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OBAMA NATIONAL MONUMENT UPDATE REQUEST FOR RECORDS VOTED DOWN TRANSPARENCY IN OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IN QUESTION Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber, On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the House Natural Resources Committee voted down (by a margin of 20-22) a motion offered by Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA) to favorably report H. Res. 1245 out of Committee. The Resolution is an attempt by Congress to require the Secretary of the Interior to turn over specific information related to potential National Monument designations. Interestingly, the Department of the Interior (DOI) delivered nearly 400 pages of emails to the Committee less than 24 hours before*it was scheduled to vote on the Resolution. However, the agency withheld some 2,016 pages of additional documents directly related to potential Monument designations. The controversy began with the discovery of an internal DOI document labeled "NOT FOR RELEASE" which details plans for 14 new or expanded national monument designations, totaling some 13 million acres of public and private land. Rep. Hastings, who has led a bi-partisan effort to require the DOI to disclose information said: “When the federal government is discussing the lockup of 13 million acres of public lands with the stroke of the President’s pen, the American people have a right to know what their government is doing. I encourage my Democrat colleagues to help the Obama Administration adhere to their claims of openness and transparency by bringing this resolution to a vote on the floor of the full House,” said Hastings. “If this Resolution is not brought to the House floor in a timely manner, I promise this Committee will see plenty of similar Resolutions until the Department of Interior reveals what they are hiding.” House rules provide that the Democrat Majority on the Committee had 14 legislative days to report the Resolution of Inquiry or it would have been eligible to be brought to the Floor of the House of Representatives for a vote as a Privileged Resolution. A future Floor vote on the Resolution is now entirely subject to the will of the Majority. Meanwhile, legislation that would remove a President's unilateral authority to designate National Monuments is moving slowly. The bill is titled the Preserve Land Freedom For Americans Act of 2010 (HR 4996) is sponsored by North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx. HR 4996 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 13, 2010. BRC is encouraging our members to contact their Representatives and encourage them to co-sponsor HR 4996 and work for its passage into law. We will continue to keep you updated on this and other important issues. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC. Brian Hawthorne****************************** Ric Foster Public Lands Policy Director ********* Public Lands Department Manager 208-237-1008 ext 102 ******************** 208-237-1008 ext 107 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!*
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BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT! Important Update on Obama Monument Update Alert and H. Res. 1254 Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber, We just got word from Capitol Hill that the markup on H. Res. 1254, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed until Wednesday, May 5, 2010. This is the House Resolution directing the Department of the Interior to stop its stonewalling and transmit to the House of Representatives all information related to the secret memo regarding the potential designation of National Monuments. This means we still have time to urge House Natural Resources committee members to cosponsor H. Res. 1254. Please read our Action Alert below and TAKE ACTION! Also, please forward this alert to friends and family. Thanks for taking action on this important issue. Brian Hawthorne Public Lands Policy Director BlueRibbon Coalition 208-237-1008 ext 102 BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT! Obama Monument Update - ACTION ITEM INCLUDED Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber, Most of you have been following the saga that began with the disclosure of a secret memo outlining plans for 13 million acres of new National Monuments in 11 western states. BRC, as well as lawmakers, has been attempting to find out exactly what the Department of the Interior is up to, and BRC even appealed the denial of a Freedom of Information Act request. Doc Hastings (WA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Rob Bishop, (UT) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, as well as other lawmakers, have also formally requested that information pertaining to the leaked memo. This information was requested over six weeks ago. As of this writing, the Obama Administration has not provided one single page to the House Committees. In response to Department of Interior's stonewalling, Rep. Hastings and Rep. Bishop have introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 1254) in an attempt to require the Department of Interior to turn over the information. A resolution of inquiry is a method used by the House to obtain information from an executive branch official What you need to do: The Natural Resources committee is set to vote on H. Res. 1254 this Wednesday, April 28, 2010. We need you to contact Committee Members and ask them to co-sponsor and/or support H. Res 1254. Our partners at the Americans for Responsible Recreation Access (ARRA) have a letter generator up and running. Please take a minute to send a letter to your congressional representative. CLICK HERE* Thanks for taking action on this important issue. Brian Hawthorne Public Lands Policy Director BlueRibbon Coalition 208-237-1008 ext 102 More info on the web: Obama Secret Plan for Monuments Compels Congressional Action Obama Secret Plan for Monuments Compels Congressional Action - BRC News Recreation Group Files FOIA Appeal To Department of The Interior Regarding National Monuments Recreation Group Files FOIA Appeal To Department of The Interior Regarding National Monuments - BRC News 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 http://www.sharetrails.org
