BRC's Recreation News Update

[Senator]

First... the good news:

Arizona

Federal judge sides with BLM on management of Arizona Strip lands

http://cronkitenewsonline.com/federal-judge-sides-with-blm-on-management-of-az-str

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Now, the bad news:

Montana

Setback in Lewis and Clark National Forest Lawsuit

In April of 2010 BRC, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and Montana user groups were celebrating a landmark legal victory in a lawsuit challenging the Lewis and Clark National Forest (LCNF) 2007 Travel Management Plan.

A federal court in Montana agreed with our claims that the LCNF violated federal law. The central theme of the decision was that the Plan was more restrictive than any of the alternatives vetted during the public review process. The Court found that the Forest's final decision "reduced total motorized routes by nearly thirty percent from the most restrictive Draft EIS alternative. It also closed several routes which were not identified for closure in any DEIS alternative."

The Court also struck down the agency's treatment of off-route travel for dispersed camping. The Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) portrayed as an element common to every alternative a 300-foot-wide allowance, which was already in place in the Forest since 2001. In the Final EIS, and thus without the opportunity for further public input, this was altered to a "vehicle-plus-trailer-length" allowance in every alternative.

Sadly, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has reversed that ruling finding the U.S. Forest Service did not violate the law when it strayed beyond the range of alternatives proposed in a draft environmental impact statement, as long as the plan differed in only minor ways from one of the alternatives and was “somewhere within” the range of alternatives proposed.

I don't want to say too much about this because BRC and the other recreational groups are evaluating our options. Needless to say... stay tuned!

Read about the decision:

Law 360 Article: No Review Needed For Feds' RV Rule Changes: 9th Circ.

https://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/no-review-needed-for-feds-rv-rule-changes

Little Belt travel plan restricting vehicles ruling upheld

Little Belt travel plan restricting vehicles ruling upheld | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com

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More Montana newsclips

Borrowing trouble: Snowmobiles, ATVs banned in Lincoln area ditches

Borrowing trouble: Snowmobiles, ATVs banned in Lincoln area ditches | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com

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Colorado

BLM finalizes plan for northwest Colorado lands

BLM finalizes plan for northwest Colorado lands « Summit County Citizens Voice

BLM plan for Colorado balances oil-and-gas uses with conservation

BLM plan for Colorado balances oil-and-gas uses with conservation - The Denver Post

BLM land plan for NW Colorado displeases enviros, energy interests

http://www.bizjournals.com/blm-land-plan-for-nw-colorado

Settlement talks put Lenado snowmobile suit on hold

http://www.aspentimes.com/111019950/1077&ParentProfile=1058

Here's a letter to the editor from Ed Marston, from High Country News, about a land trade in W. Colorado

Public must be involved in land exchange

http://www.deltacountyindependent.com/public-must-be-involved-in-land-exchange

Developers block Forest Service road near Edwards

Developers block Forest Service road near Edwards | VailDaily.com

BLM issues final decision for Little Snake management plan

http://www.craigdailypress.com/blm-issues-final-decision-little-snake-management

Udall’s ski area summer-use bill passes the House

Udall’s ski area summer-use bill passes the House « Summit County Citizens Voice

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Idaho

Rock climbers left in the dark

Rock climbers left in the dark - Rock climbers left in the dark: Home

BLM offering reward for info leading to arrest of those who vandalized old mercury milling site in Owyhee County

http://www.idahostatesman.com/blm-offering-reward-for-info-leading.html

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Iowa

Officials responding to four-wheeler complaints

Officials responding to four-wheeler complaints - MessengerNews.net | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Info. - The Messenger

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Oregon

Oceano Dunes dust study called a little murky

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/1797028/oceano-dunes-dust-study-called.html

From Eugene Oregon's registerguard.com

EDITORIAL: Oregon’s ‘crown jewels’

http://www.registerguard.com/wilderness-kitzhaber-rogue-wild-acres

Earlier this year, Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar asked governors and congressional representatives across the nation to identify “crown jewels,” natural treasures on Bureau of Land Management lands in their states that should be considered for federal wilderness protection.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber took him at his word and recently fired off a wish list to Salazar. Kitzhaber’s requests should receive serious consideration for inclusion in wilderness legislation that the Interior chief plans to submit to Congress in its current session.

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New Mexico

Speaking of the Department of Interior's wilderness lobbying efforts...

U.S. Interior official visits Taos; Gorge up for wilderness designation

U.S. Interior official visits Taos Río Grande Gorge - The Taos News: News: hayes, interior, wilderness, gorge, bingaman

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Washington State

Reiter Foothills Update

NEW $10,000 GRANT WILL BENEFIT RECREATIONAL PROJECT IN UPPER SKY VALLEY

Sky Valley Chronicle News

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Nevada

Elko County seeks forest travel plan hearing

Elko County seeks forest travel plan hearing - Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 | 5:58 p.m. - Las Vegas Sun

Elko County officials seek hearing on Forest Service's travel management plan

http://www.lvrj.com/news/elko-county-officials-seek-hearing-on-fs-travel-management

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Bonus

The gang over at ROHVA blasted an update the other day on their efforts to get manufacturers of UTV (Side by Sides) to coordinate on occupant safety.

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association Continues Pioneering Work In Support of Consensus Standards and Occupant Safety

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association Continues Pioneering Work In Support of Consensus Standards and Occupant Safety «