OHV Community Puts BLM on Notice
Salinas Ramblers Announce Start of Fund Raising for Clear Creek Legal Challenge
August 4, 2003
The OHV community has put the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on notice that administrative and legal challenges will like result unless the Hollister Field Office does not withdraw the proposed plan revision, cease and desist on any unauthorized closures, and move forward on the implementation of the existing Record of Decision.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition, represented by Bill Dart, Public Land Director, took the lead in preparing a letter that was sent to Bureau of Land Management State Director Mike Pool on behalf of members of the Blue Ribbon Coalition, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs, American Motorcyclist Association, AMA District 36, Los Altos Dirt Bikers, Santa Cruz Ridgerunners, Timekeepers Motorcycle Club and Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club.
In a letter dated July 8, 2003, the OHV community raised a number of issues including:
- the Hollister Field Office has failed to implement the existing plan, has not demonstrated a need to change the existing plan, has constructed fences and posted closure signs without a NEPA process and has been unresponsive to the concerns raised by the OHV community.
- that the Hollister Field Office is incorporating state soil loss standards in management decisions without analysis, public involvement and with no NEPA decision to adopt these standards.
-that the BLM inappropriately is using an Environmental Assessment in an attempt to change an Environmental Impact Statement that took nearly eight years to complete and was highly controversial.
- that the BLM has already predetermined the outcome of a public planning process and posted it on their web site.
When Mike Pool did not respond to this letter, a follow-up letter was sent by BRC attorney, Paul Turcke to emphasize that the OHV community would take administrative and legal actions to challenge any change the BLM might attempt to make to the existing management plan with a simple Environmental Analysis process.
Blue Ribbon Coalition and Salinas Rambler Take Lead in Legal Defense.
Legal action will unfortunately be necessary and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) has agreed to take the lead in providing legal resources. The Salinas Ramblers are taking the lead in raising funds for the legal defense of Clear Creek. To kick off the fund raising drive, the Club has donated $1,000 to the Blue Ribbon Coalition Legal Defense Fund and challenge other OHV organizations and OHV related businesses to match this donation.
The Salinas Ramblers chose to use the Blue Ribbon Coalition's Legal Defense Fund (LDF), a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable organization rather than create a new defense fund. However, in order to develop a mailing list and to thank donors, the Salinas Ramblers will act as the conduit for sending money to the BRC. Checks and/or money orders (no cash, please), made out to the Blue Ribbon Coalition Legal Defense Fund, should be sent to the address below along with the donors mailing address, phone number and e-mail address. Unless otherwise requested, the Club will periodically publish the names of individuals and businesses that donate to the legal defense of Clear Creek.
Please make out checks to the Blue Ribbon Coalition Legal Defense Fund and mail to:
Salinas Ramblers Motorcycle Club
Clear Creek Legal Defense
P. O. Box 541
Salinas, CA 93902-0541
The Salinas Ramblers will donate a Save Clear Creek bumper sticker to everyone who sends in a donation to the legal defense fund.
You can also order additional bumper stickers directly from the Salinas Ramblers. $6 for the first sticker and then $5 for each additional sticker.
Finally, we encourage everyone viewing this page to join the organizations listed above, especially the Blue Ribbon Coalition. These are the organizations that are fighting to keep our public lands open for multiple use.