Attention all Stewards of the Sierra:

 Now that the Record of Decision (ROD) has been released by the Forest Service it is more important than ever to stay engaged with the process to help keep our PUBLIC LANDS OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC NOT FROM THE PUBLIC. 

The Forest Service will be holding a series of open houses and public workshops for the Sierra National Forest Travel Management Decision.   If you cannot make it to one of the workshops, they will be holding a webinar on-line to hear an overview of the decision and opportunity to ask questions.  

Below please find the dates and locations for the open houses and a brief overview of the massive amounts of closure of Public Access to both roads and trails and also the loss of access to seasons of use for the Forest.   

Public Workshops and Webinar

May 17, 2010  Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B, Oakhurst, 6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).

May 18, 2010  Clovis Veterans Memorial Building,  Liberty Rm, 808 4^th Street, Clovis, 6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).

May 20, 2010  Foothill Middle School, Multi-Purpose Rm, 291147 Auberry Rd, Prather,
6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).

May 26, 2010  Virtual Webinar-Join us on-line for an overview of the Decision, 7-8:30pm.  To sign-up for the webinar please visit the following website:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/539264808

May 27, 2010   Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 5100 Chambers Street, Mariposa   6:30-9pm (Optional open houses begins at 5pm for those who would like to stop in and talk with Forest Service Staff).

Highlights of the Decision:

1. The decision provides 2,189 miles of roads and 127 miles of trails for motorized travel on the Sierra National Forest.

Trails added to the System:

67 Total  miles of Trails in the Motorized System.

 88 miles open to All Vehicles.

 33 miles open to vehicles less than 50” .

 6 miles open to motorcycles only.

Roads added to the System:

15 miles (logging roads and spurs to dispersed campsites)
Total miles of roads in the System:    

 1,665 miles open to all vehicles.

 524 miles open to highway vehicles

Areas added:

20 areas added for 105 acres (7 acres-parking/staging and 98 acres of areas)
Total number/acres of parking/staging facilities open to all vehicles = 64 (49 acres)
Total number/acres of motorized areas open to all vehicles = 15 (173 acres)

 Definitions of an Area and Parking/Staging areas:
 Area:  An area is open to all vehicles for motorized recreation
Parking/Staging Areas:  Parking for Highway Legal Vehicles

2. The decision prohibits cross country travel by motor vehicles on the Sierra National Forest.

Parking is allowed within one vehicle length (includes a towed vehicle) of a road, trail or area, unless otherwise prohibited.

3. The decision protects the Natural and Cultural Resources.

Protects watersheds, cultural resources, endangered, threatened and sensitive species (including plants, animals and their habitat) and adds no new  roads or trails in inventoried roadless areas.

4. The decision provides a Season of Use for roads, trails and areas for the Sierra National Forest.
Changes to the Season of Use were made to 1,688 miles of roads and 43 miles of trails.  
460 miles of roads have no restrictions.
The decision establishes 20 Seasons of Use to allow access to the greatest extent possible.
Over Fifty percent of the roads and trails are (1,317 miles) open for motorized travel from May 20^th to December 1^st.  
Nearly twenty percent (464 miles) is open year around for motor vehicle travel.

5. The decision maximizes recreation opportunity by changing 178 miles of roads which were open to highway legal vehicles only to a new designation allowing mixed use.  Also converts 12 miles of roads to trails allowing for additional motor vehicle opportunities.

Changing the vehicle class to mixed (green/red sticker) use allows for both highway legal and non-highway legal vehicles (as defined by the California Vehicle code) to use NFTS roads.
Results in uninterrupted connectivity between key roads, trails and areas, enhancing motorized recreational opportunities

6. The decision changes the Maintenance Levels and Use on some Forest Roads.
In order to be in compliance with Forest Service policy, 181 miles of Maintenance Level (ML) 1 roads will be opened as ML 2 roads, which will allow public use by green/red sticker vehicles.
65 miles of ML 2 roads, previously closed, will also be open for public use.

Appealing the Decision

This decision is subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.  In accordance with the April 24, 2006 order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Missoula Division  of the District Court of Montana in Case No. CV 03-119-M-DWM, for those individuals and organizations who provided comments during the comment period are eligible to appeal [36 CFR 215.11(a), 1993 version].  Appeals must be filed within 45 days from the publication date of the legal notice in the Fresno Bee (Monday, May 10, 2010). The appeal period ends June 23, 2010.  Detailed procedures for appealing the decision are located in the ROD.

We look forward to seeing you.  

Betty
Betty Mathews
Acting Forest Supervisor

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We just received this today. It is the response from BLM on the timeline of the CCMA "temporary closure".

There have been a lot of questions and we hope this clears things up for now.

The Friends of CCMA encourages everyone to recreate in a responsible manner that is in accordance with all county, state, and federal rules and laws, .

