July 2010 Newsletter
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Download July 2010 Newsletter (pdf)
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Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Take Back Utah RALLY Aug28th 2010
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
Take Back Utah protects access to our public lands and defends the freedom of all American’s to explore and experience America’s Wild Places, while preserving America’s small town economies and rural lifestyles through responsible land use.
Aug 28th Rally
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.
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CCOHVA Club * Booth @ Sunnyside/East Carbon Dazy July 10th
Thursday, July 1st, 2010
July 10th, 2010
We will have a Booth at the Park in Sunnyside. We will need help so please come by and support us! We will be selling Club- flags, shirts, stickers etc.
Contact Bert @ 820-0413 or Laurey @ 650-1643
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USA-All
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
USA-All
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.
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Important Public Meetings
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Utah Shared Access Alliance
1ST MEETING IS TONIGHT, MORE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK!
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
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June 2010 Newsletter
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Download June 2010 Newsletter (pdf)
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Swing Arm City OHV Area Temporary Restriction June 4 and 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE Swing Arm City OHV Area Temporary Restriction June 4 and 5, 2010
The United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a temporary restriction of riding at Swing Arm City OHV area on June 4 and 5, 2010 to accommodate a filming project. Riders are being asked not to ride in the area during this time to reduce noise during filming. All other roads and trails in the area will remain open for visitor use. Other BLM OHV open areas within the Richfield Field Office, such as Glenwood and Aurora, will also remain open. For more information visit www.sevierutah.net/tourism_events/tourism_events.html or www.waynecountyutah.org/Swing‐Arm‐City‐Closure.
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Interior Secretary Salazar to attend land meeting in Utah
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Interior Secretary Salazar to attend land meeting in Utah
April 22nd, 2010 @ 4:26pm
By Richard Piatt
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.
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Utah Wilderness and Monuments: When Is It Enough?
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Last Thursday USA-ALL was on the ground with Emery County Officials and Public Lands Council, BLM, SUWA, and other stake holders. We were on a “field-trip” to discuss potential Wilderness designation and other land use issues. USA-ALL was there to advocate for our members and represent those who access this area with motor vehicles. We were happy to do the job. We hope our involvement will better protect access to this region. Our position is that no roads should be closed, in fact we think a few should be re-opened. We are working on that. With your continued support we will be able to continue our work.
The process that Emery County and other Utah counties are engaged in to pro-actively address the Wilderness issue MAY be a way to protect against huge land grab bills. Bills such as SUWA’s self titled, “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA).” One thing we know for sure, no matter what happens in Emery County SUWA will continue to push ARRWA. I have been told that personally by their executive director. Therefore we cannot rest or trust that small local land use bills will be sufficient to stop ARRWA from passing. We must be there to combat ARRWA at every turn. If this bill passes it will have profound negative affects on other western states. Other environmentalist groups will be emboldened and more huge bills will surely follow. Not to mention the damage it will do to Utah.
We recently sent out a fundraising letter to past donors. We thought we would include it in this email in hopes that more of you would join our organization and or use it by forwarding it to your friends and encourage them to join as well.
We are taking action now because we are concerned that in the past Utah has been a political pawn of Washington D.C. Not too many years ago President Clinton designated 1.9 MILLION acres of our state as a National Monument. 1.9 MILLION ACRES! It was a political stunt then and it is likely to happen in some form again. I wouldn’t put it past this administration or leaders of Congress to take a page from the Clinton play book and stick it to us again. SUWA’s ARRWA is the perfect vehicle for such a play. We are concerned what may become of SUWA’s Wilderness bill and the threats of new monuments in Utah and other western states. With this November’s mid-term elections and the presidential election in 2 years the time is near when bold moves may be made.
Utah is the reddest state in the country. Arrogant or desperate politicians know this and are therefore willing to throw us under the bus if they think it will gain them votes in the “environmental” community. We intend to stop that from happening. Our goal is to establish a war chest with $250,000 in it to be used to stop the bill from passing and to combat new National Monuments. In addition to money we also need names because as you know politicians pay attention to large blocks of voters. Simply put we are amassing money and names to be used to protect our access to public lands in Utah. If you will, please encourage others to donate to us and lend us their good names. If enough of us band together we can and we will protect the things we all love so much.
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Our Recent Fundraising Letter
March 4, 2010
Dear Friend,
Without your immediate help, we could lose over 40% of the public land managed by the BLM in Utah! The possibility of losing this land in the next year is very real. A radical environmentalist group, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA), has made huge progress on advancing their ill intended 9.4 million acre Utah Wilderness bill (H.R. 1925). Should this bill pass you can kiss goodbye recreational gems like the San Rafael Desert and Moab. USA-ALL has the experience and ability to beat this bill and minimize or eliminate it. We need you to take action to help protect the public’s access to these valuable places.
On October 1, 2009 a Congressional committee held a hearing on this bill. We attended the hearing and helped represent how this bill would cause tremendous harm. Our side did well in the hearing but it wasn’t enough to stop SUWA from advancing their agenda. In mid November 2009 the House sponsor of the bill, Congressman Hinchey (D-NY), along with other Congressmen sent a letter to the Obama administration and pressured them to take action on this bill and assist in passing it. Congressman Hinchey also asked the Department of the interior to exercise its considerable power and manage the land in the bill as Wilderness BEFORE Congress acts on it! This is the same Obama administration that pulled 77 Utah oil and gas leases from leases, and essentially denied Utah school children of critical funds that would have come from the development of those leases. Not to mention badly needed jobs and other economic opportunity. This is the same Administration that has tried to designate some of this same land as a national monument with-out first talking to local folks. You’ll remember that President Clinton did this to us in 1996 with the creation of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. That moved has significantly harmed Utahans and we are still dealing with the fall -out from that.
