House subcommittee to consider banning riding on 9.4 million acres

[writeforus]

In a surprise move, the chairman of a U.S. House subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for next week on a proposal that would ban off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and bicycles from more than 9 million acres of public land in Utah, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

While U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, who is chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, has yet to officially announce his intention to hold the hearing, the AMA has confirmed that H.R. 1925 will be considered on Thursday, Oct. 1.

Read full AMA release here

U.S. House subcommittee to consider banning riding on 9.4 million acres - Trails/Events @ Off-Road.com

[writeforus]

From MetalCloak:

HOT!!! HOT!!! HOT!!!

If you haven't heard already, Congress is holding a hearing today for determining if Moab will be designated a Wilderness Area, which would essentially eliminate the use of ANY OHVs in Moab.

Here is some information from the Utah Shared Access Alliance:

We have been warning you and thousands of others that this day would come. On October 1, 2009 a congressional committee will consider a wilderness bill that would turn 9.4 million acres of Utah public land into congressionally designated wilderness. This is a major step towards the closing of nearly 40% of all the land that BLM manages in Utah. This may seem surreal but it is actually happening. We must stop this bill. With your help we can do it.

If you would like to read the propaganda from our opposition and the main proponents of the bill go here Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance: Home Page. Be sure to take some anti-nausea medication these guys spin things pretty hard.

Sincerely,
Michael Swenson
Utah Shared Access Alliance

[writeforus]

WESTERN BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE - LAKEWOOD, CO (Oct. 1, 2009) -- A proposal to severely restrict public access to nearly one-fifth of all land in Utah, spearheaded by a liberal New York congressman and an environmental group chaired by a Swedish multimillionaire, is beginning to move forward in the U.S. Congress. But a Western coalition is now working to build opposition to the legislation from other states, and is predicting success.

The Federal Government already controls about 64% of Utah land.

The bill, known as the "America's Red Rocks Wilderness Act," is sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a Democratic congressman from New York. It would designate as "wilderness" about 9.4 million acres of land in Utah, which would severely restrict the public's access to those lands.

"There is clearly support among Utah legislators for movement on a Utah wilderness bill, but this approach is increasingly recognized as a 'gang attack' on Utah, pure and simple," said Sims. "No one remembers a single case of a wilderness bill getting serious consideration in the Congress without the support of even one member of home state's delegation. That fact is getting other states understandably nervous about the prospect of being targeted by out-of-state politicians and extremist environmental groups like Utah is being targeted."

To see the Western Business Roundtable letter on H.R. 1925 to Members of Congress, click here.
September 29


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