Latest News
BLM Extends Public Comment Period
Release Date:
Contacts: Jan Bedrosian 916-978-4616
John Dearing 916-978-4622
News Release No. CA-CC-10-48
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 (
“Because the plan addresses potential long term restrictions on public lands,” said
The Clear Creek Management Area in southern
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
Comments must be postmarked or received by
For more information contact the Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5000.
DAYTONA SUPERCROSS FOCCMA RAFFLE
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
Two Minutes to Save Clear Creek
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
Thanks in Advance for every ones help to save the sport we love.
http://www.savethetrails.us/Default.aspx?PetitionID=44
A letter from one of our members to Rick Cooper
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
Emergency Action Needed
EMERGENCY ACTION
NEEDED
The following letter was sent in good faith to Mr. Rick Cooper, head of the
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
For the reasons above, and because of the shear complexity of the document, we now we need your help to flood the
This is one of the LARGEST, ERRONEOUS, PUBLIC
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,
Robert Abbey, Head of the Bureau of Land Management, Robert_Abbey@blm.gov Fax: (202) 208-5242
Rick Cooper
Field Manager
Hollister Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
Dear Rick,
The following organizations, each representing and advocating on behalf of thousands of members throughout
u American Motorcyclist Association
u
u
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
u Timekeepers Motorcycle Club
There are numerous reasons for this request for this extension including, but not limited to, the following:
- The
- The
- The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.
- 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.
- A meeting to discuss the financial/economic impacts of the actions suggested in the plan will not be held until
The OHV community desires to provide the
We trust the
Sincerely,
Nick Harris: AMA
Bruce Whitcher: CORVA
Amy Granat: CA4WDC
Don Amador:
Dave Pickett: District 36
Jerry Grabow: District 37
Mike Wubbels: FOCCMA
Matt Beck: SRMC
Terry Pederson: TMC
Fred Wiley: ORBA
OHV groups request time extension
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- The printed copies of the document were not immediately available to members of the public who do not have access to the internet.
- 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.
- 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
AMA Urges Action to Prevent Trail Funding From Being Slashed in Budget
AMA Urges Action to Prevent Trail Funding From Being Slashed in Budget
| President's Budget Proposal Would Slash Trail Funding |
Take Action! |
| Write your Senators and Representatives Today! | |
|
On February 1, President Obama submitted his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to Congress. One proposed cut could be disastrous for motorized trail users.
Buried in the nearly 200-page document is one paragraph dealing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM) program. The CIM program funds improvements, maintenance and the operation of U.S. Forest Service roads, trails and recreation infrastructure.
Under the budget proposal, the CIM program would be cut by $100 million -- from a $538 million appropriation in FY 2010 to a proposed $438 million in FY 2011. In justification for the proposed cut the Administration says that it wants to focus the Forest Service on "road decommissioning, erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration."
The proposed cut is particularly disturbing in light of the Forest Service's recent work on off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel management. Many National Forest's have only recently completed their travel management plans and will need funding for implementation. As these plans were developed local Forest Service staff repeatedly told OHV enthusiasts that they lacked sufficient funding to maintain existing trails, provide trailhead facilities or to adequately inventory existing trails.
Furthermore, funding for good trail design, construction and maintenance is essential to meeting the Administration's stated goals of erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration.
The OHV enthusiast community has done all it can to assist the Forest Service in funding trails. In partnership with the Forest Service, OHV enthusiasts provide thousands of hours of volunteer hours each year to maintain trail systems. In addition to consistently asking Congress to provide adequate appropriations, enthusiasts also fostered the federal Recreational Trails Program and state level motorized trail programs that provide non-Forest Service funding for trails. The OHV community even supported the Forest Service's controversial Recreation Fee program to get badly needed funds on the ground. But it is incumbent on the agency to seek and provide a reasonable level of funding for trails in its own budget.
Congress will be considering the President's budget proposal over the next few months. The American Motorcyclist Association urges its members to contact their federal elected officials and request that they oppose any cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CIM budget.
You can find contact information for your elected officials at AmericanMotorcyclist.com, click on "Rights," then "Issues & Legislation," and enter your zip code in the "Find your Officials" box. Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your federal elected official immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.
Please write or call your Senators and Representative today and ask them to oppose any cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CIM budget.
| |
Learn how to protect trails
NOHVCC Creates Videos To Help Protect Trails
The series consists of 14 easy to watch sessions ranging from 15 to 30 minutes each. The content is based on NOHVCC’s successful onsite workshop sessions with NOHVCC topic experts. The sessions are designed to give the people who can’t participate in an on-site workshop or a webinar the tools they need to help keep their trails open.