Utah is under attack. The Western U.S. is under attack. Radical environmentalists and their political lackeys are working aggressively to take away our quality of life and tell us how to live according to THEIR ideas. In Utah the principal offender is SUWA. Recently SUWA board member and Swiss citizen, Hansjorg Wyss, stepped down from his position as Chairman. Not coincidentally he also was recently charged with federal crimes involving his personal business and the death of some of his employees. SUWA is no stranger to having criminals at their helm. In 2006 2 of their board members, one of which was their treasurer, were convicted on separate but similar federal fraud charges related to banking scams. These are the leaders of the organization we know will use any tactic legitimate or not to bring about their goal of closing public land to vehicle access.
We bring these things to light to illustrate an important point:
A Swiss citizen leading an radical environmental organization is trying to lock up public land in the USA. This alone is concerning.
3 of SUWA’s board members have been charged with serious federal crimes. 2 have been convicted 1 is awaiting trial. This is the caliber of SUWA’s leadership. We believe this speaks volumes about the organization and those involved in it.
A Congressman from New York and a Senator from Chicago, Illinois are the sponsors of the bill that would turn 9,400,000 acres of public land in Utah into Wilderness and thereby close it to vehicle access.
NONE of Utah’s Congressmen or Senators supports this bill.
The Obama administration, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), are all strongly sympathetic to radical environmentalism.
In February 2010 documents showing the BLM has been considering designating areas in the San Rafael and Cedar Mesa as National Monuments (de-facto Wilderness) surface.
The important Point: Do the math. Our way of life even our very ideals are under attack by those who care little for you or our western way of life. USA-ALL has been fighting back with all we have. The purpose of this letter is to grow our support so we may fight harder and more effectively. Will you join us?
Here is the brutal truth about what needs to be done:
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We need to get the word out about this to everyone and anyone who may care. We need to send people to Washington D.C. to future hearings.
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We need to be able to tell our side of the story to anyone in Congress who will listen.
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We need to unite and direct the energies and voices of tens of thousands of Utahans and other Americans.
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We need to fund educational projects to spread the word about what is happening on this bill and other assaults on our way of life. We know the more that learn about what is going on the more we can unite and protect ourselves, our families, and our way of life.
We are dedicated to our mission to protect access to public land. We have the expertise to stop this bill but we don’t have very much time or money to complete this enormous task. We need thousands of individuals like you to get involved and to get others involved.
Here’s how you can help:
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Donate as much money as you can to help us stop new monuments and battle this bill.
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Encourage and apply peer pressure to your friends and everyone you know to donate and join USA-ALL.
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If you have any expertise or other ways to help, give us a call at 801-830-9112.
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Be ready to act when we ask. Go to www.usaall.org and join our free email list. We will need you to call legislators, write letters, etc. Let us focus your efforts where they will be most effective.
I am sure many of you are sick of hearing us beg for money. Believe me we are sick of begging. This is really a defining do-or-die time. We can’t fight multiple multi-million dollar environmental organizations on guts and determination alone. We also can’t wait until the last second before this bill is voted on by Congress. We must fight it now! We need a serious injection of cash, which will be used judiciously and effectively. Your donations are also tax deductible. Is $50 too much to ask to donate, what about $100? Our annual membership is only $30. What is access to 9.4 million acres of Utah public land worth to you? What can you give? Click here and give us your answer 
.
. Get on board the “Stop SUWA Express!” We appreciate every dollar donated.
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Help educate New Yorkers about Hinchey’s Red Rock Bill
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Everyone,
I received this from the George Phillips campaign in New York state.
If you are good at writing Letter’s to the Editor, please consider sending
some to the New York papers. I find it interesting that most of Hinchey’s
constituants don’t know that THEIR congressmen has spent the last 15 years
trying to cram the Red Rock Land Grab down the throats of UTAH residents who
oppose it.
Perhaps Mr. Hinchey should focus on spending his time, efforts and money
“fixing” problems in his own state instead of trying to DESTROY the economy
of rural Utah.
AJP
*****************************************************************
Dear Mr. Peterson
>
> This is a list of New York newspapers that fall into Hinchey’s
> district. Unfortunately most of the people in the district don’t know
> that for the past 15 years he’s been the main sponsor of a bill to close
> 9.5 million acres of public land in Utah. If you know anyone that would
> like to submit editorials please send this note along.
>
> This is a list of area newspapers that fall within the 22nd Congressional
> District of New York.
>
> The Press & Sun-Bulletin is a daily newspaper serving the area around
> Binghamton, New York. www.pressconnects.com
>
> The Ithaca Journal is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper published in
> Ithaca, New York. http://www.theithacajournal.com/
>
> The Daily Freeman serving the Hudson Valley region of the district.
> http://www.dailyfreeman.com/
>
> The Poughkeepsie Journal is a newspaper based in Poughkeepsie, New York.
> http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/
>
> The Times Herald-Record, often referred to as The Record in its coverage
> area, is a daily newspaper published in Middletown, New York.
> http://www.recordonline.com/
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