Thread: Moab, Might be gone this Thursday forever

The Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources has scheduled a hearing on October 1 to consider H.R. 1925, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009. This legislation -- which will ban off-highway vehicle (OHV) access to public lands to those who live and recreate in Utah -- was introduced by New York Representative Maurice Hinchey. To read his press release on H.R. 1925, click here.

However, not a single Representative from Utah is supporting H.R. 1925.

Specifically, H.R. 1925 would designate more than nine million more acres as federally protected "Wilderness," and directly affect the Moab, San Rafael Swell and Chimney Rock areas (to name a few) in Utah. These popular OHV areas represent some of the most important remaining OHV recreation areas in Utah, and are some of the most popular with responsible OHV riders. The proposed Wilderness designation would also make the land off limits to ATV riders, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

Coming on the heels of the recently enacted Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which closed 2 million acres of public lands, this vast Wilderness bill will take away additional recreation opportunities currently enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike.

The AMA needs your help now to stop H.R. 1925. The fastest way to reach your U.S. Representative is to call them. You can find contact information for your elected officials by entering your zip code on AmericanMotorcyclist.com, clicking on "Rights," then "Issues and Legislation." Additionally, a prewritten e-mail is available for you to send to your Representative immediately by following the "Take Action" option and entering your information.

Please contact your Representative right away and urge them to oppose H.R. 1925.

VERy VERY VERY SIMPLE!!! Follow the link below, it's to the AMA which is the nations biggest pro bike organization. This affects bikes and the 4 wheel guys!!! I know probably none of you will ever miss Moab but an entire other spectrum of the offroad community will. Just enter your Zip at the bottom of this first page, it'll take you to a 2nd page to automaticly send a letter...

Think about this!!!! Some guy in New York is trying to close land in Utah that isn't even supported by the Utah Gov!!!!! What the hell????

http://capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/al...ertid=14061961


by by moab!!!

done... just sent my email... this is bullshit...

Joey

done.....ive been through there a couple times. once with some 4-wheelin friends.....place is amazing. i hate politics.

Sent and done. Haven't been there yet but planning on it this spring when I finish my jeep

do you know how much tourest dollars they will lose..

I posted it on 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazines website. Hope it helps.

http://blogs.4wheeloffroad.com/65633...ver/index.html

This will be a tremendous loss if it goes through.

Yeah, I only posted this on RDC and here. I got the info off thumpertalk. If anyone's active on Pirates they need it over there if they don't already have it but I can't imagine them not having it already...

I would imagine that if this goes thru the town of Moab will slowly disappear. I don't see the mtn bikers supporting the economy at nearly the level the motorized people do and I don't know how much hiking goes on thru there...

The proposal would make it off limits to the mountain bikers too. Retarded

This is such fucking bullshit!!!!!!!!!

sent my message

sent my message and to all my friends

its making me print it and i dont have a printer...

that's strange... I just put my zip in on the first page. then it took me to a 2nd page, I put in my name and address and hit send. That was it, no printing for me...

ya i did the same, but it at the top of the 2nd page it had 2 options, email or print and send. email was dark and it would not let me click it.

done and done.

sent mine plus emailed many freinds

sent mine i might never in my life be able to wheel moab but i damn sure want the option. new york can go to hell not our fault there wilderness is concrete and gangs

yeah i send mine and got an auto reply back..

I got this email this morning...

Dear Mr. Kading,



Thank you for contacting me about your opposition to legislation restricts the use of recreational motor vehicles. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.



I understand your frustration about limitations on the use of recreational vehicles on public lands. However, I also believe that it is critical to protect our environment for future generations. Because there are often conflicting opinions in the management of public lands, it is necessary to acknowledge the needs of all stakeholders when developing legislation.



H.R. 146, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, embraced the need for collaboration at federal, state, county, and local levels, in conjunction with elected officials, businesses, community leaders, outdoor enthusiasts, and other stakeholders. This legislation passed the House with my support on March 3, 2009, and I was especially proud to stand by President Obama's side at the White House as he signed this important legislation into law.



H.R. 146 protects hunting, fishing, and trapping rights on public lands and supports states' rights to retain the authority to manage resident fish and wildlife. This legislation also:



o Provides jobs in recreation and tourism. Nationwide, outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion to the U.S. economy while supporting 6.5 million jobs.

o Releases to Nevada 65 acres of land currently designated as a wilderness study area in the Bureau of Land Management's Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in Clark County and allows it to be used for other activities.

You may also be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 765, the Nellis Dunes National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Act of 2009. This legislation creates a 1,150 acre off-road vehicle recreation park northeast of Las Vegas. It allows people to enjoy using off-road vehicles while preventing them from being used in environmentally sensitive areas.