Steve,


I have been informed there are questions from the public related to the
term of the May 1, 2008 Closure Order for the Clear Creek Management Area’s
Serpentine ACEC, specifically related to the release of  WO Instruction
Memorandum 2010-28 on  December 11, 2009.  This Instruction Memorandum
establishes a new BLM policy requiring that temporary closures or
restrictions must be 24 months or less in duration. If the justification
for a closure or restriction order has not been addressed within the
24-month period, a new temporary closure or restriction order must be
established in accordance with this IM. The purpose of this new policy is
to ensure temporary closures and restrictions are implemented for the
shortest time and in the smallest area necessary to protect resources,
public health, and safety.


Some have interpreted that BLM must apply the IM retroactively to the May
1, 2008 closure order.  This is not correct.


The Instruction Memorandum is guidance for future application of temporary
closure authorities and does not affect or void closures currently in
place.


I confirmed this with the Acting State Director Jim Abbott who is in
Washington this week and he confirmed that with Washington Office Division
Chief in Administration.


Instruction Memorandums are intended to provide guidance for future
decisions and rarely apply retroactively to decisions already in place.
The term for the May 2008 Closure Order is the completion of the final
Record of Decision for the Clear Creek Management Area RMP/EIS as stated in
the Federal Register Notice in April 3, 2008.  This decision was reviewed
and approved by the Washington Office and was approved for full force and
affect implementation by Interior Board of Land Appeals.


The public visiting the Serpentine ACEC must stay on the County Roads as
defined in the County’s Resolution.  Deviating off those roads is a
violation of the closure order.


As to your question about routes and trails outside the ACEC; there are
some routes and trails that are outside the ACEC that are technically not
closed.  However those routes and trails can only be reached by using
closed trails in the ACEC, unless individuals have permitted access through
private land.  Hollister has been consistent in its reply to the public on
this question.


Rick Cooper
Field Manager
Hollister Field Office

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Clear Creek Protest Day

The promoter of the Clear Creek Protest day scheduled for Sunday May 2, 2010 at the entrance to Clear Creek has moved it to the BLM’s Hollister Field Office.  The protest will start at 10:00 a.m. and last till?  Come out and voice your concerns over the closure of your PUBLIC LANDS by our government.     

The office is located at:

BLM Hollister Field Office

20 Hamilton Ct.

Hollister Ca. 95023

Please come out and show your support and help provide a united front in the quest to reopen Clear Creek.  For more information go to the South Bay Riders forum and look for more info on the subject.

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ENVIRO LITIGATION GRAVY

Ever wondered how so called environmental groups can afford to keep filing more and more lawsuits each year? You think it is because they win huge awards, well think again. Most people are unaware that these groups legal fees are reimbursed by our government under the Equal Justice Act. That is correct we the taxpayers are paying them to sue us. This means each lawsuit they file is a money maker for them. That is why most of the suits filed today actually harm the environment instead of helping. It's about the money not the environment.

For example:

• There are much needed Forest fuel reduction projects which would reduce dangerously high fuels loads in our unnaturally overgrown National Forests. Enviro Groups file lawsuits blocking these projects, a death sentence for the Forest which ends up incinerated along with all the wildlife and destruction of the watershed.
• Or lawsuits forcing trail closures which concentrate use and increase impacts on the land.
• Or lawsuits to ban fish stocking which cause native trout population to become over fished and also severely reduced the food supply to native wildlife like eagles

Reports show Enviro Groups like the Wilderness Society, Forest Guardians and Center for Biological Diversity have been paid over $4 BILLION of your tax dollars to file lawsuits from 2003-2007.

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The Best News in 23 Months

Today April 6, 2010 the San Benito County Board of Supervisor made history by voting unanimously to reopen all of the closed roads in the Clear Creek Management Area.  This does not mean that you can go out and ride in Clear Creek, but you can once again travel any of the county roads without the fear of being ticketed or thrown in jail.  This was done over the requests of the BLM’s Hollister Field Office Manager Rick Copper who asked that the board keep the roads closed till the Record of Decision comes out.  Mr. Copper was asked by the board when that was and he replied maybe as early as January 2011? 

We ask that all Americans who will be visiting and driving thru the Clear Creek Management Area in the near and foreseeable future to observe the rules by staying on the county roads and not go off of them.  We must learn to police ourselves thru these trying times knowing that the ultimate outcome will be a full return to the type of riding we used to know at the creek.  If just a few abuse this sweet victory it will be short lived and give cause for the BLM to find ways to revoke what we have fought so hard to achieve. 

If you see someone breaking the rules, please take a moment and educate them to what is at stake for all of the OHV community and the public if we lose this victory.  I believe full heartedly that if we stand united together, that in the foreseeable future we will once again ride and enjoy all that the Creek has to offer every one of us and the family experiences it has provide for many of us throughout the years. 

