United Four Wheel Drive Associations
An International Organization

Category: Press Releases
Date: Feb 16 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UFWDA working to answer a petition filed with the BLM's Uncompahgre Field Office in Colorado

February 15, 2006: United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) has received information that the Center for Native Ecosystems (CNE) along with five other environmental organizations, including the Wildlands Center for Preventing Roads, have file a petition with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office in Montrose, CO seeking to close areas to motorized access.

The 60 page long petition asks to eliminate open off-road vehicle (ORV) use from areas that are composed of Mancos shale. CNE has stated that the group is not proposing a total ban of off-road vehicle use in the areas, but wants to eliminate open use of the areas by ORVs and restrict their use to designated routes.

The petition seeks to close the following to off-road vehicle use:

* The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area;

* BLM land immediately adjacent to the south of the National Conservation Area (The Flat Top - Peach Valley Area);

* The North Delta open ORV area; and

* Any other areas where the Uncompahgre Field Office allows open ORV use that are on Mancos shale.

The petition asserts that open ORV use on the Mancos shale areas is damaging the Mancos shale environments and other ecosystems associated.

This petition has national ramifications and could lead to rules that would pressure other BLM offices to follow suit if petitioned in the same manner. UFWDA believes this may be a first step in moving toward additional filings and legal actions similar to other on-going actions to stop OHV activity in recreational areas within the National Park Service units.

Currently, BLM manages public lands for recreation under Executive Orders (EO) 11644 and 11989 and guidance defined in the Code of Federal Regulations. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), the BLM is required to manage public lands on the basis of multiple use and unstained yield, while protecting resources.

Under those regulating authorities, off-highway vehicle designations are determined through a comprehensive landuse planning process, which serves as an adaptive and flexible approach tot he management of all activities on the public lands. Under this guidance, BLM management provides for the public’s recreation needs, protects resources, ensures the safety of the public, and minimizes conflicts among the various public land users. BLM management of OHVs is guided by the designations Open, Limited, and Closed in accordance with EO 11644.

The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office recently completed a five-year long effort to develop a comprehensive management plan for the area cover by the petition. While BLM has the authority to answer the petition by making the rule and not conducting public hearings under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, doing so would overturn the recently complete resource management plan.

UFWDA supports public involvement in developing management plans that provide for recreation opportunity and appropriate protection for the natural resources. Such management plans receive public endorsement and are supported with scientific data. UFWDA recommends BLM adhere to their National Management Strategy for Motorized Off-Highway Vehicle Use of Public Lands (Jan 2001) to ensure environmentally responsible offhighway vehicle use on BLM–administered public lands. Partnership with the general public, user groups, and other interested parties is necessary to provide recreation opportunity and protect resources.

UFWDA considers the petition an important issue with a potential significant impact on access to public lands and is currently developing their response.

The purpose of this release is to notify other interested parties to begin work on a local response to this petition. Contact the Bureau of Land Management's Uncompahgre Field Office, listed below, and ask for a copy of the petition. UFWDA will provide assistance to any local and regional organization desiring help in drafting a response to the petition.

Uncompahgre Field Office
2505 South Townsend
Montrose, CO 81401
Barbara Sharrow, Field Office Manager (970) 240-5300

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United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit www.ufwda.org.

Carla Boucher, Attorney
E-Mail: legisadvoc@ufwda.org
Phone: (757) 546-7969.

John Stewart, Director of Environmental Affairs
E-Mail: landuse@ufwda.org
Phone: (619) 390-8747
FAX: (619) 390-1705