Last year, 4000 outdoor enthusiasts and multiple users of public land from around the country gathered in Salt Lake to march on the capitol in protest of land restrictions placed on Utah’s public lands by the federal government. The protest ignited a string of events that has changed the course and direction of local and state leaders regarding the importance of public land access in the state.

Just some of the direct results of our collective efforts led to renewed support from the state on protecting county rights of way with the federal government. Legislators were emboldened by that show of support to create, debate and pass legislation that challenges the fed’s authority over federal lands and gives the state the power of eminent domain. The light from that rally has also cast a beam of hope across the west to surrounding states who are now undertaking similar rallies on their home turf. But as far as we have come in one year, there is still much more to do to bring this cause to national attention.

“We now know these protests work, we just have to turn up the volume to make our case to the whole nation” Rick Whiteside president of Take Back Utah.
The 2010 parade and rally, scheduled for August 28th running from Liberty Park to the State Capital is in need of 10,000 people to show up in support of our cause, or face the fact that the current administration will substantially choke off our access to our historical lands in Utah and throughout the west.

Make Plans and tell your friends to clear their calendars and parade with us through downtown Salt Lake. It is the most important ATV / Jeep trip, horseback ride, mountain bike excursion you are likely to take in the next few years The parade is free to enter, and representatives from all groups that use public lands are encouraged to join us for this event. Showing up is the most important thing you can do. Staging begins on the 28th at 6 AM. 10:00 to 12:00 will be the parade
and 12:30 to 1:30 the rally.

1. We are focused on enacting public policy change at the federal government level to protect access to our public lands for all.

2. We serve as an inclusive and unifying voice to diverse groups of American’s who want to access and experience America’s Wild Places for themselves, regardless of age, ability or other factors that may be limiting.

3. We are a loud voice of truth about public land access issues – we speak with veracity to educate our fellow citizens and government officials about how today’s “Wilderness” policies exclude most American’s from having the ability to personally experience America’s most wild places, as well as how these policies weaken the ability of America’s small towns to survive.

We need people to help with our cause. If you would like to volunteer your talents to help save Utah,
Please go to there web site

http://www.takebackutah.org/

Thank you.

We wanted to let you know about this informative debate that will take place tomorrow. You are invited to personally attend. The debate will take place between republican candidates for Utah’s junior senate seat, Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee. These candidates will face off in a primary election. The primary is next Tuesday June 22. The winner will go on to face the Democrats chosen candidate Mr. Sam Granato for this fall’s general election.

The debate will be focused singularly on public land related issues.

Questions have been prepared with the consultation of many state and county leaders and experts in land use issues.

We would love to see hundreds in attendance. You may also have the chance to briefly meet the candidates after it is over.

If you can’t make the debate don’t worry. It will air this weekend on “At Your Leisure.” Check out their website for viewing times and channels or to watch the debate in streaming video at www.atyourleisure.info .

Utah Republican Senate Candidate Public Land Debate

Here is the debate location and times:
Be in your seats by 9:00 AM. Shooting will take place from 9-10 AM.

CANYON RIM PARK – 3100 SOUTH (GRACE STREET) 3250 EAST, SLC
Amphitheater with a round step-stage and seating for 650 located at the west end of the park. Parking for the west end is on the street and Monday through Saturday at the neighboring church.
In case of bad weather…

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL OFFICES – 1265 EAST FORT UNION BLVD.

Event Info
June 17, 2010
9-10 AM
3100 S 3250 E, SLC, UT.

Monday June 14, 2010

Just a quick reminder about the important public meetings for the travel planning in the BLM St. George Field office. This planning will significantly impact your ability to use your vehicles in this field office. Please attend a meeting in a town closest to you and get involved in the process. We are hoping to be able to offer you more info on this plan after we review the latest from BLM. We also hope to roll out a tool to aid in submitting your comments and GPS data. We are working out a few bugs in that tool before it is ready for your use. Stand by for more on that in the coming days.

FYI: USA-ALL will attend the meeting in SLC this Thursday.

Read BRC’s Action Alert for details on the meetings meetings. We have added that below…
BLUERIBBON COALITION LANDUSE UPDATE!