This day will forever live in the history books as a pivotal point for the OHV community and the American Public.  The impacts of today’s decisions are being watched all across this great country of ours, and the impacts of these decisions will shape the future of OHV and the way our Public Lands are managed.  After all Public Lands belong to the Public and not the government agencies managing them.  Remember the CONSTITUTION says that the federal government CAN NOT OWN OUR PUBLIC LANDS but can only manage them. 

Please pass this information on to as many people as you can, and remember that UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.  Please remember that there is still a great amount of hard work ahead for all.  Enjoy this hard fought victory, but do not let up the pressure to accept anything short of full unrestricted access to the Clear Creek Management Area.

Mike

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Your Presence is Requested

A very important day has finally come.  The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will be meeting this Tuesday April 6, 2010 to vote on reopening all 25 miles of county roads in the Clear Creek Management Area.  We are requesting that as many people as possible show up and support the reopening of these PUBLIC ROADS, and the County Supervisors and County Council in their quest to better serve the citizens of San Benito County and the surrounding areas.

This would be the first giant step in having one of the top ten riding areas in the nation reopened for public use since it was closed two years ago by the BLM's Rick Copper of the Hollister Field Office.  Please make the time show up to this meeting to show our local government that as Americans we are willing to stand up and fight for what we believe is right.

SAN BENITO COUNTY

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

County Administration Building – Board of Supervisors Chambers, 481 Fourth Street, Hollister, California

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

APRIL 6, 2010

Mission Statement

The County Board of Supervisors will recognize the public trust it holds, will on all occasions conduct business with honesty, integrity, and respect for the individual, and will hold the organization of County government to that same standard.

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors welcomes you to this meeting and encourages your participation.

• If you wish to speak on a matter which does not appear on the agenda, you may do so during the Public Comment period at the beginning of the meeting. Please complete a Speaker Card and provide it to the Clerk of the Board prior to the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda. When addressing the Board, please state your name for the record. Please address the Board as a whole through the Chair.

• If you wish to speak on an item contained in the agenda please complete a Speaker Card identifying the item(s) and provide it to the Clerk of the Board prior to consideration of the item.

AFTERNOON SESSION 1:30 P.M.

 PLANNING DEPARTMENT – A. Henriques:

24) Review staff report, and draft comment letter to the Bureau of Land Management Clear Creek Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provide comments and direction to staff.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT – S. Wittry:

 25) Adopt a Resolution to re-open unmaintained County roads upon the installation of appropriate information signage referencing a potential for human health risks within surrounding terrain in the BLM Clear Creek Management Area; and direct staff to maintain quarterly inspections of signs in the area. 26) Receive the County Service Area quarterly report encompassing

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Release Date: 3/5/10

Contacts: Jan Bedrosian 916-978-4616

              John Dearing 916-978-4622

News Release No. CA-CC-10-48

BLM Extends Comment Period on Clear Creek Draft Plan

The public comment period for the Clear Creek Management Area draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement has been extended by 45 days by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“Because the plan addresses potential long term restrictions on public lands,” said BLM Acting California State Director Jim Abbott, “we are extending the comment period to allow further public input”

The Clear Creek Management Area in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties has a long history of public recreational use.  But because of increased awareness of potential health risks caused by asbestos, the area has been temporarily closed since May 2008.  The closure was in response to results of an Environmental Protection Agency’s human health risk assessment.  The temporary closure remains in effect until the new management plan is approved.

The draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement was released in December 2009 with a 90 day comment period.  Three public meetings were also held in Coalinga, Hollister and Santa Clara in January 2010 to gather comments.  The initial 90-day comment period ends today.

Comments must be postmarked or received by April 19, 2010.  Written public comments may be submitted by mail to BLM, Attn. CCMA RMP/EIS, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95023.  Comment may also be provided via email:  cahormp@ca.blm.gov, or fax:  831-630-5055. 

For more information contact the Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5000.

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FAULTLINE POWERSPORTS

PRESENTS

DAYTONA SUPERCROSS VIEWING PARTY

AND

RAFFLE TO BENEFIT

FRIENDS OF CLEAR CREEK MANAGEMENT AREA

LEGAL DEFENSE FUND

NOW THAT THE BLM HAS GIVEN THE PUBLIC A 45 DAY EXTENSION TO THE COMMENT PERIOD PLEASE COME OUT AND GRAB A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND RELAX WITH FRIENDS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.  THE FOOD IS GOOD, THE SERVICE IS GREAT.

SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010

AT

RELAX GRILLIN' & CHILLIN

3650 SAN JUAN RD., HOLLISTER CA.

TV COVERAGES STARTS AT 5:00 P.M.

