AZXJ
01-29-2005, 11:34 PM
A Message from the ASA
*Press Release - American
Sand Association*
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
American Sand Association
PMB 108
1911 Foothill Blvd
La Verne, CA 91750
*CONTACT:*
Grant George, ASA President (909) 938 3226
Bob Mason, ASA Chairman of the Board (602) 840 3229
*DATE:*
Friday, January 28, 2005 La Verne CA
*HEADLINE:*
U.S FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ISSUES "NO-JEOPARDY" OPINION FOR IMPERIAL
SAND DUNES MANAGEMENT PLAN
Long-awaited Biological Opinion opens the door for the implementation
of the
Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) for the Imperial Sand Dunes
Recreation
Area.
*BODY:*
- After years of preparation and litigation, the United States Fish
and Wildlife
Service has released its Biological Opinion for the Recreation Area
Management
Plan (RAMP) for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA)
(a.k.a. Glamis).
The plan was drafted two years ago with extensive input from the
off-highway
vehicle recreation community as well as the environmental community.
The "No
Jeopardy" opinion concludes that implementation of the RAMP will not
lead
to a decline in the population of the Peirson's Milk Vetch Plant
(PMV) or the
Desert Tortoise - currently listed as "threatened" under the
Endangered
Species Act. The PMV is believed to exist only in the Imperial Sand
Dunes.
Barring any further restraining litigation, this Biological Opinion
clears
the way for the Bureau of Land Management to proceed with the
implementation
of the Plan. Some of the areas within the ISDRA that were temporarily
closed
to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use as a result of a legal settlement
will be reopened
to vehicle use. A large portion of the central area of the ISDRA will
be designated
as an "Adaptive Management Area" where vehicle use will be allowed
on a restricted basis. Implementation of the plan includes the
improvement of
OHV facilities including additional camping pads and restroom
facilities.
According to OHV attorney David Hubbard: "This Biological Opinion is
very
thorough and responds in detail to objections presented by opponents
to the
Plan. It will be very difficult for them to successfully challenge
its conclusions
in a court of law." Hubbard represents the American Sand Association,
the
Off-Road Business Association, and the San Diego Off-Road Coalition
in matters
pertaining to the ISDRA.
American Sand Association President, Grant George, says: "The OHV
community
is very excited about the No Jeopardy opinion. We have worked very
hard to help
the BLM provide protection for the PMV and will continue to do so
even after
the Plan is implemented."
A BLM spokesperson warned the OHV community not to expect closures to
be taken
down over-night. Eleven protests to the Plan have been filed and
these must
be responded to by the National Director of the BLM before action can
be taken.
Also, an implementation schedule must be prepared to support the
BLM's Record
of Decision. All of this will take an unpredictable amount of time.
About the American Sand Association
The American Sand Association is a grass-roots, 501c(4) non-profit
organization of sand sports enthusiasts. The ASA works hand-in-hand
with other
groups who also fight for multiple-use access to sand areas. The ASA
seeks to
improve OHV safety and promote responsible land use. The ASA is an
all-volunteer
organization with no paid staff. We rely on the financial support of
sand-sport
enthusiasts and small businesses. Most of our members are
family-oriented, have
a rich family history going back for generations enjoying the sand
sport; and
most have a significant financial investment in their equipment and
gear. Additional
information can be found on our web site at
http://www.americansandassociation.org.
*Press Release - American
Sand Association*
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
American Sand Association
PMB 108
1911 Foothill Blvd
La Verne, CA 91750
*CONTACT:*
Grant George, ASA President (909) 938 3226
Bob Mason, ASA Chairman of the Board (602) 840 3229
*DATE:*
Friday, January 28, 2005 La Verne CA
*HEADLINE:*
U.S FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE ISSUES "NO-JEOPARDY" OPINION FOR IMPERIAL
SAND DUNES MANAGEMENT PLAN
Long-awaited Biological Opinion opens the door for the implementation
of the
Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP) for the Imperial Sand Dunes
Recreation
Area.
*BODY:*
- After years of preparation and litigation, the United States Fish
and Wildlife
Service has released its Biological Opinion for the Recreation Area
Management
Plan (RAMP) for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA)
(a.k.a. Glamis).
The plan was drafted two years ago with extensive input from the
off-highway
vehicle recreation community as well as the environmental community.
The "No
Jeopardy" opinion concludes that implementation of the RAMP will not
lead
to a decline in the population of the Peirson's Milk Vetch Plant
(PMV) or the
Desert Tortoise - currently listed as "threatened" under the
Endangered
Species Act. The PMV is believed to exist only in the Imperial Sand
Dunes.
Barring any further restraining litigation, this Biological Opinion
clears
the way for the Bureau of Land Management to proceed with the
implementation
of the Plan. Some of the areas within the ISDRA that were temporarily
closed
to off-highway vehicle (OHV) use as a result of a legal settlement
will be reopened
to vehicle use. A large portion of the central area of the ISDRA will
be designated
as an "Adaptive Management Area" where vehicle use will be allowed
on a restricted basis. Implementation of the plan includes the
improvement of
OHV facilities including additional camping pads and restroom
facilities.
According to OHV attorney David Hubbard: "This Biological Opinion is
very
thorough and responds in detail to objections presented by opponents
to the
Plan. It will be very difficult for them to successfully challenge
its conclusions
in a court of law." Hubbard represents the American Sand Association,
the
Off-Road Business Association, and the San Diego Off-Road Coalition
in matters
pertaining to the ISDRA.
American Sand Association President, Grant George, says: "The OHV
community
is very excited about the No Jeopardy opinion. We have worked very
hard to help
the BLM provide protection for the PMV and will continue to do so
even after
the Plan is implemented."
A BLM spokesperson warned the OHV community not to expect closures to
be taken
down over-night. Eleven protests to the Plan have been filed and
these must
be responded to by the National Director of the BLM before action can
be taken.
Also, an implementation schedule must be prepared to support the
BLM's Record
of Decision. All of this will take an unpredictable amount of time.
About the American Sand Association
The American Sand Association is a grass-roots, 501c(4) non-profit
organization of sand sports enthusiasts. The ASA works hand-in-hand
with other
groups who also fight for multiple-use access to sand areas. The ASA
seeks to
improve OHV safety and promote responsible land use. The ASA is an
all-volunteer
organization with no paid staff. We rely on the financial support of
sand-sport
enthusiasts and small businesses. Most of our members are
family-oriented, have
a rich family history going back for generations enjoying the sand
sport; and
most have a significant financial investment in their equipment and
gear. Additional
information can be found on our web site at
http://www.americansandassociation.org.