St. George BLM Revising Travel Management Plan – Public Input Needed

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) St. George Field Office has formally kicked off the planning process that will result in a Comprehensive Travel and Transportation Management Plan. This plan will include specific route designations for motorized and mountain bike use. Meaning – if its not on the map – its closed!

The BLM will also finalize the designation of the High Desert Trail System and identify a Northern Transportation Route bringing OHV users from BLM lands to the OHV trail systems on the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests.

This planning process is being conducted on a parallel track with the development of Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for the newly designated 63,500-acre Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area (NCA) and the 45,000-acre Red Cliffs NCA, as well as Amendment of the St. George Field Office 1999 Resource Management Plan. In addition, the BLM is planning to designate additional Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) for the conservation of biological resources and natural communities.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to analyze the impacts related to all of the above. Public input is essential and the public is invited to:

* Provide route inventory data (e.g., maps, digital files, GPS data)
* Identify routes important for facilities access, recreation, commercial activities, etc.
* Identify areas where existing routes create impacts to sensitive natural and heritage resources,
* Identify routes that could be included in the High Desert Trail System
* Identify alternatives for the Northern Transportation Route

The public scoping period started on May 10, 2010, when the Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register. Scoping comments will be accepted through July 19, 2010.

The public is encouraged to come to one of the scoping meetings to ask questions and provide input. Open house meetings will be held June 14-17 at the locations listed below. They will begin at 6:00 pm and last until 8:00 pm. Representatives from BLM’s St. George Field Office will be available at the meetings to answer questions. The open houses will have several information stations to present information on key issues and on the planning process.

Scoping Meeting Schedule

Monday, June 14, 2010
Dixie Center
1835 Convention Center Dr.
St. George, UT

Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Mesquite Community and Senior Center
102 West Old Mill Road
Mesquite, NV

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
City of Hurricane Office
147 North 870 West
Hurricane, UT

Thursday, June 17, 2010
SLC Public Library, Conf. Room – Level 4
210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT

There are many ways to provide comments during the scoping period. In addition to the scoping meetings, the BLM will receive comments through the following methods:
Scoping comments may be mailed or delivered to Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Planning Project Manager, St. George Field Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84770 or e-mailed to utsgrmp@blm.gov. Scoping comments will be most helpful if they are specific and received by July 19, 2010.

Please include “Planning Process for St. George Field Office” in your correspondence. Following the close of the scoping period, a scoping report will be available at the BLM’s St. George Field Office website. The report will summarize public comments collected during the scoping period.

To learn more, visit the new St. George Field Office website at: www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george.html

Thank your for all your support. Lets flood the BLM with comments and data. If you have knowledge of this area and or are concerned PLEASE be involved. We can’t keep your favorite trails open unless we and BLM know about them and have your support to keep them open. GET INVOLVED TODAY!

Sincerely,

Michael Swenson
Utah Shared Access Alliance

SALT LAKE CITY — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will visit Utah. It’s not often that a secretary of the interior takes on a visit like this, and especially now, in a strong anti-federal government climate.

Gov. Gary Herbert made the announcement Thursday morning. Herbert says Salazar will attend Monday’s Balanced Resource Council meeting — that’s a diverse group concerned with public land policy, water and air quality.

There are specific concerns about public land use. For example, the sharp differences over permits for drilling, ongoing issues with access to wilderness areas, and more.

When Salazar comes to Utah, he’s sure to get an earful; but the governor says the dialogue will be healthy.

“I think it’s indicative of the fact that we’re looking for solutions and finding common ground, instead of the shrill rhetoric and animus that’s been built up over time,” Herbert said. “I think that’s counterproductive.”

“He’ll hear the Utah point of view,” said Ted Wilson, chairman of the Balanced Resource Council. “It may not be comfortable for him in every way, but he’ll hear it. We’ll work diplomatically with him to achieve what we think is important, and that’s what this meeting is all about.”

In addition to Wilson, other members of the Balanced Resource Council include Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, and San Juan County commissioner Lynn Stevens; both are outspoken advocates for states’ rights and could hit Salazar up with some sharp questions.

The public is also invited to the meeting. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance are expected to round out the meeting with Salazar as well.

The meeting with Salazar will be at the State Capital on Monday April 26th at 10:00 am.