FOR MORE INFO CALL:

831-637-8550 OR 831-636-1010

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Two Minutes to Help Save Clear Creek

At this very critical time we need to ask everyone to take less than two minutes to send in a comment to the BLM so we can SAVE CLEAR CREEK AND THE FUTURE OF OHV IN CALIFORNIA AND NATION WIDE.  The comment period ends March 5, 2010.  Please go to the link listed below and follow the instructions to fill out a comment and send it to the BLM it’s the American thing to do.

Thanks in Advance for every ones help to save the sport we love.

 http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=44

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Rick Cooper, Hollister BLM Field Office Manager,

Kathy Hardy, Central District Manager BLM,   

Jim Abbott, Acting California State Director BLM   

Robert Abbey, Head of the Bureau of Land Management,

The Clear Creek Management Area has been closed since May of 2008.  The BLM released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on December 4, 2009 that plans to virtually close that area permanently to ALL use. The 700+ page document was released right before Christmas, the BLM employees in the Hollister Field Office went on vacation shortly afterward and were unavailable for questions and comments. Furthermore, the BLM didn't hold any Public meetings for over 30 days and just recently on February 22, 2010 held a meeting with business owners and land owners affected by the closure.  To say the least there were more questions raised than answers given.

I am a Hollister resident, I have been for over 10 years, growing up in San Martin.  I moved to Hollister to raise a family away from the hustle of San Jose and to be close to the only places left in the area to ride.

My brother and I grew up riding dirt bikes.  Our family vacations as kids were to places where we could ride like Pismo, Clear Creek, Hollister Hills and others.  35 years ago we used to ride in the open dunes of Pismo and over the years watched it little by little be taken away from us.  Now there are threats of full closure of my Children's favorite place to camp since the closure of Clear Creek.  We had always taken great pride in the fact that no matter what they did to Pismo, we always had Clear Creek right in our back yard... Until May 2008.  

Now with families of our own, we camp, ride and race at Clear Creek, well until almost 2 years ago when it was wrongfully taken from us as well.  My three kids are being denied the opportunities I had growing up and when they ask, “Why we can’t go ride or camp at Clear Creek, like you always did Dad?”, the saddest part is... No matter how many meetings I attend or documents I read or emails I may send, I am unable to answer my kids.

I could go down the road of asking how you sleep at night knowing you are stripping so many families of the opportunity to enjoy PUBLIC land we all grew up enjoying, but berating you all would serve no purpose.  This is not the intent of my letter.  I honestly believe you do understand where we are coming from when we demand Clear Creek access be fully restored for all to enjoy as we have for decades.  I’ve sat in these meetings and watched the frustration in the crowd grow with every unanswered question.  I am of the belief you are in the same situation as I with not knowing what to tell my kids truthfully why we cannot return to Clear Creek.

The 700+ page DEIS/RMP for the Clear Creek Management Area is a large, complicated document that requires time and patience to not only read, but fully understand.  I sincerely believe not only have we the people not been provided ample time to review this document, I feel BLM has not had enough time themselves.  This is proven by the content within the document itself.

As a tax paying local resident and avid recreationalist who has invested more than your yearly salaries to support my family’s recreation, I demand attention to this matter and respectfully request a 90 day extension for public review of the DEIS/RMP for the Clear Creek Management Area.  I refuse to stand by silently and watch this wrongful closure proceed further without proper action and vow (and encourage all copied on this email) to continue sending emails throughout the chain of our Government until I get an answer to my kids’ question... “When can we ride Clear Creek?”

In closing, I thank you for your attention and leave you with 2 final questions.  

How many of you and your families have used Clear Creek for recreation, if any... Why are you not helping to restore access?  Please, help us.
   


Michael

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EMERGENCY ACTION

NEEDED

2-18-2010

The following letter was sent in good faith to Mr. Rick Cooper, head of the BLM Hollister Field Office for the Clear Creek Management Area requesting a 90 day extension to the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement comment period, which is slated to end March 5, 2010. 

OUR REQUEST WAS DENIED

This will be the most critical land use battle in California History

The Clear Creek Management Area has been closed since May of 2008, and the BLM has released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on December 4, 2009 that plans to virtually close that area permanently to ALL use. The 700+ page document was released right before Christmas, and the BLM employees in the Hollister Field Office went on vacation shortly afterward, and were unavailable for questions and comments. Furthermore, the BLM didn't hold any Public meetings for over 30 days, and still hasn't held a meeting addressing concerns of local businesses, counties and local governments affected by the closure.

For the reasons above, and because of the shear complexity of the document, we now we need your help to flood the BLM computers and fax machines with e-mails and faxes till they melt down requesting a 90 day extension to the comment period. 

This is one of the LARGEST, ERRONEOUS, PUBLIC LAND CLOSURES ever attempted by a government agency.  Please, if you value your freedom, take a moment to send a quick e-mail and fax to the following demanding the BLM grant this extension.