Russ Ehnes, Executive Director of the NOHVCC said “These are tight economic times and we need to take advantage of technology to help riders get the information they need. This program is helping us reach thousands of OHV activists and riders who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance to take part in a NOHVCC workshop. This may be one of the best tools that we have created so far for not only the enthusiast’s toolbox, but for program managers as well.”
The workshop modules were developed in cooperation with the American Motorcyclist Association, BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Industry Council, Off-Road Business Association, Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and United Four Wheel Drive Associations
To order a DVD, e-mail us at trailhead@nohvcc.org or call us at 800-348-6487. The DVD will be shipped to you free of charge, courtesy of the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative.
Coalinga CCMA DEIS meeting update
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.
Public Comments for Clear Creek
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.
Clear Creek Public Meetings
BLM to Host Public Meetings for Clear Creek Draft Plan
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings to gather comments on the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in January 2010.
"We encourage the public to attend these meetings to find out more about Clear Creek and help us plan for its future management," said Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office manager. The draft RMP/EIS covers about 75,000 acres of public lands administered by BLM in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties. The draft RMP/EIS does not include public lands outside of the CCMA.
The draft RMP/EIS was developed through a public planning process and considers seven alternatives. The primary issues addressed are public health risk from asbestos exposure in CCMA, recreation, protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, energy and mineral development, land tenure adjustments, and other planning issues identified during the public scoping process.
Each public meeting will begin with an open house where the public can gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM will give a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Although oral comments will be noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the proposed RMP and final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010.
The public is encouraged to attend the public meetings to gather information and provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS. All public meetings will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at:
January 13, 2010: Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom, 24505 W. Dorris Ave., Coalinga
January 14, 2010: Veterans Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St. Hollister
January 20, 2010: Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Meeting Rooms, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
The draft RMP/EIS is available on-line for public review at the Hollister Field Office webpage: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html. Compact disks of the document are available by request from the Hollister Field Office at the address above. For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000.
OHV ORGANIZATIONS JOINT STATEMENT ON CCMA DEIS
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.
# # #
BRC Challenges Decision Process Regarding CCMA Closure
TRAIL RECREATION GROUP CHALLENGES DECISION PROCESS REGARDING CCMA CLOSURE
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.
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
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
Two Minutes to Stop Closure of 780 miles of Trails in the Sierra National Forest
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
Wanted: Three Rocks Riding Memorabilia
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> .
CCMA Update DEIS
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
Will EPA be more forthcoming with information?
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.
New England Journal of Medicine says EPA overestimated Asbestos Risk
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
Clear Creek Trail Restoration
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.
BLM doesn't respond to information request, BRC files FOIA
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.
BLM Thinks Central Valley Not Important
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 request comment = Dear Rick Cooper During the last 2 scoping meetings in Santa Clara and Hollister we have asked you to have meetings in Fresno and Visalia. We have not received any response. The OHV community in the valley is a very large and powerful group and we feel that we should also be included in the scoping process. Most people can not take off work in the middle of the day and drive 2 to 3 hours to make a meeting. Please consider our request to have a meeting in Fresno and Visalia.
THE BLM RESPONSE:
Mike,
We will not schedule another scoping meeting in the Central Valley area.
Please encourage the valley OHV community to submit their issues and ideas
on what the CCMA RMP/ EIS must address, either in writing or by email. The
Hollister BLM webpage www.blm.gov/ca/hollister has the scoping form on it.
They can also write our office for a form if they do not have a computer or
just send a letter with statement that this is a scoping issue for CCMA. BLM
will consider all scoping related issues received by June 21, 2008 in its
Scoping Report for the RMP/EIS.
We will be scheduling other outreach opportunities through the Central
California Resource Advisory Council, during the draft RMP/EIS development
and then during the BLM scheduled comment period to the draft RMP/EIS.
OUR RESPONSE BACK:
Once again we the OHV community of the valley seem to be brushed aside by our government.
Mike
Hollister BLM Meeting
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
Our Goverment at Work Again
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
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
It’s Club Nite at Yamaha 99.
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 5th 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 5th from 4:00 to 10:00 pm for lots of fun and fellowship.
Thanks,
Jim Riley
Owner- Yamaha 99
Pictures Posted
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
BRP Fun Ride
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.