Blueribbon coalition action alert!

[ATVsToday]

BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT!

> IDAHO, Call your Senators on CIEDRA before they return to Washington * 
> DC

> Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber in Idaho,

> What was your reaction to the news that Idaho Senators Mike Crapo * 
> and Jim Risch recently introduced Congressman Mike Simpson's Central * 
> Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) in the Senate?

> Were you shocked? You should have been. Idaho has 5 million acres of * 
> Wilderness already. More than any other state except Alaska. * 
> Wilderness bans all mountain bike and motorized recreation. Yet, * 
> Idaho's entire congressional delegation is now supporting a bill * 
> that designates 332,775 new acres of wilderness in the Boulder White * 
> Clouds (BWC).

> I hate to say this, but the story on this CIEDRA bill is getting * 
> worse. A comparison between the 2009 House version and the 2010 * 
> Senate version will turn your shock into outrage.

> The Idaho Recreation Council recently put the two bills side-by-side * 
> and found the new 2010 version considerably worse than its * 
> predecessor. See: Comparison of the 2009 House CIEDRA VS 2010 Senate * 
> CIEDRA

> First of all, the new bill has more Wilderness. A lot more. Over * 
> 20,000 acres of "new" Wilderness has been added to the White Clouds * 
> Wilderness. The new bill also throws out language that gave * 
> permanent protection to the motorized routes in the Sawtooth * 
> National Recreation Area but outside the proposed Wilderness. Rep. * 
> Simpson started out with a basic premise of wanting to settle the * 
> issue once and for all and that is no longer being accomplished.

> The new bill also eliminates language that secures motorized access * 
> to the very popular and scenic Germania Creek-East Fork/Grand Prize * 
> trail. The new bill not only takes away the East Fork/Grand Prize * 
> section, it also allows closure of the entire route "for non- 
> motorized recreation purposes."

> Similarly, the new bill paves the way for the closure of the Frog * 
> Lake loop. In the "old" bill, Simpson included language that secured * 
> motorized access but the new bill says it will remain open only "if * 
> the Secretary allows motorized use."

> There's more. The OHV park near Boise was stripped out, as was * 
> authorization for $1 million to the Idaho Parks and Recreation to * 
> develop and manage it. And the trail between Redfish Lake and * 
> Stanley for non-motorized use in summer and snowmobiles in the * 
> winter, including parking areas at each end was stripped out.

> The only thing this bill protects the land from is YOU. Simply * 
> because you ride a mountain bike, enjoy snowmobiling or ride off- 
> highway vehicles, you don't have a right to view these lands.

> That's not Idaho. We can do better.

> Senator Risch and Crapo have scheduled June 16, 2010, for a Senate * 
> Subcommittee hearing on the new bill. Congress is in recess until * 
> June 4 for local district work sessions. That means the next few * 
> days is the best opportunity to contact the Senators with your * 
> concerns prior to the June 16 hearing.

> Please make your call today. We've put together some talking points * 
> you can use below. And tell you friends and family to make their * 
> calls by the end of the week.

> As always, thanks in advance for your action on this important * 
> issue. Please call or email if you have any comments or suggestions.

> Brian Hawthorne 
> Public Lands Policy Director 
> BlueRibbon Coalition 
> 208-237-1008 ext 102

> BRC ACTION ALERT: 
> Idaho Senators on board with a "new" Boulder White Clouds Wilderness * 
> Bill - that's even worse than previous versions. 
> Please call the senators during Memorial Day recess and express your * 
> concern.

> Situation: 
> Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch recently introduced Congressman * 
> Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act * 
> (CIEDRA) in the Senate. Idaho's entire congressional delegation is * 
> now supporting this bill that designates 332,775 new acres of * 
> wilderness in the Boulder White Clouds (BWC). 
> See: Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill to be reintroduced today 
> IDAHO MOUNTAIN EXPRESS: Updated and breaking news 
> Simpson's wilderness bill gets Senate introduction 
> Simpson's wilderness bill gets Senate introduction - KHQ Right Now - News and Weather for Spokane and North Idaho |

> What you need to do: 
> The Memorial Day recess (May 31 - June 4) gives Idaho's * 
> recreationists a golden opportunity to express concerns about the * 
> new bill.

> Sen. Mike Crapo 
> * * *Boise Office: (208) 334-1776 
> * * *Pocatello Office: (208) 236-6775 
> * * *Idaho Falls Office: (208) 522-9779 
> * * *Coeur d'Alene Office: (208) 664-5490 
> * * *Lewiston Office: (208) 743-1492 
> * * *Caldwell Office: (208) 455-0360 
> * * *Twin Falls Office: (208) 734-2515

> Sen. Jim Risch 
> * * *Boise Office: (208) 342-7985 
> * * *Coeur d'Alene Office: (208) 667-6130 
> * * *Idaho Falls Office: (208) 523-5541 
> * * *Lewiston Office: (208) 743-0792 
> * * *Pocatello Office: (208) 236-6817 
> * * *Twin Falls Office: (208) 734-6780

> Please be polite.

> With 5 million acres already set aside, Idaho has enough Wilderness. * 
> I oppose CIEDRA and I am calling to ask the Senator to reconsider * 
> his decision to promote this bill.

> There is no threat to these lands. No massive clear cutting project * 
> is in the works. No giant mining operation proposed. Mountain bikes, * 
> off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles are not harming these lands.

> CIEDRA will kick out motorized and mountain bike recreationists who * 
> will take their dollars with them, having a negative impact on the * 
> local economy.

> The Sawtooth National Recreation Areas provides protection and * 
> balanced management while still allowing recreational uses.

> I am opposed use of the Omnibus package to pass CIEDRA or any public * 
> lands bill. 
> The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving * 
> group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The * 
> Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal * 
> employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your * 
> CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join * 
> us at 1-800-258-3742 BlueRibbon Coalition: Protecting your recreational access to public lands. 
> _______________________________________________________

> As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by * 
> membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. * 
> Visit Make a Difference Now - BlueRibbon Coalition to help fund * 
> our efforts to protect your trails!