Rick Cooper, Hollister Field Office Manager,rick_cooper@ca.blm.gov    Fax: (831) 630-5055

Kathy Hardy, Central District Manager, Kathryn_Hardy@blm.gov    Fax: (916) 978-4657

Jim Abbott, Acting California State Director, Jim_Abbott@blm.gov    Fax: (916) 978-4416

Robert Abbey, Head of the Bureau of Land Management, Robert_Abbey@blm.gov    Fax: (202) 208-5242

February 12, 2010

Rick Cooper

Field Manager

Hollister Field Office

Bureau of Land Management

20 Hamilton Court

Hollister, CA 95023

Dear Rick,

The following organizations, each representing and advocating on behalf of thousands of members throughout California and the United States, are requesting a 90-day extension to the comments period for the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

u    American Motorcyclist Association

u    California Off-Road Vehicle Association,

u    CA4WDC,

u    BlueRibbon Coalition,

u    District 36 AMA,

u    AMA District 37 AMA

u    Friends of  Clear Creek Management Area,

u    Off-Road Business Organization

u    Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club

u    Timekeepers Motorcycle Club

There are numerous reasons for this request for this extension including, but not limited to, the following:

1. The BLM took 18 months to produce a 735-page document dealing with very technical, complex issues and 90 days is not a sufficient time frame for the public to research the issues and provide substantial comments.

2. The BLM released this document just prior to the Christmas/New Year holiday season when the public was distracted and members of the BLM staff were on vacation.

3. The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.

4. The first public meeting was not held until 40 days into the public comment period, denying the public the opportunity to receive presentations and additional information about the document.

5. A meeting to discuss the financial/economic impacts of the actions suggested in the plan will not be held until February 22, 2010 leaving less than two weeks for comments based upon discussions and questions raised in this meeting.

The OHV community desires to provide the BLM with comprehensive and constructive comments and in order to do so will require a greater length of time than the 90-day period currently afforded us.

We trust the BLM will understand the need for the public to review, understand, and comment on this document and will affirm our request for this extension.  Please inform us as regarding the new due date as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Nick Harris: AMA

Bruce Whitcher: CORVA

Amy Granat: CA4WDC

Don Amador: BRC

Dave Pickett: District 36

Jerry Grabow: District 37

Mike Wubbels: FOCCMA

Matt Beck: SRMC

Terry Pederson: TMC

Fred Wiley: ORBA

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CCMA DEIS Time Extension Request

February 12, 2010

Rick Cooper

Field Manager

Hollister Field Office

Bureau of Land Management

20 Hamilton Court

Hollister, CA 95023

Dear Rick,

The following organizations, each representing and advocating on behalf of thousands of members throughout California and nationwide, are requesting a 90-day extension to the comments period for the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan/ Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

u American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)

u District 36 AMA

u District 37 AMA

u BlueRibbon Coalition

u California Off-Road Vehicle Association

u California Association of Four Wheel Drives

u Friends of the Clear Creek Management Area

u Off-Road Business Organization

u Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club

u Timekeepers Motorcycle Club

There are numerous reasons for this request for this extension including, but not limited to, the following:

1. The BLM took 18 months to produce a 735-page document dealing with very technical, complex issues and 90 days is not a sufficient time frame for the public to research the issues and provide substantial comments.

2. The BLM released this document just prior to the Christmas/New Year holiday season when the public was distracted and members of the BLM staff were on vacation.

3. The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.

4. The first public meeting was not held until 40 days into the public comment period, denying the public the opportunity to receive presentations and additional information about the document.

5. A meeting to discuss the financial/economic impacts of the actions suggested in the plan will not be held until February 22, leaving less than two weeks for comments based upon discussions and questions raised in this meeting.

Rick Cooper

Comment Extension Request

February 12, 2010

Page 2

The OHV community desires to provide the BLM with comprehensive and constructive comments and in order to do so will require a greater length of time than the 90-day period currently afforded us.

We trust the BLM will understand the need for the public to review, understand, and comment on this document and will affirm our request for this extension.  Please inform us as regarding the new due date as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Nick Haris       Bruce Whitcher           Amy Granat    Don Amador               Dave Pickett

AMA               CORVA                      CA4WD          BRC                            District 36

Jerry Grabow  Mike Wubbels             Matt Beck       Terry Pederson            Fred Wiley

District 37       FOCCMA                   SRMC             TMC                            ORBA

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AMA Urges Action to Prevent Trail Funding From Being Slashed in Budget

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The meeting was very well attended, over 150 people showed up. The public was calm and respectful throughout the meeting.

The format has changed and is different than previous meetings. The agenda was as follows:

Open House: 5:30-6:30 pm

         Please Sign-In

         Speaker Registration located at the NEPA Station

         Citizens Guide to NEPA located at NEPA Station

          Public Comment Forms available at all Stations

          Q&A with BLM, and EPA specialists, NEPA Facilitators

Formal Presentations: 6:30-7:00 pm

          RMP/EIS Overview & Schedule - Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office

          Public Involvement & Ground Rules for Speakers - Kelly Bayer - Facilitator, Tetra   Tech, Inc.

