Omnibus Land Act of 2009

[MuddyGrrl]

I get that it's a good thing to have preserved land.

I don't get that they ignored the fact that TreadLightly et al is even an entity.

[sincityfjc]

MuddyGrrl previously said:

I get that it's a good thing to have preserved land.

I don't get that they ignored the fact that TreadLightly et al is even an entity.

Yeah I know, now to sort out how many millions of acres of our lands is this truly going to shut down to OHV use.

[Fjamming]

sincityfjc previously said:

Yeah I know, now to sort out how many millions of acres of our lands is this truly going to shut down to OHV use.

When they designated the land as "wilderness" it becomes off limite to any motorized vehicles.

[sincityfjc]

Fjamming previously said:

When they designated the land as "wilderness" it becomes off limite to any motorized vehicles.

I guess I should explain my thoughts/concerns that S.22 will effectively close more acres than stated in the bill to motorized vehicles.

A change of a wilderness border & protection of waterways can have a larger effect than expected.

Here in Vegas we had one border moved about a 100' feet that resulted in the nearby trail being dissected in half. This trail became 2 dead end trails that ruined the whole experience for all but very fit hikers.

[Fjamming]

Thanks for the clarfication. Keep re-electing Finstein and Boxer and we'll have no more land to play in.

[sincityfjc]

I just got this from Todd UFWDA EOD & as I was trying to say the impact is going to be larger than the est. of 2 million acres of wilderness.

Now to start calling and emailing our representatives to defeat this bill.

See press release below or on the UFWDA web site.

Date: January 15, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT GERALDINE GRADY – 804-381-1153

The Senate today passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act in a 73-21 vote. In spite of a concerted effort by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., to stop passage during the Congressional lame duck session at the end of 2008, the bill’s sponsors vowed to keep it moving during the current 111th Congress.

The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 is a collection of roughly 160 public land bills that were reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The legislation designates about 2 million acres in nine states as wilderness, in addition to scenic rivers, historic sites and expansions of national parks. It provides the government's highest level of protection on land such as:

• 517,000 acres of wilderness in Idaho’s Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands
• 256,000 acres of wilderness in Washington County, Utah, including in Zion National Park
• Almost 250,0000 wilderness acres in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
• 128,000 acres of wilderness around Mt. Hood in Oregon
• 53,000 acres of wilderness in Jefferson National Forest in Virginia

"I am happy that after months of delay we will finally be moving forward," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

"I am disappointed the Senate majority leader has refused to allow senators the opportunity to improve, amend or eliminate any of the questionable provisions in his omnibus lands bill," Coburn told fellow senators.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the bill’s sponsor, said many of the underlying bills were the result of a “lengthy public process” that allowed local jurisdictions to reach consensus on land use. “Many of the bills in this package resolve major land and water policy issues that have been contested for years, and in some cases for decades,” he said. “I can’t think of a single bill that has ever done more to ensure the enjoyment of, and access to, wilderness areas, historical sites, national parks, forests, trails and scenic rivers. In addition, this bipartisan bill will help protect America’s greatest liquid asset, its water resources. Collectively, this is one of the most sweeping conservation laws the Senate has considered in many, many years.”

The bill now goes to the House. UFWDA will closely monitor the bill’s progress.

United Four Wheel Drive Associations Official Site - United Online - An International Organization

[MuddyGrrl]

This is ridiculous. Laws being passed by people who have never even BEEN out to these areas.
Why do people always assume that cutting off access is the best solution? First of all, they don't have the manpower to patrol these areas.
They would be far better off in letting folks like Tony/FJamming organize volunteers and adopt the trails. Maintenance would fall on these people.

I've seen more illegal dumping in off-road areas than I would like to see, of course. But clean up efforts like Calico Clean-Up and the clean-up we did in Arizona back in August 07 help, rather than hurt, the trails. And the rangers know this.
Why aren't their voices being heard??

M

[Fjamming]

It's funny how that this is bill is so sweeping important and they decided to go with cloture. It's one of those hurry and ram it through. This is just the start. It's only going to get worse-much worse!

[MuddyGrrl]

You're so right, Tony. I mean, there are so many more important issues facing our governments.

Like how in California people on unemployment aren't getting any help for weeks?? I know there's a difference between state and federal governments but come on. This is so important??

[sincityfjc]

I think just for salmon in CA. there is a 1 billion dollar earmark in this bill.

To read the legislation and learn more about its impact, go to
Bills, Resolutions - THOMAS (Library of Congress) - then search bill text - select 111 congress - under "enter search" select bill & enter S.22 in the field & hit search button will take you to a lot of info.

Sorry this is a PITA but direct link to S.22 info kept failing