Thank you again for taking the time to get involved. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of future service.






Sincerely,

Dina Titus
Member of Congress

My reply back to her...

Dina Titus,



Wow, thank you for the reply. It seems like often times some of these internet form feed reply's just venture off to nowhere and we often wonder if they ever actually get noticed.



In regards to HR1925, closing down the land to the surrounding area of Moab will kill the economy. Utah has arguably the country's most beautiful landscape and I think you'd be VERY hard pressed to find a "off road motorized vehicle user" that would argue against that. We have areas like Bryce, Zion, Escelante, Powell, etc that are already set aside as national treasures. With that said, that is a large draw of the area to enthusiast like me, it's an area that most people would never see if it wasn't open to motorized use. Closing the area around Moab will pretty much turn that area into a ghost town and likely devastate the lively hoods of the residents of that town. Not sure if you or many politicians have been to Moab but it almost solely exists to support the Mtn biking, 4 wheeling and dirt biking industry. Utah already has epic amounts of amazing landscape that is saved for future generations, we're asking to allow us to continue to recreate on public lands as we have been since the invention of cars and motors.



It's funny that even the Utah Representatives don't support this yet a many people who have likely never even been to the area are for shutting it down when they don't even have any first hand experience other then what they see in pictures presented to them.



Thanks for your reply though...



Khris Kading

Done! And great reply Khris!

Mike

Sent mine off. Sent the link to my dad and my GF, whose parents have been there

Sent and sent to friends that offroad and ride. I grew up with the right to ride on public land and will continue to fight for mine and your right to continue to do so.

Originally Posted by sirhk100

I got this email this morning...

now that is badass right there...Dina Titus for president lol

Sent that email yesterday and got this today from my local congressman. Not sure if HE actually wrote this or not but its pretty cool hes on our side. Yeah Nor Cal!!!












Dear Ryan,



Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to S. 799,
"America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009." I appreciate hearing from
you and please know that we are in complete agreement on this issue.

S. 799 was introduced on April 2 by Senator Richard Durbin of
Illinois, and has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee where it awaits further consideration. It would
designate as wilderness certain federal portions of the red rock canyons
of the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin Deserts in Utah. I
appreciate knowing of your views and will keep them in mind should this
legislation be passed by the Senate and come before the House of
Representatives for debate and a vote.

Let me also say that I generally oppose legislation to create additional
wilderness and other initiatives to restrict access to our public lands.
I firmly believe that Congress and the Administration should focus on
more effective and less harmful ways of conserving our federal lands
that involve local communities in decision making. Federal lands don't
need to be locked away from the American public to assure their
continued protection. Environmental protection and open access need not
be an either-or proposition. Through federal policies premised on the
important principles outlined above, we can continue to allow Americans
to enjoy full access to our public lands for a variety of important and
economically beneficial purposes, including ranching, grazing, timber
harvesting and recreation, while at the same time ensuring that those
uses are sustainable.



Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
Please don't hesitate to do so in the future regarding this or any other
federal issue important to you. In addition, I would like to invite you
to visit my website at www.house.gov/herger
<http://www.house.gov/herger> where you can find additional information
on my position on a variety of issues and sign up for occasional e-mail
updates on the federal issues important to you.







Sincerely,

WALLY
HERGER
Member of
Congress

Email sent. That would really suck if it got closed off. I would like to go there sometime for some wheeling and riding.

--JosB

I got a message about 20mins ago . He's on our side

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about attempts to restrict access to federal lands. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

As a past member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I have attended a number of hearings and meetings focused on managing our vast amounts of federally-owned land. I continue to believe that our federal lands should remain open for all Americans to enjoy. Furthermore, I will continue to oppose overly-restrictive regulations that threaten Americans' access to our federal lands. Rest assured I will keep your concerns in mind as Congress continues to address our federal land management policies.

Once again, thank you for your correspondence. I hope you will continue to contact me regarding issues of importance to you and your family. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my website at www.house.gov/calvert.

Sincerely,

KEN CALVERT
Member of Congress

just sent mine. hopefully not too late.

x100000000

Originally Posted by letsgetthisdone

x100000000

and outta nowhere comes... LOL

I'm not sure if mine is for or aginst it?

Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1925, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009. I appreciate hearing from you and having the opportunity to respond.



As you may know, H.R. 1925 was introduced by Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) on April 2, 2009. This legislation would designate ten parcels of land in Utah as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Currently this legislation has 136 cosponsors, none of whom are from Utah.



When there is local consensus, I have consistently been a supporter of passing laws to set aside public lands for the protection of ecosystems, habitats and species. In the past I lent my support to legislation to create wilderness or designate areas as Wild and Scenic Rivers because there was local support in the affected areas and the citizens' elected representatives sponsored the legislation.