Public Comment Session 7:00-8:30 pm

          Allow three minutes for each (registered) public speaker top provide comments

Closing Remarks / Next Steps

The public should expect this format at the next two meetings in Hollister and Santa Clara.

This meeting did not really yield any new information. Most comments that were made were requesting that the area be reopened. There were quite a few members from rock and gem clubs that commented. Two people made reference to the fact that there is no "physical evidence" that supports the EPA risk analysis, "no bodies".

Others commented on that there must be more to this closure than just asbestos, there is something else going on.

Don Amador of BRC commented on the collaberative efforts by BRC, CORVA, AMA, Cal 4x4, Salinas Ramblers, Timekeepers, and other groups working to get CCMA reopened.

Comments were also made by Nick Harris and Dave Pickett of AMA.

Mike Wubbles of FOCCMA.org and Amy Granat manned the FOCCMA,org information table outside of the meeting. Mike and Amy answered a lot of questions about the process and comment writing.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

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DO NOT MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

Public comments are not due until March 4, 2010. There will be a great deal of new information that comes out as a result of the public meetings in Janaury.

You as a citizen are not required to pick a specific alternative and this is not a "vote" per say. There will be a "comment writing seminar" for the OHV community shortly after the public meetings. This is a great way to learn about the process and learn how to make sure your comments are effective. We recommend that anyone who is interested in the public process attend this seminar.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

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BLM to Host Public Meetings for Clear Creek Draft Plan

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OHV ORGANIZATIONS JOINT STATEMENT ON CCMA DEIS

With the release by the Bureau of Land Management of the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), OHV organizations including the BlueRibbon Coalition, California Off Road Vehicle Association, California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, American Motorcyclist Association, American Motorcyclist Association District 36, Timekeepers Motorcycle Club and the Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club have joined together in a collaborative effort to respond to this document. 

These groups will continue their ongoing efforts to analyze and respond to the DEIS by the March 5 deadline for public comments.  It is important for the local recreationists and other stakeholders who have been arbitrarily locked out of Clear Creek by the BLM's temporary closure to attend the public meetings in January 2010.

MEETING SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2009/december/CC1012_clearcreek_draftplan_meetings.html 

The OHV organizations mentioned above will be providing analysis and suggested comments to their respective organizations and utilizing the  Friends of the Clear Creek Management Area web site: http://www.foccma.org/ as a clearing house for DEIS related information.

# # #

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TRAIL RECREATION GROUP CHALLENGES DECISION PROCESS REGARDING CCMA CLOSURE

July 8th, 2009

Contacts:

• Don Amador, BRC Western Representative
• Email: brdon@sharetrails.org
• Webpage: http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#DonA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The TimeKeepers Motorcycle Club is one of the impacted user groups helping BRC fight to reopen Clear Creek. The interim closure has nixed their two AMA sanctioned enduros
Click image to enlarge.

Pocatello, ID (July 8) - A law-firm representing a national, trail-based recreation group submitted a letter with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenging their decision-making process regarding the ongoing closure of a popular off-highway vehicle riding area in Central California. The document cites data gleaned from a recent Freedom of Information Act request filed in May 2009 by the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC).

The letter specifically points to the fact that the agency summarily dismissing important information or questions submitted by BLM staff or by BRC consultants during the public scoping period which followed the functional closure of the of the entire 75,000 acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) on May 1, 2008, to all public uses.

The letter, signed by Paul Turcke, an attorney for the BlueRibbon Coalition, highlights a number of the documents obtained, such as a memo authored by BLM experts seeking underlying data and questioning methodology relied upon by the EPA in its May, 2008 report that forms the basis for BLM's closure of the CCMA. The BLM closed the area through an emergency order in conjunction with the release of the EPA Report in 2008, but has promised to reevaluate the report and all reasonable management options in an ongoing and more robust public planning process. This is expected to result in the release of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) in 2009.

"The EIS range of alternatives is not the place to fully concur in or reject EPA's analysis, but is instead designed to allow BLM and the public to meaningfully consider and provide input upon possible management options," the letter concludes.

The draft EIS was previously scheduled for release in January 2009, but has been delayed several times. After it is released, it will be subject to public comment and will undergo further review before BLM announces a final decision.

View document here: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/FOIA_CCMA_Turcke_Letter_July_8_2009_Final.pdf

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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. http://www.sharetrails.org

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In just Two Minutes you can help stop the proposed closure of 780 miles of roads and trails which are vital for recreation as well as access for management to promote forest health in the Sierra National Forest.

Please ACT NOW there only a few days left to get your comments in by the 6/30/09 deadline

These trails lead to vistas, scenic byways, secluded lakes, creeks and primitive camping. None of these trails have been proven to affect water quality, habitats, or plants. However unless more people speak up in favor of preserving these great trails it is likely they will be lost forever.