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BLUERIBBON COALITION ACTION ALERT! Obama Monument Update - ACTION ITEM INCLUDED Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber, Most of you have been following the saga that began with the disclosure of a secret memo outlining plans for 13 million acres of new National Monuments in 11 western states. BRC, as well as lawmakers, has been attempting to find out exactly what the Department of the Interior is up to, and BRC even appealed the denial of a Freedom of Information Act request. Doc Hastings (WA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Rob Bishop, (UT) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, as well as other lawmakers, have also formally requested that information pertaining to the leaked memo. This information was requested over six weeks ago. As of this writing, the Obama Administration has not provided one single page to the House Committees. In response to Department of Interior is stonewalling, Rep. Hastings and Rep. Bishop have introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 1254) in an attempt to require the Department of Interior to turn over the information. A resolution of inquiry is a method used by the House to obtain information from an executive branch official What you need to do: The Natural Resources committee is set to vote on H. Res. 1254 this Wednesday, April 28, 2010. We need you to contact Committee Members and ask them to co-sponsor and/or support H. Res 1254. Our partners at the Americans for Responsible Recreation Access (ARRA) have a letter generator up and running. Please take a minute to send a letter to your congressional representative. CLICK HERE Thanks for taking action on this important issue. Brian Hawthorne Public Lands Policy Director BlueRibbon Coalition 208-237-1008 ext 102
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BRC NATIONWIDE ACTION ALERT SECRET DOCUMENT REVEALS OBAMA CONSIDERING 13 MILLION ACRE LAND GRAB ANTIQUITIES ACT ABUSES MUST END - ACTION ITEM BELOW Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber If you had a chance to stop the Clinton Administration from designating all those Monuments, would you take it? The Obama Administration is well on its way to match former President Clinton's Monument designation spree. Thanks to a whistle-blower in the Department of the Interior, a secret Obama administration plan to grab 13 million acres of public and private lands across 11 western states has been exposed.* The secret document indicates the DOI is operating on the assumption that the Monuments will be designated, even so far as to budgeting funds for purchasing private land inholdings. That's why we need your help today. BRC is requesting that Congress pass legislation that provides some sort of mechanism or process for Congressional review of Antiquities Act proclamations, and also for a method for State and local input before any designation takes place. In the meantime, we need our members to immediately contact their congressional representatives and ask them to go on record as opposing any unilateral action by the administration. Ric has put together another one of our INSANELY EASY 3 - Step Action Items, so it won't take more than 3 or 4 minutes out of your day. Thank you in advance for your action. Brian Hawthorne******************************* Ric Foster Public Lands Policy Director************* Public Lands Department Manager 208-237-1008 ext 102*********************** 208-237-1008 ext 107 PS:* Check out "MORE INFO FROM THE WEB" at the bottom of the alert. BRC NATIONWIDE ACTION ALERT SECRET DOCUMENT REVEALS OBAMA CONSIDERING 13 MILLION ACRE LAND GRAB ANTIQUITIES ACT ABUSES MUST END - ACTION ITEM BELOW SITUATION: A recently obtained internal document from the Department of the Interior (DOI) shows the Obama Administration is considering using the Antiquities Act to grab 13 million acres of public and private lands in 11 western states as National Monuments without any public review or opportunity to comment.** Obama is considering Monuments in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. ( Obama National Monuments - BlueRibbon Coalition ) Many of these lands are home to world class motorized and non-motorized recreation destinations. The Antiquities Act allows the President to establish National Monuments that replace multiple use management with a preservationist directive. