MT
Comment
Deadline: Submit comments as soon as possible.
Here is a
link to S1470: http://tester.senate.gov/Legislation/forestresources.cfm
There are approximately 25 maps available on the link above,
ranging from 3 MB to 40 MB.
Here is a link to look up your senators:
You’ll
recall that
An
updated message was sent to our M
Here is a
link to our previous information:
This bill
is proposing to add approximately 677,000 acres (according to Senator Tester’s
press release) of new wilderness in western
Question? How is snowmobile use treated in
this bill?
Answer!! If an area is
designated as wilderness,
As for the recreation areas in this
bill, in the current language of the bill, as read to the Congressional
committee, there is no off trail\off route riding in most of these so-called recreation
areas. The exception may be possibly in the ‘‘NW
Peaks Snowmobile Area’’ and the ‘‘Mount Henry Snowmobile Area’’, both of which
are contained within the “Three River Special Management Area”. The language of this bill also
states that snowmobile trail riding is allowed "only on
those established trails and routes existing as of the date of enactment of
this Act, on which motorized travel was permitted as of that date". This means the total
acreage of the so-called “recreation areas” designated in this bill mean
absolutely nothing, since you must remain on pre-established trails. There is
no mention of acreage left open to snowmobile
recreation and no mention of miles of "established trails and
routes" as
they currently exist today. Although the Senator’s office staff has said the
Senator’s intent was to maintain existing levels of recreation in these areas,
or increase it, the language of the bill does not constitute that
misperception.
The
following are suggested comment points with regard to S. 1470
- A “need” for additional
wilderness as defined in the Wilderness Act is not provided in this bill.
Tell your Senators that it is your position that the current 109.5 million
acres of wilderness in the
- Numerous
public, organization and individual comments to Senator Tester on this
bill or components of this bill were NOT in favor of development of
this bill. Many pro-access
organizations were not even consulted with a request for their opinions
when the bill was developed, and in fact, many were refused preliminary
involvement.
- The Beaverhead-Deerlodge
National Forest (BDNF) has been undergoing a forest plan revision with a
record of decision recently announced.
Much of the wilderness proposed in this bill falls in the BDNF
(505,000+ acres), includes acreage recommended in the BDNF ROD and
additional acreage that does not meet wilderness criteria. This bill does not allow existing USDA
Forest Service management processes to occur.
- The
- Numerous areas designated to
become wilderness do not meet the definition of wilderness described in
the Wilderness Act. Look at the
maps-
- Wilderness visits in the BDNF
fall into the 1.5% range.
- This is a short sited bill
with the only long term result being 677,000 acres of wilderness plus
additional federal public land being treated as “de-facto” wilderness.
- The duration of the timber
jobs mentioned in this bill are not long term. The projected time frame to
complete timber harvest as outlined in this bill is 10 years with the
Secretary of Agriculture to oversee for 15 years. Although timber harvest is generally
supported by the recreation community, accomplishing that timber harvest
will create far more devastation to the environment even with
“restoration” than sports such as snowmobiling or other motorized access
currently allowed have created or will ever create. Cost of restoration?? Cost projections are not provided.
- Existing laws do provide for
timber harvest, including diseased trees, do effectively manage wildlife
habitat based on best science practices including studies that have been
totally neglected in the development of this bill and do provide for
continuation of public access for various non-motorized, mechanized and
motorized recreational activities including snowmobiles.
- Many forms of recreation
currently allowed on USDA Forest Service land will cease to exist under
provisions of this bill with no valid reason to terminate the activity.
- Wildlife populations may be
compromised due to the lack of management that will result once designated
wilderness.
- Language in the bill reads
that mechanized and non-motorized users will have unlimited access in the
National Recreation area(s)
- Motorized users will either
not be allowed (in the proposed wilderness areas), or will be restricted
to “existing defined routes” (in the proposed recreation management areas)
- Snowmobiling will
be restricted to trail use only in areas that currently offer off-trail
riding or snowmobile activity will be eliminated entirely from numerous
areas. There is no data available showing that snowmobiles have caused
negative impact on any areas proposed to be closed. Facts, data and existing studies do not show that
snowmobiles harm the environment and for that reason snowmobiles should
not be restricted as outlined in this proposed law.
- The language of the bill
indicates only development of a recreation management plan for recreation
activities will be subject to public notice and comment and therefore are
not guaranteed with this bill.
- Areas open to recreation may
be arbitrarily closed. No language
indicating if approved, recreation activities
will be allowed into the future.
- Sustained future job
retention in the timber industry is not projected. Short term projects
with unspecified taxpayer cost for “stewardship” activities does
not promote lasting employment in the timber industry.
- No Hard release language that
further wilderness designation in the proposed affected forests will not
be allowed in the future.
Your well
informed opinion for your comment letter is important! If you recreate in these areas, look at the
wilderness area maps and reference the maps you presently use and note the
differences. Your input as to how you have, do and plan to continue to recreate
in all of these areas whether those designated for wilderness or those proposed
in one of the “recreation” designations in the past and present is important
for Senator Tester to hear before it’s too late.
Follow
the progress of the bill:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-1470
You may
also want to contact the Senate Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources especially if one of your Senators is on this committee.
The bill is currently in the hands of this committee for review. If any changes are to occur in the language
of the bill pertaining to where and how access will be allowed in the
Protection Areas, National Recreation Areas, Recreation Management Area, 2
Recreation Area(s) and Special Management Area, anything beyond an approved
legal change in “wording” will occur under direction of committee and not
necessarily guided by Senator Tester’s intent to allow recreation as it exists
to continue.
Here is a link to send an e-mail message to the committee:
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Or you
can mail or FAX your concerns about this wilderness bill to:
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Office
304
Phone: (202) 224-4971
Fax: (202) 224-6163
http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=About.Members
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Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this alert and
for contacting your senator and request that they oppose S1470.
Copyright © 2009 Snowmobile
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States (