However, I am always concerned when I see legislation to designate wilderness that is sponsored by a Member of Congress that is not from the state involved. Just as I demand the citizens and elected officials of Idaho be allowed to steer Idaho's public lands policies without outside interference, I feel that I should allow the citizens of other states to determine the affairs of their states.



Thank you again for your thoughts. I assure you I will continue to make Idaho's natural beauty a priority. Please continue to keep me informed of issues important to you.



Sincerely,

S

Mike Simpson

Member of Congress

WOW! I grew up going there every year. probably 10 plus years of Jeep Jamboree with my dad, that is so sad. I'm just so suprised because this place has HUGE turn out of rock crawlers etc, then again I haven't been for about 4 years... Sending mine right now and forwarding it around.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dear Ms. Pathiakis,



Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about attempts to restrict access to federal lands. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.



As a past member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I have attended a number of hearings and meetings focused on managing our vast amounts of federally-owned land. I continue to believe that our federal lands should remain open for all Americans to enjoy. Furthermore, I will continue to oppose overly-restrictive regulations that threaten Americans' access to our federal lands. Rest assured I will keep your concerns in mind as Congress continues to address our federal land management policies.



Once again, thank you for your correspondence. I hope you will continue to contact me regarding issues of importance to you and your family. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my website at www.house.gov/calvert.



Sincerely,



KEN CALVERT

Member of Congress



KC: jg

Wow! Wtf! Top of the workd is the shit and some of the best fucking I ever had was in Moab.

Originally Posted by mustard23

i'm not sure if mine is for or aginst it?

y did it say something about idaho..and what i read it SOUNDED like the letter was likE, thanks for agreeing with. But im tired as fuck so imight of read it wrong..

Originally Posted by mccall

y did it say something about idaho..and what i read it SOUNDED like the letter was likE, thanks for agreeing with. But im tired as fuck so imight of read it wrong..

I am out of the country I am using an address in Idaho for a permanate address.






also you can track the Bill here. http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1925/show

Oo ic..thats what confused me then... Thanks for the link

My rep, jerry lewis, said he is not in support of it, and he calls out the state sen. of Utah for being quiet about it!

HA! Great thread.

Thank you for posting!! Just posted this from the AMA - http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6605934/n...le-ohv-riding/

U.S. representatives request administrative order to close 9.4 million acres in Utah to OHVs

From AmericanMotorcyclist.com...

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The U.S. representative from New York who is sponsoring U.S. House bill H.R. 1925, which would close 9.4 million acres to off-highway vehicle (OHV) riding in Utah, has sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar requesting the secretary use his administrative powers to close those lands, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), along with 88 other U.S. representatives who joined Hinchey in sending the letter, is asking for the administrative action while the House debates H.R. 1925, also called America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009.

Not a single representative from Utah supports H.R. 1925, which would designate 9.4 million acres managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as Wilderness.


Once land is designated as Wilderness, no vehicles, including motorcycles, ATVs or bicycles, are allowed on that land. Even horseback riders would be banned.


"It is outrageous that Rep. Hinchey would attempt to bypass congressional procedures to put into motion the intentions of a bill that lacks the support of even one representative from the state that bill would impact," said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. "This attempt is even more shocking in the sense that much of the land in question does not even meet the definition of Wilderness included in federal law. According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, Wilderness can only apply to lands 'retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation.'"

Included in the 9.4 million acres that the representative from New York wants to close forever to Utah's OHV community are existing OHV riding areas around Moab, the San Rafael Swell and Chimney Rock. These popular OHV areas represent some of the most important remaining OHV recreation areas in Utah, and are some of the most popular with responsible OHV riders. The targeted areas also include existing roads and developments.

H.R. 1925 would be particularly harmful coming on the heels of the recently enacted Omnibus Public Land Management Act, which closed more than 2 million acres of public lands. This vast Wilderness bill would take away additional recreation opportunities that stimulate the local economies and are currently enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike.

The AMA is calling on all motorcyclists and OHV enthusiasts to help stop H.R. 1925. The fastest way to reach your U.S. representative is a telephone call. You can find contact information for your elected officials by entering your zip code at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues and Legislation. A pre-written e-mail is also available to send to your representative by following the "Take Action" option after entering your information at the above website.

To see the Utah delegation and Ranking Member Doc Hastings speak out against H.R. 1925, click here: http://republicans.resourcescommitte...umentID=147628

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on Oct. 1 to consider H.R. 1925. To view a video recording of that hearing, click here: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/...view&extid=292

To read the AMA's press release on the subcommittee hearing, click here: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/...ry.asp?id=1375

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

I wonder what this guy from NY gains from closing land in Utah? Something is up here.