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: BRC'S THREE-STEP ACTION ITEM STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS: NOTE: Please be polite and, if possible, make your comments as personal as you can. STEP 1:* Click on the following link to go to BRC's Rapid Response Center. *************** http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/* and in the "Contact Lawmakers" *************** box type your zip code and click GO. Click on your representative's name *************** and then click on the Contact tab to locate their phone number.* *************** Follow the same steps for each senator. STEP 2:* When you call, use the talking points below to help make your point. *************** Be brief and polite, but make sure the staff person understands you OPPOSE* *************** new National Monuments.* *************** STEP 3:* Take just a minute to forward this alert to friends and family and ask them **************** to do the same.************** TALKING POINTS A recently obtained internal document from the Department of the Interior (DOI) shows the Obama Administration is considering using the Antiquities Act to designate National Monuments on 13 million acres of public and private lands in 11 western states. I am asking you to go on record as opposing any unilateral monument designations by the Administration. Also, I want you to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation that requires Congressional review of Antiquities Act proclamations. This process should also allow for State and local government as well as public input before any designation takes place. Given the economic crisis our nation is in today, this is not a good use of my taxes. Thank you for allowing me to express my concern. MORE INFO FROM THE WEB: Obama Eyes Western Land for National Monuments, Angering Some: FOXNews.com - EXCLUSIVE: Obama Eyes Western Land for National Monuments, Angering Some Senior Republicans allege secret Interior plot to create national monuments: Senior Republicans allege secret Interior plot to create national monuments - The Hill's E2-Wire Two more monuments in Utah? San Rafael Swell and Cedar Mesa?: Two more monuments planned in Utah? - Salt Lake Tribune Rep. Dean Heller: Feds looking at designating 2 Nevada national monuments: Rep. Dean Heller: Feds looking at designating 2 Nevada national monuments - Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 | 3:56 p.m. - Las Vegas Sun Chorus of protest Critics of secret BLM meetings share diverse backgrounds, conflicting interests Critics of secret BLM meetings share diverse backgrounds, conflicting interests Special status possible for Colorado sites Areas may be deemed worthy of wilderness, other designation Special status possible for Colorado sites | GJSentinel.com 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!
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BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC. NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director Phone: 208-237-1008 ext. 102 Email: [email protected] OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE GROUP EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER OBAMA BLM PICK POCATELLO, ID (June 17, 2009) — The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national grass-roots group dedicated to preserving responsible recreational access to public lands and waters, today expressed concern over the Obama Administration's nomination of Robert V. Abbey as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The group says although Abbey has a good record during his 32 years with federal land managing agencies, his affiliation with some litigious preservationist groups raise significant questions. Abbey worked for more than 32 years with state and federal land management agencies before retiring from the federal government in July 2005. Most recently, he served as BLM's Nevada State Director. Upon learning of Abbey's nomination, BRC polled many of its members and supporters who had worked with him over the years. "With few exceptions, the reports we are getting have been positive," said Brian Hawthorne, BRC's Public Lands Policy Director. "Abbey is generally known of as a good manager, and one who understands the importance of public lands in providing diverse recreation for the American public." But the Coalition is concerned about Abbey's association with the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and their sub-groups, Public Employees for Environmental responsibility (PEER) and Rangers for Responsible Recreation, after his retirement from the BLM. CBD and PEER are aggressive litigants who often challenge even the most restrictive recreation management plans. BRC's Executive Director, Greg Mumm, noted that among the vast number of so-called environmental groups, CBD and PEER are well known for being the least willing to compromise and most likely to sue. "The goals of these groups are directly opposed to BLM's multiple-use mandates," Mumm said, adding, "Congress needs to ensure Abbey's affiliation with these radical groups will not impede his ability to fulfil BLM's multiple-use mission." Don Amador, BRC's Western Representative, remembers being shocked when Abby joined CBD. "These groups specialize in manufacturing conflict where none exists. Given Abbey's solution-oriented approach at BLM, we were mystified as to why he would want to affiliate with them." The BLM manages 256 million acres primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres with strategic oil, gas and mineral reserves. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. # # # The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. BlueRibbon Coalition: Preserving your recreational access to public lands.