Land Use Alert - BLM and Moab!

[Beastmaster]

Hey all!

The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has recently asked for public opinion about an Environmental Assessment (EA) study on Moab.
(http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab/ea-ut-060-2005-080.pdf)

At the focus of this EA is the yearly request from the Red Rock 4 Wheelers for the permits necessary to run the annual Easter Jeep Safari, and their use of Moab in 2006. As with most EA's, BLM proposes multiple options and will gather opinions to help make a decision.

Within a rather detailed 58 page draft, the BLM has proposed three recommendations for the permitting of ANY motororized non-competitve use within the Moab area. A short description of the options are below:

Alternative A - A use of routes that is pretty much what we all can use now. This option actually adds two areas (Arch Canyon and Hotel Rock) to the Easter Jeep Safari.

Alternative B - Reduction of routes that would include the elimination of such areas as Arch Canyon, Hey Joe Canyon, Hotel Rock, Kane Creek Canyon, Pritchett Canyon, Tusher/Bartlett Wash, and Tusher Canyon.

Alternative C - No access. Private, non-organized use can occur, but there would be NO permits issued for motorized use in the area. This is the worst case scenario.

To give credit to the BLM, the office in Utah is recommending Alternative A. Unfortunately, their view can be swayed away from this option if they receive enough mail showing that the other alternatives are more popular.

Members of the Red Rock 4 Wheelers have stated that they feel Alternative C is being pushed by SUWA, Sierra Club, Red Rock Wilderness, and other groups, and all of them will be sending out letters in a mass mail campaign.

The BLM will accept mail only - no email, no faxes, only letters with a stamp on it. The comment period started October 1, and will end October 30. They will accept form letters, mainly to help tabulate things. Once they make their decision, it will affect ALL activities within Moab that require a permit.

So - every Hummer owner, every Hummer dealer and their employees, every Hummer club, group, and organization needs to send a letter stating that they support Alternative A. For the GM, AM General, and other lurkers out there - you also need to send a letter in and implore your co-workers to do the same.

To help speed things along, a Colorado based 4x4 group has created a pre-set form for you to use. Here's what you do:

1) Go to this web site, download and print this form:
http://www.creeperjeepers.org/BLM%20...0EA%202005.pdf

2) Fill out the form.

3) Send it to the BLM address at the top of the form.

The BLM in Utah has to receive the responses by October 30.

It is very, very important that the BLM gets an avalanche of responses showing preference for Alternative A. It would be a huge victory for the radical environmentalists if they are able to convince the BLM to take a path away from Alternative A. Let's prove to them that we are the majority. Please speak up and send in the form.

Thanks,
Steve