Posted by Crowdo<nobr>g on 03</nobr>-06-2004 07:08 AM:
Decision to limit off-road vehicle use in Calaveras dropped in compromise
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By RON DeLACY
BEE STAFF WRITER
SONORA -- Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn has withdrawn his recent decision limiting off-road vehicle operation in the Interface, constituting 8,700 acres of forest in Calaveras County.
His announcement came as a group of Interface neighbors, environmentalists and off-road users issued a joint news release saying they had come to a compromise for the area that lies roughly between Hathaway Pines and Arnold.
"This agreement was an important beginning in steps to rebuild a community long torn by conflict," said Judith Spencer, a homeowner who had led a campaign to get dirt bikes moved away from residential areas.
The proposed compromise recommends a phase-out of off-road use in the Interface's Penny Pines area near the most populated subdivisions.
The bikers would get to ride in a less populated northern section, and all sides would commit to working toward finding more areas in the forest where dirt bikes could be used.
Quinn's "record of decision" in Decem<nobr>ber had </nobr>proposed kicking the dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles out of part of Penny Pines, but not all of it, and keeping them at least a half-mile away from homes.
Thursday's announcement scrapping that decision gave no timetable for a new one, but he told framers of the compromise that their proposal "deserves serious review and consideration."
Quinn said the withdrawal of his December decision was based on "results of informal disposition meetings and continued discussions with interested parties."
He had hosted two four-hour sessions of those discussions last month. When they ended, he said he didn't see enough movement on either side of the controversy to change his decision, which had drawn appeals from both sides.
The Forest Service regional forester in Vallejo had been scheduled to rule on the appeals today.
But Quinn said that in light of his new decision to revisit the issue, "I anticipate the regional office will dismiss the current appeals."
People on bikes and in other off-road vehicles have used the Interface for several decades, but for nearly seven years the Forest Service has struggled with a battle between the bikers and some homeowners and environmentalists, and other users of the forest.
The anti-bike faction wanted off-road vehicles banned from the Interface as noisy, polluting nuisances. And the bikers wanted to continue enjoying a sport where they have enjoyed it for decades.
Bee staff writer Ron DeLacy can be reached at 536-9005 or [email protected]
Posted on 03/05/04 06:25:15
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8...p-9081047c.html
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Decision to limit off-road vehicle use in Calaveras dropped in compromise
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By RON DeLACY
BEE STAFF WRITER
SONORA -- Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn has withdrawn his recent decision limiting off-road vehicle operation in the Interface, constituting 8,700 acres of forest in Calaveras County.
His announcement came as a group of Interface neighbors, environmentalists and off-road users issued a joint news release saying they had come to a compromise for the area that lies roughly between Hathaway Pines and Arnold.
"This agreement was an important beginning in steps to rebuild a community long torn by conflict," said Judith Spencer, a homeowner who had led a campaign to get dirt bikes moved away from residential areas.
The proposed compromise recommends a phase-out of off-road use in the Interface's Penny Pines area near the most populated subdivisions.
The bikers would get to ride in a less populated northern section, and all sides would commit to working toward finding more areas in the forest where dirt bikes could be used.
Quinn's "record of decision" in Decem<nobr>ber had </nobr>proposed kicking the dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles out of part of Penny Pines, but not all of it, and keeping them at least a half-mile away from homes.
Thursday's announcement scrapping that decision gave no timetable for a new one, but he told framers of the compromise that their proposal "deserves serious review and consideration."
Quinn said the withdrawal of his December decision was based on "results of informal disposition meetings and continued discussions with interested parties."
He had hosted two four-hour sessions of those discussions last month. When they ended, he said he didn't see enough movement on either side of the controversy to change his decision, which had drawn appeals from both sides.
The Forest Service regional forester in Vallejo had been scheduled to rule on the appeals today.
But Quinn said that in light of his new decision to revisit the issue, "I anticipate the regional office will dismiss the current appeals."
People on bikes and in other off-road vehicles have used the Interface for several decades, but for nearly seven years the Forest Service has struggled with a battle between the bikers and some homeowners and environmentalists, and other users of the forest.
The anti-bike faction wanted off-road vehicles banned from the Interface as noisy, polluting nuisances. And the bikers wanted to continue enjoying a sport where they have enjoyed it for decades.
Bee staff writer Ron DeLacy can be reached at 536-9005 or [email protected]
Posted on 03/05/04 06:25:15
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8...p-9081047c.html
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