snowmobile use.

Why you should care:
The US Forest Service Region 1 (Northern Region) manages 25 million acres of public national forest and grasslands in Montana, North Dakota, northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and northwest South Dakota.

New Forest Plans, under the guidance of the Northern Region Forester, dictate that large areas will be classified as RWAs. Thousands of acres of prime recreational lands will be included as RWAs in these new Plans. The new plans direct that RWAs will now become closed to winter snowmobile use and all other forms of motorized recreation.


No law or Forest Service policy requires the Forest Service to take such a drastic action. These closures would apparently be immediately imposed upon the completion of the new Forest Plan. No attempt will be made to postpone these closures until Congress passes legislation to legally designate these forest lands as Wilderness!

Only Congress has the authority to create designated Wilderness, but these RWAs are being treated as de-facto wilderness under the Region 1 Forester's direction as soon as they are created. This unlawful policy must be stopped immediately.

Pro-access groups such as the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Snowmobile Alliance of Western States and the Treasure State Alliance are committed to end to this abuse of power.

But we can't do it without your help. These Forest Plan Revision projects are nearing completion, so please respond today.

Montana RWA Action Items:

What you need to do:
The U.S. Forest Service, as well as Montana's political leaders, must hear from those who want to protect access for recreation to Montana's National Forests, and here is how you can help.

Links to a form letter detailing the problem and asking the agency to abide by the law are listed below.

1. Click on the link, sign your petition letter and send back to at the address listed below
2. Print out copies of the petition for your friends to sign
3. Bring copies of the petition to your next club meeting and distribute them with instructions
4. Publish this information in your club newsletter with mailing instructions
5. Attend a Forest Planning meeting and sign up to speak out for motorized access

The BlueRibbon Coalition, the Snowmobile Alliance for Western States and the Treasure State Alliance and other pro-access groups will combine your letter with thousands of others from all over the state and present them to the U.S. Forest Service office in Helena and the Chief's office in Washington D.C.

Time is short so please send your letter today. Our plan is to deliver the petitions at the Rally at the Missoula County Fairgrounds in Missoula, March 10, 2007, noon-5pm. That means you need to get yours in the mail today!

Copies of your letter will be sent to:

Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture
Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
David P. Tenny, Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.
Dale Bosworth, Forest Service Chief
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Jon Tester
Representative Dennis Rehberg.



LINKS:

Word Document: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/P...ORM_LETTER.doc

PDF Document: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/P...ORM_LETTER.pdf

Mail Petitions To:

BlueRibbon Coalition
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 83202

Dale Bosworth, Chief
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
201 14th St., S.W.
Washington, DC 20024