Please ACT NOW as comments are due before 6/30/2009. Click below and create your own personalized letter to the Sierra National Forest to help keep trails open by using pre-drafted and your own comments in just Two Minutes.

http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=39

Please share this email with your lists and post it on blogs and everywhere else you can.

~Thanks your friends at Stewards of the Sierra National Forest

This campaign is supported by Save The Trails, Stewards of the Sierra National Forest,  Recreation Outdoors Coalition, Sierra Access Coalition, CORVA, National Off Road Association and others

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We are looking for Three Rocks Riding Memorabilia. Anything like posters, sign up sheets, flyers, and pictures. If you have some of these hidden treasures please contact srmc@salinasramblersmc.org <srmc@salinasramblersmc.org> .

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One of our members asked that this be posted, it is an update he received from Rick Cooper of the BLM Hollister Field Office.

"I have to admit that this is the most complex land use plan I have been involved
with.  Analyzing 7 alternatives to address all the resource decisions for
the area, as well as the human health risks, has been a challenge.  BLM is
making long term management decisions on a number of resources for the
area.  Recreation is one of several uses we are evaluating in this EIS."

"We are poised to brief the Washington Office this month.  They may take up
to three weeks to review and provide us their comments and/or their OK to
put the document out on the street.   It is my hope we get the draft out in
July followed by a 90 day public comment period."

Rick Cooper
Field Manager
Hollister Field Office

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On May 15, 2009 BRC filed a FOIA request with EPA in regards to Clear Creek Management Area. Hopefully EPA will do a better job suppling information than BLM.

Both EPA and BLM have not been responsive to information requests by the public, hopefully these FOIA requests will supply the public with the information they have been asking for.

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Here is evidence of conflictring science. It appears that EPA had inflated risk in the below mentioned study. If this is also the case with CCMA, perhaps there is a possibility that the area can be re-opened.

Hopefully the BRC's FOIA request will shed some light on the subject.

Here is the link to the abstract:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/338/22/1565

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According to sources, BLM has been restoring trails in the Clear Creek Management Area. We hope the public understands what "trail restoration" means in government speak. "Restoration" is rehabilitating an area to remove any evidence of a trail or route. In other words completey removing the trail and any evidence of such.

BLM is using "Green Sticker" funds to pay for the current restoration work. One question that arises is why is BLM restoring trails in a closed area?

Stay tuned in for more information as it comes available.

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BRC has requested information from BLM to no avail. Unfortunately BRC has had no choice but to file a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request. On May 6, 2009 Don Amador of BRC sent in a formal FOIA request. We are eagerly awaiting a response from BLM. Please stay tuned for upcoming developments.

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FOCCMA and lots of other users from the valley recently sent in e-mails and requests for the BLM to hold Public Scoping meetings in Fresno and Visialia on the Clear Creek Closure.  Here is a copy of the request and the official response from Rick Cooper of the BLM

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The second meeting with the BLM for their public scoping process was held in Hollister on Mon night 5-19-2008 at the Veterans Memorial Building.  The meeting was well attended by the OHV community but did not pack the house.  The BLM gave a outline of how they would be conducting the scoping process of the meeting before we got started.  They had everybody break into groups and give input into different sections of Clear Creek and how the public thought it should be managed and how the BLM could improve its management of the Creek.

From what I could see and hear everybody was very positive about their involvement in the planning process, and we all hope that Rick Cooper and his office staff will listen to what the public and OHV community have said and what they want to have happen in the area. 

The Friends of Clear Creek Management Area had a Booth set up inside of the meeting hall and was accepting Legal defense Fund donations and also had bumper and swing arm stickers as well as trail buttons available.

We will be looking forward to seeing everybody at the San Jose meeting on Wed night and hope to have the booth set up again for all to come by and visit.

Mike

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United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Managment

Hollister Field Office

20 Hamilton Court

Hollister Ca. 95023

831-630-5000-Office

831-630-5055-Fax

www.blm.gov/ca/hollister

EMERGENCY CLOSURE EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2008 OF 31,000 ACRES WITHIN THE

CLEAR CREEK MANAGEMENT AREA

INFORMATION FACT SHEET

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began conducting a study in 2004 on asbestos exposures experienced by CCMA users during typical recreational activities. The study was conducted to provide BLM with information to manage and minimize human health risks at the CCMA and to update a similar study conducted by the BLM in 1992.

On May 1, 2008 the EPA released the report, “CCMA Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment.”  The report stated the exposures measured by EPA for many recreational activities at CCMA are “above the EPA acceptable risk range of lifetime cancers.”  It also notes that children “have greater risk than adults due to higher exposure measurements [and] are of special concern because their exposures occur earlier in their lives.

