My1stJeep
06-07-2007, 03:25 PM
This is an update prepared by an AZOHVC member on status of issues, it was not prepared by me, just wanted to forward it on so that people know what is going on.
HB 2443............... Still stuck waiting for the Senate President Tim Bee to schedule for a floor vote.........does not look like it will be heard next week either. It maybe held up until the House has it's budget done for the year...............Lobbyist is circling back with Senate Leaders to gain support to help President Bee make a decision.
SB 1552............Air Quality Bill .............this bill will be heard most likely this week. We have done as much as we can to get good concessions for OHV put in. ALL the amendments we have suggested have been included in this bill. OHV did much better than any other stake holder at getting changes made ( we had much better data on why things needed to be changed).
Over all , we should be fine with this bill and its impacts. We have to show we are willing to make sacrifices to clean up our environment too!
We are currently working with the Counties PM 10 rule 310 to make changes to the rule to reflect real world OHV use ......................and make changes in number of vehicles per day and where we can ride.
4 more of these meetings are scheduled for this summer. I am also working on this issue directly with Pinal County Supervisor and the Air Quality folks there. There are meetings scheduled for this summer there too.
Forest Service Management Planning.........First, lets get something straight.........there are two different planning meetings going on in the FS..............one is the management planning ......HOW we want to see our Forest managed in the future.ie parks with facilities, more trails , ect.
the other is Travel management.............YOUR trails and what stays and what goes............
Tonto has had two MANAGEMENT planning meetings to date.
They are going to have Travel management meetings this summer.
Stay tuned for dates and what we can do.
BLM has had Travel Management meetings ( your trails ) for the hieroglyphics Mile marker area (4 to date)
WE have until June 30th to turn in a what we want and how to manage it document on those trails.
Some of us have gone to those meetings and made comments...........I turned in drafts from ATR and the AZOHVC at each of the draft hearings for the last 5 years. Now is the time for the final comments on those draft plans.
Don Hood will put together a meeting for Dirt bike orgs to comment on what they want and where /how they use these trails so we can include that information in the comments.
The four wheel drive folks are doing the same as is the ATV folks from the AZOHVC. All this info will be added to the Comments from AZOHVC. ATR will send an additional ATR comment and if we can coordinate it , have all the MC clubs send a similar draft of comments ..................
Prescott Trail work .......Williamson Valley / Alto Pit Travel management.
Prescott FS is the only designated trail Forest in our State. What does that mean to you and me?
Well, the trails that are on their maps and the trails on the ground that are signed ( most are) are the only trails you are supposed to be on and using. They are designated trails..............
This is what all the FS in Arizona are going to go to ...............if they ever can agree on what trails are there now.
Any how, I have been writing grants for doing all these old trail improvement projects and actually building them for the Prescott Forest. I am down to the last 8 miles of connecting trail for the Williamson Valley area and continue to work on the interconnecting trails to make long distance trails from Sheridan Mountain OHV area(Campwood) all the way to SkullValley. I have another 4 months with a SWECO for trail work so I will be working most of the summer in Prescott on this project...............unless I am shut down for fire season................if anyone has time during the week for trail support , give me a call or email.
3 pilot projects that managed to get funded thru State Parks OHV funds.
1) Ambassador program( peer patrols), this one will need 3 days of training to participate........weekend classes only.
It will put riders out with law enforcement to help educate the public on where to ride , and trail etiquette.
2)Dealer info packets.......this too is going thru but will take some time to organize.
3) Small grant projects for trail work and NEPA cost reimbursement. This will help Agencies fix small problems such as access to land for staging and trails signs and guides.
All were approved by Parks Board.
HB 2443............... Still stuck waiting for the Senate President Tim Bee to schedule for a floor vote.........does not look like it will be heard next week either. It maybe held up until the House has it's budget done for the year...............Lobbyist is circling back with Senate Leaders to gain support to help President Bee make a decision.
SB 1552............Air Quality Bill .............this bill will be heard most likely this week. We have done as much as we can to get good concessions for OHV put in. ALL the amendments we have suggested have been included in this bill. OHV did much better than any other stake holder at getting changes made ( we had much better data on why things needed to be changed).
Over all , we should be fine with this bill and its impacts. We have to show we are willing to make sacrifices to clean up our environment too!
We are currently working with the Counties PM 10 rule 310 to make changes to the rule to reflect real world OHV use ......................and make changes in number of vehicles per day and where we can ride.
4 more of these meetings are scheduled for this summer. I am also working on this issue directly with Pinal County Supervisor and the Air Quality folks there. There are meetings scheduled for this summer there too.
Forest Service Management Planning.........First, lets get something straight.........there are two different planning meetings going on in the FS..............one is the management planning ......HOW we want to see our Forest managed in the future.ie parks with facilities, more trails , ect.
the other is Travel management.............YOUR trails and what stays and what goes............
Tonto has had two MANAGEMENT planning meetings to date.
They are going to have Travel management meetings this summer.
Stay tuned for dates and what we can do.
BLM has had Travel Management meetings ( your trails ) for the hieroglyphics Mile marker area (4 to date)
WE have until June 30th to turn in a what we want and how to manage it document on those trails.
Some of us have gone to those meetings and made comments...........I turned in drafts from ATR and the AZOHVC at each of the draft hearings for the last 5 years. Now is the time for the final comments on those draft plans.
Don Hood will put together a meeting for Dirt bike orgs to comment on what they want and where /how they use these trails so we can include that information in the comments.
The four wheel drive folks are doing the same as is the ATV folks from the AZOHVC. All this info will be added to the Comments from AZOHVC. ATR will send an additional ATR comment and if we can coordinate it , have all the MC clubs send a similar draft of comments ..................
Prescott Trail work .......Williamson Valley / Alto Pit Travel management.
Prescott FS is the only designated trail Forest in our State. What does that mean to you and me?
Well, the trails that are on their maps and the trails on the ground that are signed ( most are) are the only trails you are supposed to be on and using. They are designated trails..............
This is what all the FS in Arizona are going to go to ...............if they ever can agree on what trails are there now.
Any how, I have been writing grants for doing all these old trail improvement projects and actually building them for the Prescott Forest. I am down to the last 8 miles of connecting trail for the Williamson Valley area and continue to work on the interconnecting trails to make long distance trails from Sheridan Mountain OHV area(Campwood) all the way to SkullValley. I have another 4 months with a SWECO for trail work so I will be working most of the summer in Prescott on this project...............unless I am shut down for fire season................if anyone has time during the week for trail support , give me a call or email.
3 pilot projects that managed to get funded thru State Parks OHV funds.
1) Ambassador program( peer patrols), this one will need 3 days of training to participate........weekend classes only.
It will put riders out with law enforcement to help educate the public on where to ride , and trail etiquette.
2)Dealer info packets.......this too is going thru but will take some time to organize.
3) Small grant projects for trail work and NEPA cost reimbursement. This will help Agencies fix small problems such as access to land for staging and trails signs and guides.
All were approved by Parks Board.