Based on the findings in the report, BLM simultaneously enacted an immediate temporary closure on May 1, 2008 of 31,000 acres of the area to all public access/entry upon release of the EPA report while a Resource Management Plan (RMP) to determine the long-term management of the area is underway.  The BLM’s number one priority is to protect the public’s health and safety.

Over the next two years, BLM will be preparing a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement to guide the long-term management of public lands within the CCMA. EPA and BLM will host a public meeting to discuss the results of the EPA Human Health Risk Assessment and BLM will discuss the need for the temporary emergency closure on May 8, 2008.

The Fee Program has been suspended and partial refunds will be issued to all persons who purchased a Season Pass.

Public Meetings

May 8, Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, EPA and BLM,   open house from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, meeting from 6:00 – 9:00 pm

May 19, Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St., Hollister, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

May 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Library Room 225, 150 E. San Fernando St., San Jose, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

For More Information

Contact the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000 or visit our website at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area.html

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It’s Club Nite at Yamaha 99.

28615 Green Ct.

Madera Ca. 93637

559-645-4545

We have been asked to include all the local OHV clubs in our monthly party nite.

Sounds great to us at Yamaha 99!

We love off roading just as much as the next guy or gal!

So please come by and enjoy the festivities Saturday April 5^th form 4:00 to 10:00 pm.

Bring out your rigs and show them off.

We will have several bands that night, a great BBQ, prizes, show and shine, Big Love Boxing and some other fun stuff.  It’s a time for socializing and sharing experiences.

To all our OHV friends it can be a time to connect and talk about the proposed closures in our National Forests and elsewhere in the state, and develop stronger ways to network and work as a team to keep open the trails we love.

Please join us the evening of April 5^th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm for lots of fun and fellowship.

Thanks,

Jim Riley

Owner- Yamaha 99

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The pictures of the SRMC BBQ have been posted in the membership section under pictures.

Please log in and have a look.  Tell all your friends to become members and for everyone to please donate.  Without your help we can not afford the fight to keep the creek open.

mike

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BRP and the Salinas Ramblers MC hosted the first annual Fun Ride on 12-7-9-2007  The event was held at the SRMC property to raise money for the Clear Creek Legal Defense Fund.  The weather was its usual at Clear Creek.  On Thursday and Friday we received just about 1 inch of rain which was badly needed.  This proceeded to turn the front camp into a mush pit, but put an end to the very dusty conditions on the trails.  Over the course of the weekend  there were about 500 plus people who showed up to have a great time and support the cause.  We also had many vendors show up with all kinds of goodies to offer all of those who attended. 

Saturday morning started out with overcast skies and sign ups in the SRMC building for the guided rides to be put on by the various clubs that attended and for those who did not exactly know where to go.  The guides took out groups by skill levels and toured them around the Clear Creek area.  One of the main focus points of the rides was to show people what the closures have done to the area and what is currently being attempted to open more of the trials and roads back up. 

There was also a 4.9 Mile Hare Scrambles course for all to enjoy.  The course started out in the back of camp and took riders around the surrounding hillsides and canyons on SRMC property.  This course was also used for the poker run and featured both a high and low hand for adults and kids. At this point the weather was still holding with a mix of sun and clouds.

As the various groups started to arrive back at SRMC camp it was evident by the smiles on their faces that everybody was having a really good time.  Most of the riders came back to the building to sign up for another ride or to find anybody they could go out with again.  It was reported that the conditions on the trails were incredible and the riding was just fantastic.

The SRMC BBQ crew started up the pit about 1:00 p.m. and started to get ready to feed the very hungry riders that had a great day out on the trail and all of those that volunteered their time and efforts to make this event a huge success.   About 2:30 after the BBQ was loaded with Tri Tip and the beans were cooking away the weather at Clear Creek as usual started to change.  By 3:00 p.m. we were having a mix of rain and snow (SNOW IN CLEAR CREEK?). How could this be?  Fortunate for all concerned it only lasted a short time and we went back to a mix of clouds and sun.  Dinner was served from 4:30 p.m. to about 7:00 p.m. There were a lot of smiling faces after dinner as everybody looked like they had some of the best riding and food all in one great day.

After dinner the band started playing at the SRMC building and the stories started flowing as everybody was recounting the great day of riding they had.  There was a huge raffle that could only be accomplished by the generosity of all of the vendors and donors to the event.  It seemed that the raffle just went on forever as there was so many goodies donated.  The band played till about 1:00 a.m and a good time was had by all.

Sunday morning it was COLD at 7:00 a.m. it was only 26 degrees but the skies were clear and the sun was shining.  There was a Continental breakfast at the SRMC building and sign ups for the guided rides into Clear Creek.  Once again as the riders came back into camp they had smiles on their faces and were looking for anybody to go out with again. 

All in all everybody had a great time and said they were looking forward to next years Fun Ride to support Clear Creek.  Once again thank you to all of the vendors and sponsors of the event who made it all possible.

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